This video blog is by a Stephanie Drenka, a remarkable young Korean American adoptee whom I met during a speaking engagement at Depaul University in 2006. In 2007 we worked together on the 121 Coalition that successfully passed Rep. Mike Honda's "Comfort Women" Resolution. During this adventure, Stephanie met Lee Young Soo Halmoni, a survivor of one of the WWII Rape Camps also known as "Comfort Stations." Both Stephanie and Lee Young Soo Halmoni appear in this video. Halmoni (we all call her Halmoni, which means grandmother in Korean) is a strong, exuberant and vibrant woman, who told us all to visit her in Seoul. Annabel and I did so earlier this year. And Stephanie accompanied Annabel on a trip this month. This video was shot moments after Stephanie returned from visiting the agency from which she was adopted.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_WEyaMY3Mw And, just for fun, this video was also sent to me from Korea. It shows Stephanie, Annabel, Halmoni, and Kay Moonstar (another Korean American adoptee who worked on the 121 Coalition with us) goofing around together at Halmoni's home in Seoul.
Eric Byler, filmmaker, director of "Charlotte Sometimes," "9500 Liberty," "Tre," and "Americanese"