Corey
Corey was born in Seoul, South Korea, and adopted with his twin brother to a white American family in Iowa. Though his home city was not small, there were not many Asians or a support system, leaving him to navigate the trauma of separation and the confusion of his Korean identity alone. The pain he felt culminated throughout the years, and he soon found himself in foster care because his parents couldn’t control him.
Based on his own experiences, Corey is passionate about providing young people with figures who understand and support them despite past experiences. As he begins his journey as a gym owner in South Korea, he is grateful for the Korean American friends and networks he has made to make all of this possible. He believes that talking through shared experiences and their unique struggles have truly helped him embrace his right to his Korean American identity.