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Swedish name: Adopterade Koreaners Förening (AKF)
International name: Adopted Koreans' Association
Type/status: Non-profit, membership based
Founded: 1986
Location: Based in Stockholm with national coverage, regional branches in Skåne and Gothenburg.
Membership
The association is open to all Korean adoptees (including family) can become full members. The association is also open to support members. Some events, such as certain workshops, are arranged exclusively for full members. Membership fee is paid annually based on the calendar year.
Organization
The members of the association elects a Board of Directors consisting of six to ten persons on a yearly basis. The BOD is responsible for the running of activities in between the association's annual meetings. A number of committees, that report to the BOD, work within specific areas such as adoption issues, international relations, and social events.
Official sponsors: No current sponsors.
Publications
- Quarterly members' magazine called Um & Yang
Activities
- Conferences on adoption- and Korea related issues
- Funding of projects that benefit the adoptee community
- Summer schools for adoptees
- Cultural events
- Workshops on adoptee perspectives
- Social events, celebration of chuseok, seollal and swedish holidays
Mission
The purpose of AKF is to create a meeting place for adopted Koreans and enable exchange of experiences and insights into the unique fact of being adopted from Korea. AKF strives to promote interest in Korea and Korean culture, while supporting international co-operation between adopted Koreans. The association has also established a child fund for orphans in Korea.
History
The Adopted Koreans' Association in Sweden (AKF - Adopterade Koreaners Förening) was founded in Stockholm on the 19th November 1986 as the first association of its kind in the world. In the beginning AKF was more of a social club but as the organization and its members matured, issues such as identity and cultural heritage have come into focus. Today AKF is organizing around 200 Korean adoptees across Sweden and has a strong relationship to the Korean residents in Sweden.
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