A brother and sister abandoned by their parents in South Korea 34 years ago have been reunited for the first time, reports Oregon Live.
He was two. She was four. They were found several miles apart from each other. Jee Young Lee was able to tell police her own name, her father’s name and the name of her older sister, but the two were placed for adoption.
“I had gone my entire life thinking that I did not or would not know anybody biologically related to me and now that I do. … Knowing that Justin is just a phone call or a text or an email away or short flight away, it has really changed the way that I see myself in the world,” Jee Young told ABC News. She had been raised in Pleasanton, CA and now goes by the name of Renee Alanko.
Her brother, now known as Justin Kragt, was brought up 600 miles away in Salem, OR. He had taken a DNA test a few years ago and was successful in finding distant relatives. He had no idea he had a sister until Renee also took a DNA test this summer.
“I always thought I was alone in the world and I was content with that,” he said at the time of their reunion, he said.
“Now you’re stuck with me!” she said.
AsAmNews has Asian America in its heart. We’re an all-volunteer effort of dedicated staff and interns. Check out our Twitter feed and Facebook page for more content. Please consider interning, joining our staff or submitting a story.
RE: Abandoned Siblings Reunited
34 Years Later: Amazing story, happy for them.
RE: Abandoned Siblings Reunited 34 Years Later: So beautiful. I have two adopted children who have found their birth parents and half siblings, one with a full birth sibling. They meet their cousins, aunties and uncles. It can be absolutely wonderful, and it can be very disappointing and hurtful. But these holes do need to be filled and whether a good find or a disappointing one, it answers questions that have vacated a spot in their hearts now filled.