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Dear Dan Matthews, I am writing to share the information of your birth family.
You may also find that your brother Gi Seong,
is actually your twin brother.
WHAT?!
This project started about one year ago.
I got a phone call from somebody at IKAA, who asked me
to perform at the conference.
And at the time, I did not know what IKAA was.
I started reading up more about the conference,
I started talking to other adoptees.
They had all these amazing stories about not
only connecting with their homeland, but also
meeting their biological family.
I think on some level, I knew that
this could be my only shot to find my blood relatives.
Then after that, one thing led to another.
Talking to Jason Hwang, who I work with.
I met Dan on his first day at the office.
I got involved with this project because I really wanted to tell Dan's story.
And I knew he was going to need someone to show him around.
I decided to go back and do the birth search about six months ago,
when we knew we were going to Korea.
The Eastern Social Welfare Society actually got me
the form I need to fill out in order to start
the birth search process.
[Sigh] And my Korean name is Park In Soo.
So this is from the Eastern Welfare Society:
Upon receiving the search result,
from the Korean Adoption Services, I sent a telegram
to the person whose information matched
with your birth mother's. She called to confirm that
she was in fact your birth mother.
Every single time I've talked to anyone about this,
it's been very negative, very like,
this probably isn't going to happen.
Oh man, I'm kind of shaking [Laughter]
"Dear Dan Matthews,
I am writing to share the information of your birth family.
Both of your parents visited our office yesterday to meet with me.
They also forwarded their letters and pictures for you.
As you may be aware, your birth parents were married and still are married.
They have one son and they have a daughter.
You may also find that your brother, Gi Seong,
is actually your twin brother."
WHAT?!
Aww sh...
This is... You have...! [SLAMS TABLE]
This is... crazy man
Your sister's a cop. He looks just like-
No he doesn't! Does he?
Yeah he does! He looks like you!
There's still a very real chance that
1), I'm not going to meet with them
and 2)... I think I need to get a DNA test.
We need to make that happen like immediately.
I dunno, it's just going to be like a weird coincidence.
So, uh, but it sounds like
Eastern Social Welfare Society...
I feel like everything up 'til now has been pretty official.
There's a chance that this might actually be it, you know?
Seriously.
My Name is Lynn Matthews and I am Dan's mother.
My husband and I were married in 1977.
I was 27, my husband was 28. We wanted to have children
right away, but I wasn't getting pregnant.
In 1979, they diagnosed me with ovarian cancer
at an advanced stage. They didn't think that
I would survive, but I kept coming around.
I had a lot of experimental treatments...
I had I think 3 different surgeries.
They had to do a complete hysterectomy.
They basically didn't think that I'd even be able to adopt,
because they really didn't think that I was going to live.
They said if I live for 5 years, they would consider it.
Practically to the day that the five years were up, we decided to adopt.
When I first saw Dan, I was so elated. If you saw pictures of me,
my eyes are wide open, like I hadn't slept in a week.
I can't remember not being a part of the Matthews family.
It's always been a part of me.
Growing up, being adopted, was kind of cool, actually. I remember
embracing the fact that I was a little bit different
and my parents were a little bit different, and our family
situation was a little bit different.
It was always a good different too, it was never a bad different.
When I was in school, they never said
anything about me being adopted, it was more about me being Asian.
You would think the weird thing about me would be that I had white parents,
but it was more about the fact that I was Asian that they fed more on.
When Dan was in elementary school, I think everything was A-OK.
He had a set of friends and everything,
but I did notice a dramatic shift when he went to middle school.
He had a really really hard time.
I never understood that too much, what it was-
I found writing as a really big outlet
for identity issues back in high school.
So I started writing stuff that really didn't make sense.
Eventually I met one of the only African-American dudes that went to my school.
I remember going over to his place one day, he had beats and stuff.
I thought that was the coolest thing in the world
So I started writing because of that.
He helped me put together my first album.
Not very good at all. I'm never going to
let anybody listen to it. But at the time,
I was floored by it. I couldn't believe that
I could actually record my own music.
It's about 30 hours before we board the plane,
and I'm just so overwhelmed. A lot of it's
just me being anxious, there's a lot of anxiety, I think.
The prospect of meeting this family and being in Korea,
and being around other adoptees.
What could go wrong—-I think something bad's gotta happen.
They could be financially off,
they might want money from me, the brother and sister could hate me.
Why did it take 28 years for me to go out and find them?
And the brother and sister might not like me at all. There's a big possibility
that they might not want to be around me at all.
They might be forced to be around me because the parents
are going to make them meet me, but
they don't need to embrace me. I'm just this weird person that they don't know.
Emotionally, it's going to be very very heavy for myself.
I'm ready to go out there tho. I can't wait to get out there.
When Dan meets his birth mother, I just want her to know
how much he's loved and cared for.
I felt like my prayers were answered in that Dan came into our lives.
But I felt like her prayers were answered in that
he's had a very good life. He's very loved, and I just would like
her to know that I think God was watching over both of us.
How's the packing going?
It's good, I'm almost done. Well, not almost done, but yeah.
I wanted to show you this stuff I got
to present when you meet your family.
I thought she'd like to see especially the pictures of when
Dad first held you at the international airport.
I remember being so happy.
I thought your family would enjoy seeing some of these pictures.
Yeah, this is really good.
Now give me a big hug, baby.
Remember how much I love you,
and how much I want this to work out for you and extend your family.
You're kinda lucky you've got love from both families now to share.
And your brother and your sister, I hope I can meet them.
No, mom, no. Stop that. No, no, it's going to be fine. It'll be really good.
"Dear my son, I am writing and hoping this message
helps you understand the situation around your adoption.
In 1983 I got a job here at Geojedo.
We didn't have enough money for the proper housing as we had financial difficulties.
Soon after your mother got pregnant in 1985,
she gave birth at home with a midwife.
When I came back from work, I found two premature twin boys
and a wife who was passed out.
Both of the babies were hospitalized and your mother was not able to get up.
Days went by, and
I was told by the hospital that one of the boys was recovered.
In that situation, I had to make an important decision for all of us.
I was told international adoption could provide
good parents and homes,
and give wider opportunities to children.
I hope that you understand
having you adopted was the best choice I could make at the time."
"My dear baby, it was raining when I gave birth to you,
and it also rained when I was told you were looking for me.
I can't stop crying with joy and sadness.
I cannot find describe how painful it was for all of us.
When I gave birth to you and your brother, the situation we were in was pretty bad.
But after giving birth, my health failed greatly and I was in critical condition.
Under the circumstances, your father had to make the decision.
After I was told you were relinquished,
I considered looking for you, but your
adoption had already been made.
I wanted to believe you had a better life there.
I've been living with this guilt and sorrow for 28 years.
There isn't a single day when I don't think about you.
I always pray to the Lord for you to be healthy and well,
and to be with me someday."
"Dear Mother, I was very happy and emotional to hear the news
that Easter Social Welfare Society was able to get in touch with you.
I am thankful that you responded to them and
that you are happy that I searched for you.
The most important thing for you to know is that I am healthy and well,
and I was raised by a wonderful and loving family in the USA.
I will be coming out to Seoul from July 29
to August 9th for a Korean adoption conference.
I would be grateful for the opportunity to meet you in person.
I'm still in shock that you responded and can't express how wonderful
this news is. I hope that you are well, and
I look forward to the possibility of meeting you.
With love, Daniel, Park In Soo.
Alright so, I finally learned what membership training is.
Membership training is when usually in Korean culture, it's where businessmen bring out
people they work with, they go to a far away place, and it's pretty much just an excuse for them to drink.
But, it's very important in Korean culture tho, because it puts everyone on the same level and ultimately bonds them