[LETTERS]In the right direction, finally

I just want to say thanks for the article [“Even fertile parents are deciding to adopt kids,” yesterday].

It’s about time. We as adoptees are part of Korean society; whether Koreans accept it or not, we are living proof that something went wrong and still does in this society.

We are just as Korean as any other citizen and we should have the same rights, and not be considered as some kind of second-class people.

Should I remind you that it is Korean society that sent us abroad with the government’s approval some time ago, and nowadays those of us adoptees who are back in the mother country are contributing to Korean educational development, as most of us are teaching English or other foreign languages to Korean kids or adults - being used for what we can bring or give to make Korea look better?

Ironic, isn’t it?

Korean society needs to wake up; it surely needs not only to be technologically among the top industrial countries in the world but also should catch up in human perception and realities due to its culture continuing to be greatly influenced by “social rules,” no matter how illogical.

I was so glad and touched by the fact that Korean society is moving in the right direction, slowly but certainly.

I wish all the best to all Korean adoptees, international and domestic.

Sebastien Hootele, sebsaby2000@hotmail.com

Catch-22 classification

There are five classifications for movie releases (censorship) in Korea.

1. All ? anyone can watch

2. Over 12

3. Over 15 (This doesn’t exist in th U.S.)

4. Over 18 (R-rated in the U.S.)

5. R (Restricted; X-rated in the U.S.)

These sound like reasonable classifications until you consider that R-rated (Restricted) movies are not allowed to advertise on television or in magazines in this country.

Furthermore, films classified as Restricted can only be shown in theaters specifically designated as Restricted (limited to showing only Restricted movies).

This lack of accessibility to law abiding citizens could be seen by some (or many?) to be within the reasonable limits of a democracy.

However, where limiting access is one thing, denying it is another.

Currently, Korea has zero theaters that have the legally required designation of exclusively showing “R” movies, thereby effectively denying public access to films that are supposedly legal.

Ken Dinnery, kendinnery@hotmail.com