2019.07.02, Contacting the Adoption Agency

I read about people able to get somewhere by contacting their adoption agency and asking for paperwork.  I am beginning this adventure and will document it here.

From a fellow KAA regarding whether you were adopted from Holt International or Holt Korea.

It makes a worlds difference. I thought I was completely at a loss but it turns out it was just the wrong agency. So I emailed Holt international they told me they didn’t have my file that at one point Holt split into two. If you’re trying to contact Holt International you can email this lady: 

DebbyH@holtinternational.org 

She responds pretty fast. If they were not in charge of your adoption and do not have your file they will tell you right away. If they say no you can almost guarantee it was through Holt Korea like myself.If you’re looking for Holt Children’s services (Holt Korea) you will email them at this address:

pasc@holt.or.kr

In the subject line include your Korean name, case number and I was told to put the following as well: 
Attn: ESTHER KIM

A different person answered me but it was the same day I sent the email so I didn’t mind one bit. Just to be sure if email them at this address as well. It won’t hurt to 

holtkorea@holt.or.kr

Tell them you are searching for your birth family and you would like a copy of your Korean adoption file.

Petition for Adoption
Request Form

Here's the e-mail I sent:

From: Phil Pellouchoud <pellouch@yahoo.com>

To: DebbyH@holtinternational.org <DebbyH@holtinternational.org>

Sent: Tuesday, July 2, 2019, 04:25:14 AM PDT

Subject: Hello from a Korean American Adoptee (KAA) - Philip Pellouchoud, San Diego, CA 92130

Hello,

I am a Korean American Adoptee.  I am in search of my birth parents.  I have attached the following request forms based on feedback from a Korean Adoptee Facebook group.

Also included is a Google Drive link with all the adoption information I have regarding my personal adoption:

[ REDACTED ]

I thank you in advance with any assistance you can provide.

Thank you,

-phil

2019.05.23, The Korean Consulate

Today, I learned that the Korean Consulate in Los Angeles will take your DNA and send your information to Korea for free.  I learned this through the KAD Facebook group.

I e-mailed the consulate to set up an appointment at:
consul-la@mofa.go.kr

Apparently, you need to set up an appointment.  After you do that, you will need to drive up there, and get your DNA taken.  You should bring the following things with you:

• Your ID
• Adoption Info
• Date you were adopted
• Korean Name
• Personal description (height, weight, etc...)
• Name of your adoption agency
• Where you came from and where you went to once in America

This is all very exciting, but like all things, I'll wait and see how it goes.  I initiated the process by sending an e-mail to the Korean consulate.

UPDATE: 5/24/2019, 9:00am - I got a response from them that I have to call them and schedule an appointment.  They didn't give me a phone number to call.  :-) . Looked on FB and found a phone number: 213-385-9300, ext 321.  Apparently, they only have appointments on Tuesday between 2:00 and 4:00pm.

UPDATE: 5/24/2019, 2:45pm - I finally got through to them.  It was kinda funny because the call went to a Korean voice-mail.  I waited and eventually got someone, I asked for someone who spoke English and then explained my situation.  They called me back, I set up an appointment and I'm ready to go.  Planning on taking a day off of work so i can drive up there and do it!

UPDATE: 6/11/2019 - I drove up to the Korean Consulate of LA today and provided some adoption information and a DNA sample.  They will send this to Korea in hopes of finding a match.
The drive up and back from San Diego was horrible, but the overall process was pretty painless and took less than 20 minutes.

UPDATE: 12/18/2019 - I received an e-mail indicating that no match was found.  :-(

From: 라성(총) <consul-la@mofa.go.kr>
To: "pellouch@yahoo.com" <pellouch@yahoo.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2019, 04:39:40 PM PST
Subject: DNA TEST RESULT
Dear Philip

Thank you for your participation and interests in the DNA Collecting Testing at the Korean Consulate General in Los Angeles.

The National Forensic Service has endeavored to search for a matching through the analysis of collected DNA through its database resources.

However, we are sorry to inform you that no match was discovered through the analysis. Please check the translation (attached file) below. 

Gene Analysis Report

Analysis factor

Search through “Missing Child, etc. Database” by DNA type analysis of the sample above.

Analysis Result

No parental relationship is found by the search through “Missing Child etc. Database” with the extracted DNA types Sample 1 – Sample 10. 

Your sample number is 4.

----

Korean Consulate of Los Angeles
3243 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010
Tel: (213) 385-9300
http://overseas.mofa.go.kr/returnInfoPage.do