8. Rick: Finding Out at 16 and Navigating Identity as a Black Korean Adoptee

About this episode

Rick shares his journey of discovering his adoption and navigating his identity as a Black Korean adoptee.

Today, Shaosheen is joined by Rick, a Black, Korean adoptee who grew up in the US. Rick talks about finding out he was adopted — and half Korean — at 16, how that shaped his identity, and what it’s been like reconnecting with his Korean heritage through food, language, and culture since. He also shares why confirming who his birth mother is feels so important to him. Follow Rick on Instagram: @blaisiansays Korean Adoptee Resource Hub: kadresourcehub.com Follow us on Instagram & TikT...

People in this episode

Host: Shaosheen Jewel-Quirk

Guest: Rick

Topics covered

• identity
• adoption
• Korean heritage
• cultural reconnection
• food
• language

Keywords

• adoption
• Korean adoptee
• identity
• heritage
• food
• language
• culture

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Korean Adoptee Resource Hub

More episodes of Not Made In China

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• 14. Ming: Going Back to China for the First Time · May 26, 2026 · 36 min
• 13. Mariane: Being a Chinese Adoptee in Canada and Making Sense of My Identity · May 12, 2026 · 46 min
• 12. Emma: Thinking Adoption Hadn’t Affected Me—Until It Did · April 28, 2026 · 59 min
• 11. Anna: Adoption, Faith & Finding Identity as a Chinese Adoptee · March 31, 2026 · 1h 21m
• 10. Mackenzie: Falling Pregnant at 17: Why I Chose an Adoption Plan for My Daughter · March 17, 2026 · 31 min