The history of inter-country adoption, as we know it today, begins in South Korea. The Korean War orphaned and displaced some 2 million infants and children. U.S. families wanted to adopt, and so began the globally-embraced policies and practices leading to a million inter-country adoptions, peaking between 2000–2010.

This history is well reported, both in brief and in tremendous detail, by scholarly researchers and writers—among them Kim Park Nelson, PhD; Kira Donnell, PhD; and Eleana J. Kim, PhD.

Only occasionally is the inter-country adoption of children considered by demographers, and social scientists. So even as a substantial and long-standing form of migration that hit its peak in 2000–2010, it is neither well researched nor understood. See the writings of Peter Selman, PhD concerning “The Quiet Migration.”

Alongside these accounts, the Side by Side project reveals itself as a different kind of history. Up-close. Vivid. Deeply personal and intimate. Emotional. Vulnerable.

Side by Side is an unprecedented archive of 100 oral histories of inter-country adoption out of South Korea, filmed in 7 countries, 16 cities, and 6 languages. Experience an international journey through the personal memories and experiences of abandonment, relinquishment, orphanages, aging out, and inter-country adoption.

• 71 Women and 29 men born 1944–1995
• Adopted as infants, toddlers, children, and teenagers
• Relating their personal stories from birth to filming
• Some of mixed race
• Some in contact with biological family
• An unimaginable range of circumstances with respect to birth, adoption, upbringings, and adult outcomes

Frequently cited in peer-reviewed research and papers, the Side by Side project is a well-regarded, open-source archive of valuable insight and qualitative data.

Educators, students, researchers, social work and therapy practitioners, adoptees, families, and others are invited to explore Side by Side’s films, interviews, and growing body of educational resources.

A 38-Minute Introduction to the Side by Side Project

What happens when the lives of children are re-set by adoption, sent to grow up in new countries and families of a different race, language, and culture? This short film presents the stories of 9 Korean-born, inter-country adoptees, filmed in Seattle, Chicago, Boston, New York City, Paris, Stockholm, Amsterdam, and Melbourne—stories of a baby violently thrown from a car at an orphanage front door, being given away to a total stranger in a train station, the identity issues of feeling like a “Martian,” the complexities of being gay and a Korean-American adoptee, reuniting with birth parents and trying to make sense of relationships with mothers and fathers they’ve never known.

Individuals: Watch the film on Kanopy.
Educators: License the film from New Day Films.

10 More Short Films: A Guided Tour Through the Project

Each film is a focused study, providing a curated and organized exploration of the 100 stories—actual memories of Korea, growing up adopted, seeking identity, returning to the motherland, birth search and reunion, adult perspectives, and aging out.

Watch for free: 10 short films on sidebysideproject.com.

Meet the Filmmaker

Glenn Morey, Korean-born inter-country adoptee, filmmaker and Audible author, has been featured by The NY Times Op Docs, NPR’s All Things Considered and Morning Edition, Forbes, and Psychology Today. He’s been a featured speaker for the Association of Asian American Studies (AAAS), Rudd Adoption Research at U Mass, Alliance for the Study of Adoption & Culture (ASAC), Korea Society, and numerous conferences, webcasts, and podcasts. Along with Julie Morey, his creative partner and wife, their work on Side by Side has been awarded by the Social Justice Film Festival, San Diego Asian Film Festival, Boston Asian American Film Festival, Dumbo Film Festival, and others.

Contact: For more information and speaking engagements, contact Glenn Morey, gm@glennmorey.com.