Name: Soon-Young Oh, 허순영 (she/her)

First KAtCH event: It was a virtual event held during the heart of the pandemic; I honestly can’t remember much since that time is now a blur, but I was still living in Minneapolis and I appreciated being able to join from afar during a melancholy time in history. Everyone was welcoming and kind even if we were together virtually.

Where did you grow up/Where do you live now? I grew up in Minnesota, on the outskirts of the Minneapolis suburbs, and since 2021, I’ve been in the Chicago area.

Tell us about yourself: I’m an “Xennial” and grew up in Minnesota among thousands of other Korean adoptees. I attended Korean Culture Camps and Korean adoptee teen overnight camps from about 2nd-12th grade. Before I turned 30 years old, I lived in China for one year in Guangdong province teaching English and intercultural communication to college students (and now I only remember some Cantonese slang words/phrases), and right when I turned 30, I lived in Seoul, and taught English to elementary-aged students. Living in Korea was life-changing to say the least. I met my husband there who is also a Korean adoptee. We have a son, and since entering parenthood, the journey to know who I am, how I want to be a parent in this world, and what that all means in context to my cultural upbringing and ethnicity continues to be an adventure where I learn more every day. My first time back to Korea was in 2005 and was the kick-off experience to discovering the global KAD community, along with an IKAA conference in 2007. I eventually served on the AK Connection (Minnesota Korean adoptee nonprofit) board for over 4 years. I have been in reunion with my birth father since 2005. I currently work in marketing and work from home, which I love.

You’ll likely KATCH me doing the following:
Walking along the trail near my home listening to podcasts, playing piano, mobility and easy weight lifting exercises, enjoying KBBQ, grabbing coffee or meals with friends, scheming how to make my next trip to Korea happen, reading books (returned to this hobby in 2026 thanks to some encouraging KATCH friends!), driving my kid around to his activities, sometimes napping in the car as I wait for him at said activities, watching baseball with my baseball-obsessed family members, watching Korean variety shows and dramas, and being at the beach during Chicago summer months.

Why do you enjoy being involved with the KATCH community?
I’ll never “outgrow” my Korean adoptee identity. It’s part of me for life. I appreciate meeting people of different ages and at different stages along this journey we find ourselves in. I particularly love when us Korean adoptees can cultivate our own spaces designed by us and for us.

Favorite restaurant(s) in Chicagoland:
Boonie’s, New Village Pub, EaThai, Chicago Galbi House, Gathers Tea Bar

Find me/Social Media:
@huhsoonyoungoh on IG