KOREAN ADOPTEE REUNITES WITH BIRTH MOTHER

[Anchor Lead]

A Korean woman who went missing at the age of three and was eventually sent for adoption to the U.S. has reunited with her biological mother and sister after 44 years. She had no idea she had a twin sister, and believed that her parents abandoned her. From this year, South Korean diplomatic organs in the U.S. are allowed to collect DNA samples to help separated families find their long-lost kin.

[Pkg]

A woman meets her identical twin sister from the U.S. for the first time in 44 years.
The siblings met through a video call.

[Soundbite] YOON SANG-HEE : "We have the same voice, and we look the same. I've been looking for you every day."

The younger sister on the other side of the globe is as surprised as her older sibling in Korea.

[Soundbite] YOON SANG-AE(ADOPTED TO U.S.)

The twins' mother keeps calling her long-lost daughter's name.

[Soundbite] LEE EUNG-SUN (YOON SANG-AE'S MOTHER) : "Sang-ae, I missed you a lot."

Yoon Sang-ae went missing at the age of three when she went outside with her grandmother, who had dementia. She was eventually adopted to the U.S. the same year. Until recently, she believed her biological family had abandoned her. But her family continued to look for her in Korea. They even appeared on TV in hopes of finding their lost family member.

[Soundbite] YOON SANG-HEE(KBS SHOW "MORNING YARD"(NOV. 1999)) : "If you think you look like me or the same as me, please call me."

[Soundbite] LEE EUNG-SUN(YOON SANG-AE'S MOTHER) : "Life lost its meaning for me. I missed her, and I would cry whenever I saw other kids. I felt guilty and I wanted to find her."

In 2016 Yoon Sang-ae visited South Korea with the help of an adoption organization.
She registered her DNA at the National Police Agency. The following year, her mother also submitted her DNA to find her. The National Forensic Service checked for their biological relationship. To confirm it, Yoon would have to visit a police station in Korea. Starting this year, South Korean diplomatic organs overseas are also allowed to collect DNA samples to help separated families reunite. Thanks to this change, Yoon was finally able to find her biological mother.

[Soundbite] YOON SANG-AE(ADOPTED TO U.S.)