About Us
Our Mission
- Verify that the NCRC is transparent in the transfer and management of adoption records.
- Observe and report any problems that occur.
- Insist that the NCRC is accountable to adoptees and the law.
- Confirm that every document is protected and complete.
- Elevate adoptee voices so they are heard and respected.
We’re not a government agency. We’re adoptees, advocates, and supporters who believe that every record matters, and every story counts.
Our Team
EARS consists of adoptees and allies, each with their own area of expertise. We strive to hold the NCRC and the South Korean government accountable to ensure a safe transfer of all adoption records from the adoption agencies to the NCRC.
Our core team consists of:
Oh Myo Kim
M.Div., Ph.D., Boston College
Oh Myo is an associate professor of the practice in the Counseling, Developmental, and Educational Psychology program at Boston College. Currently, she lives in Seoul with her family and is a visiting professor at Yonsei University. She is trained as a counseling psychologist. Dr. Kim’s research primarily examines adoption and racial and ethnic identity. As a Korean adoptee, she is committed to advocating for our community.
Mary Bowers
Architectural Project Manager, LEED AP
Mary Bowers is a US adoptee and an architectural project manager with experience overseeing complex infrastructure projects, including Los Angeles and Las Vegas International Airports and the San Ysidro Port of Entry. She has supported government agencies such as the U.S. General Services Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, bringing expertise in regulatory compliance and stakeholder engagement. Mary is committed to ethical leadership, transparency, and social justice—values central to EARS’ mission.
Shin Seo Vin
MA, Yonsei University
(aka Bastiaan Flikweert), Seo Vin recently earned a Master’s degree in Korean Studies from Yonsei University, bringing fresh academic insight to the institutional history of the transnational Korean adoption complex and the intergenerational impact of adoption. Born to two Dutch Korean adoptees, he has been involved in the adoptee community since birth. Since 2020, he has been an active researcher and advocate, with a growing body of work grounded in restorative justice for all adoptees.
Julayne Lee
MA Ed
Julayne Lee is a data analyst and compliance officer. She has led successful SOC 2 Type 2, HIPAA and SOC 1 audits including internal audits for both data center and cloud environments. As a data analyst, she established data governance and security protocols. As adoptee, Julayne was on the Adoptee Solidarity Korea (ASK) steering committee and co-founded ASK - LA and IbyangIN. As a poet and artistic researcher, she is dedicated to the preservation of the history of Korean born adoptees.
Supported by
Advisors
Helen Noh
Helen Noh is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Social Welfare at Soongsil University. Throughout her career, she has led extensive research and provided critical consultations that have driven meaningful reforms in child and family welfare policy and practice. With a deep passion for adoption, she actively advocates for the rights of adoptees and birthparents, working in close partnership with civic organizations and individuals to bring about change.
MSW, Ph.D., Soongsil University
kimura byol lemoine
Eva Suskind
Robin McDowell
Lillian Jiwoo Hexter
Melanie Steiner
Hosu Kim
Be a part of our Mission
Your support is crucial to our ability to hold the NCRC accountable. Join EARS and help us fight for adoptee rights.