Though Korean adoption is tied to South Korea, we can’t forget North Korea. They were one country a lot longer than they’ve been two countries. Our adopted children share a piece of that history.

I heard about Seoul Train last year and I wrote about it, but you can’t simply read about it. You have to watch the documentary. It is potent in its simplicity – the story of a modern day underground railroad. They show you the founder of the movement and the activists that help make it possible, like the South Korean activist Pastor Chun Ki-Won (who was captured and held in Chinese prison for seven months). Watching lets you see what they do and the danger that they are willing to face in order to do what they think must be done.

Most memorable for me were the faces of the people who were running and their stories. Leaving North Korea is considered treason and punishable by death or torture, but these people risked it for freedom. They travel into China, but they aren't safe there either because China has a policy of returning refugees to North Korea, even though they know it means death for the refugees. Once they get to China, they have to try to get to a more friendly country before the Chinese authorities catch them. It's more memorable because they don't all make it.

One of the stories was about a little girl named Han-Mi. She was two years old and her family had fled North Korea. I saw my son in that little girl. She could have been anyone’s child, full of energy and smiles. Watching them make their attempt to get out of China gave me a heightened awareness of the North Korean people.

I would recommend this documentary. It is disturbing and it makes you think. I wanted to be able to watch this documentary and see that it had all taken place in the distant past. To look at the date that it was produced and see 2005 was eye opening.

If you would like to comment, but not on this site, please e-mail me at adoptkoreablog@adoptionmail.com.