Name: Nancy Bason

First KATCH Event
I first learned about the Korean adoptee community in 2015 during my first trip back to Korea as an adult. That was when I discovered KATCH, though it took several more years before I worked up the courage to attend an event. In 2018, I finally joined a KATCH gathering at Sun Wah BBQ. Thanks to Chris Detrych and his incredibly warm welcome, I continued attending events and eventually joined the KATCH board in 2020.

Where did you grow up / Where do you live now?
I spent most of my childhood in a small city in Arizona near the Mexican border. For a few years, I lived on an Army base (Ft. Huachuca) before moving to the neighboring city of Sierra Vista. I was once chased by wild javelinas on my way home from high school. It was definitely a different experience than growing up in Seoul! I now live in Chicago.

Tell us about yourself
I was born in Seoul and adopted at the age of three. My adoptive father is from England, and my adoptive mother is from Japan. Right after my adoption, I lived in Japan for about six months. I don’t remember it, but I’m told Japanese was my second language before I learned English when we moved to the U.S.

For years, I assumed that either Japanese or Korean would naturally come back to me when I studied Japanese in college and later Korean after my first trip back to Korea, but sadly, that hasn’t been the case. I’m still trying, but I have a love/hate relationship with it.

You’ll likely KATCH me doing the following
I reunited with my birth family during my first trip back to Korea in 2015, and I’ve since spent a lot of time working to rebuild those relationships. I watch K-dramas, listen to Korean music, and study the Korean language and history to help bridge the cultural gap. Finding the right balance between moving forward without leaving my old life behind has been challenging.

I also love hunting for the perfect ice cream, pie, and bingsoo.

Why do you enjoy being involved with the KATCH community?
As a child, I had no idea how many children had been adopted from Korea, and I often felt isolated in that experience. Being part of a community where we can share, learn, and support one another has been incredibly meaningful to me.

Since my first trip back to Korea in 2015, I’ve been very active in both Korean adoptee–related and broader Korean community efforts. I volunteered with G.O.A.’L. for several years, joined the KATCH board in 2020, joined the HANA Center board in 2020, volunteered with Me & Korea, and served as volunteer staff on several Mosaic Tours. In 2025, I took a step back from some of these roles to focus on personal matters. Helping other adoptees navigate the unique challenges of the adoptee experience has been one of the most important parts of my life, and I hope to find more time for it again in the future.

Favorite restaurants in Chicagoland
I went to Duck Duck Goat over the weekend for the first time in a long while, and it was just as good as I remembered. This question is really hard! I need categories! For Korean food, I still think Cho Sun Ok is one of the best. I also love So Gong Dong in Glenview, Paik’s Noodle in Glenview for jjajangmyeon and tangsuyuk, CM Chicken, Ban Po Jung, Chicago Galbi House in Buffalo Grove, Del Seoul, Ssyal for samgyetang, Papa Bop in Evanston for their real strawberry milk, and Yeowoosai for their popcorn chicken and frozen yakult soju. Although I haven’t yet tried 82 Kimbap, I have a feeling it will be my favorite place for kimbap!

Find me:
IG nancyb7012

FB Nancy Bason

KATCH would like to thank Nancy for her 5 years of service on the KATCH board from 2020-2025!