Name/Korean name:
Anna Hu, Kim Kyung Ok

First KAtCH event:
My first KAtCH event was the Spring of 2008, and I attended a happy hour hosted by KAtCH. It was so nice meeting new people who understood each other on such a deep level, and I remember there was an immediate sense of ease. 

Where did you grow up/Where do you live now?
I grew up in Minnesota, specifically Stillwater, Woodbury, and then Uptown. I have lived in Chicago for 25 years now.

Tell us about yourself:
I was born in the Kangnam area of Seoul. Due to the passing of my Korean parents, my grandfather decided adoption would be the best option for me. I was 7 years old when I arrived to Minnesota, and raised in a prodominently WASP community by my Scandinavian-American parents with one older sister who is my parents' biological child. I moved to Chicago to attend college, and started exploring my Korean American and Korean adoptee identity. I immersed myself into Korean-American communities, which cultivated my desire to learn Korean language and culture. Though I was often surrounded by many other Koreans, I would sometimes feel out of place due to my adoptee experience. Currently, I am a stay at home mom to my 3 daughters whose ethnicities are half Korean and half Chinese, ages 8, 4, and 1. Through so many wonderful communities, including KAtCH, I feel fortunate to be well-established and comfortable in my identity, so I can pass on the blended cultures that embody my kids. 

You’ll likely KAtCH me doing the following:
I love dancing, roller skating, eating at restaurants, and shopping at Costco. I am part of Ajumma Rising, a middle aged women's community and flash mob dance group -- We are always looking for new members!

Why do you enjoy being involved with the KAtCH community?
One of the greatest silver lining to being a Korean adoptee is our international community. I have met so many great people adoptees, and many of my best friends are now people I have met through the KAtCH events. I also really enjoyed the bonding experience having served on the KAtCH board from 2015-2019.

Favorite restaurant(s) in Chicagoland:
My favorite restaurants are Cho Sun Ok and Kim's Home Cooking for Korean food, Ming Hin for dim sum, and Dolo Restaurant for Cantonese style dishes.

Find me/Social Media:
You can follow me on IG @annhaha10 or TikTok @cleanyourplate -- I also do most of the social media content for Ajumma Rising (@ajumma_rising)