Introduction

The introduction describes the impetus and motivation for conducting research on Korean adoptees’ experiences of transnational and transracial adoption. Specifically, I discuss my positionality as a Korean adoptee and the questions that were raised through my own experiences that later compelled me to pursue adoption research. In describing this research background, key issues are introduced that are addressed throughout the book, including racialised identities, embodiment and emotional labour. The main theoretical framework for understanding identity as embodied in the context of adoption is introduced. The introduction finishes with a chapter overview, which provides a summary of the key points addressed in each of the chapters.