AKF (Adopted Koreans’ Association) is a non-profit nationwide association founded during 1986 in Sweden. The association emerged as the first independent association for Korean adoptees in world, leaving a special mark in the history of international adoption. A number of adoptee associations soon followed in other major adoption countries indicating the growing need for Korean adoptees to meet and form their own open communities. As these communities of Korean adoptees continue to develop AKF is very happy to be a member of IKAA – the International network for Korean Adoptee Associations.
The activities of AKF today focus on three key areas: social events, adoption policies and Korea & Roots. As AKF’s mission states the main purpose of the association is to provide and function as a platform where members can exchange experiences regarding the unique position as being adopted from Korea. AKF provides an exclusive opportunity for adoptees to cooperatively learn more about both Korea and living as a Korean adoptee in Sweden. The identified key areas are meant to satisfy this purpose, encourage growth in knowledge about adoptees, and improve the position of Korean adoptees in society.
Throughout the 20 years AKF has existed the association has had approximately 1000 members, of which the vast majority has been Korean adoptees. Many members have passed through, hopefully taking with them important experiences, but some of the first and founding members can still be found within the association. During the last couple of years AKF has seen an increasing return of previous members who are now, at another stage of their lives, rejoining the association to gather more knowledge. As Sweden was a forerunner in international adoption the average age in the association is now above 30, while members are between the ages of 18 to 45.
AKF has received financial support from the Korean Embassy in Stockholm and the Overseas Korean Foundation (OKF), as well as sponsorship from Korean companies and individuals in Sweden. Swedish government support for adoptee associations was introduced for the first time in 2005. Although the association’s resources have been limited AKF has continuously been hosting activities for Korean adoptees and documenting adoptees views and experiences through the magazine Um & Yang. In 2003 AKF helped finance the project Hitta hem which included the first Swedish anthology with Korean adoptees. By hosting the upcoming conference in 2006 AKF hope to further highlight the importance of adoptees’ voices in telling the story about international adoption from Korea.
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