Mrs. Christy Winston Co-Chair KAAN, Mr. Tom Manvydas, Co-Chair KAAN, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am greatly pleased to be here with all of you today. Welcome to Los Angeles. First I would like to extend my congratulations to KAAN members who through the leadership conference last year in Sacramento established this first national scale conference for Korean American Adoptees and Adoptive Families. Also on behalf of the Korean Government, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Mrs. Christy Winston and Mr. Tom Manvydas and KAAN members who organized and volunteered considerable time and energy to make this even possible.
You have been recognized as Koreans living abroad. The Korean Government’s stated policy is to actively support their efforts to become responsible members of the countries in which they are residing. The spirit of the government assistance to Korean American Adoptees is also based on the same principal. In particular, after the inauguration of our new government in February last year special consideration has been taken to this matter.
The state visit of President Kim Dae Jung to the United States in June of last year constituted a meaningful occasion for adoptees. The First Lady, Lee Hee-Ho, a tireless and unfailing adoptee advocate, specially arranged a meeting with Korean American adoptees during her tour in order to express her keen interest in their situation. Currently our government has been offering various support for adoptees through a series of programs to help them overcome their difficulties, such as identity issues, they face in their successful lives in their new country. We hope the support we continue to be increased in the years to come.
Thus the formation of KAAN – Korean American Adoptee, Adoptive Family Network is very timely and the network will surely be a useful and efficient program in the execution of the government’s assistance policy. I would like to take advantage of this opportunity to ask all KAAN members to use this conference as a moment toward becoming a more integral part of the Korean American Community. Korean Americans have come a long way from when the first Korean immigrant arrived in this land of dreams a century ago. With hard work they have succeeded in forming an important minority group in American Society. However, in order to continue on the road of success into the new millenium, it is important for Korean Americans to learn to avail themselves of the various human resources which can bridge the Korean Americans and other US Citizens for their mutual benefit and prosperity. In this sense I believe KAAN members can make great contributions to the Korean American Community , thus influencing it to become an active part of a thriving mainstream community. As for the Consulate General, we will not spare our effort in advising other Korean American organizations to work more closely with KAAN in their activities and programs. I know they will follow our advice with great pleasure, as they have already lent valuable assistance to prepare this event.
Finally I hope this conference will lay a firm foundation for the development of an excellent forum which recognizes the diverseness of adoptees and reach out to all concerned by promoting friendship and familiar solidarity. My best wishes for a successful conference. Thank you very much!