IKAA GATHERING 2013 IN SEOUL, KOREA: JULY 29 – AUGUST 4, 2013!

ikaaG13_join FacebookThe IKAA Gathering 2013 is open to ALL adult Korean adoptees (18+) and their spouses/partners and children. You do NOT have to be a member of an adoptee association to register…but we’d be happy to put you in touch with an adoptee association near you, too, if you’d like!

The IKAA Gathering 2013 will take place July 29 – August 4, 2012 in Seoul, Korea and promises to promote networking both amongst adult Korean adoptees from countries all over the world, and between adult Korean adoptees and Korean society. This is the largest conference of its kind, occurring only once every three years, with attendees from all across the United States, Europe, and Asia, and an overall expected attendance of at least 700 participants!

The workshops & sessions provide a time for participants to explore more specific topics related to adoption, the adoptee experience, or the theme of the Gathering. One of the most popular sessions is the age break-out session, where attendees are split into groups according to their age, so they have the opportunity to meet and talk about personal experiences with adoptees of a similar age, regardless of their adoptive country. Past workshops and session’s topics have included: birth family search, negotiating relationships with birth family members post-reunion, Korea from a historical perspective, developments in domestic Korean adoption, working and living in Korea, Korean adoptees and parenthood, exploring identity through art, and much more.

THEME

The theme of this year’s Gathering is The Power of Networking: Crossing Borders and Bridging Cultures so we are spending more time in planning activities that allow participants to explore Seoul and the many things Korea has to offer. Because of this, we have a limited number of spaces for workshops. At the bottom of the application, there is a place to indicate if you are OK with discussing collaboration with other workshops that may have similar themes. We want to create the fullest program possible while also being inclusive to the many adoptees who have expertise and experience to share.

 

Preliminary Itinerary

The itinerary is only tentative. Activities and venues are subject to changes, so please check the website regularly for updates.
Venue: Lotte Hotel Seoul, when no other venue is indicated

 

Date & Time Activity Location
Sunday July 28
 Gathering Program (Optional)
08:00 – 18:00 Conference Registration Opens 2nd Floor Landing
14:00 Depart for Membership Training (MT) – Team Building Activities (return Monday 14:00)
(Pre-registration opens soon)
Offsite
Monday July 29
08:00 – 18:00 Conference  Registration 2nd Floor Landing
14:00 – 16:00 Gathering Family Program: Welcome Lunch (Pre-registration opens soon) Offsite Restaurant
18:30 – 20:00 Opening Ceremonies (Dress Code: Business Formal) Crystal Ballroom
20:00 – 20:15 Photo Shoot
20:15 – 22:00 Welcome Reception (hors d’oeuvres)
22:00 Social Activities Offsite
Tuesday July 30
08:00 – 14:00 Conference Registration 2nd Floor Landing
08:00  10:00 Continental Breakfast
09:00 – 18:00 Third Intl Symposium on Korean Adoption Studies (Open to the public. Pre-registration opens soon)
10:00 – 17:00 Gathering Family Program: Seoul Children’s Grand Park Children’s Grand Park
Noon – 17:00 Poker Tournament (Please note: Participants have to sign up during registration) Paradise Casino Walker Hill
19:00 – 21:00 “How to be a Korean Woman”- A One-Woman Show by Sun Mee Chomet Yonsei University Theater
21:00 – Social Activities Offsite
Wednesday July 31
08:00 – 10:00 Continental Breakfast
10:00 – 11:30 Gathering Family Program: Lotte Swimming Pool or other activity at the hotel
10:00 – 11:30 Concurrent Sessions: Age Group Break Out Sessions
11:30 – 13:00 Lunch
Sponsored by KAS-MOHW
11:30 – 13:00 Open Mic
13:00 – 16:00 Concurrent Sessions: Program soon available
16:20 – 17:50 Presentation by Hyeonseo Lee (North Korean Defector)
18:00 – 20:00 Dinner Lotte Hotel
21:00 – Social Activities Offsite
Thursday August 1
06:30 – 10:00 Continental Breakfast
08:00 – 19:00 Adoptee World Cup Games (Football) Yonsei University
Noon – 13:30 Lunch (available at fields) and Mini Concert Yonsei University
09:30 – 16:00 Gathering Family Program: Suwon Folk Village
Suwon
21:00 – Social Activities Offsite
Friday August 2
08:00 – 10:30 Continental Breakfast
09:00 – Noon Gathering Family Program: Visit to Martial Arts School Kangnam
09:30 – 02:30 Military Session: Cheonan Tour (Pre-registration mandatory) Offsite
10:00 – 14:00 Business Seminar
11:00 – 15:00 Amazing Race / Scavenger Hunt Various Seoul
11:00 – 17:00 Food Tastings + Competition
18:00 – 20:00 Food Tastings (max 250 persons)
21:00 – Social Activities Offsite
 Saturday August 3
08:00 – 10:00 Continental Breakfast
10:00 – Noon Gathering Family Program: Sightseeing in Seoul
11:00 – 15:00 Guided Walking Tours (Food, Shopping, etc.) Seoul
Noon – 17:00 Documentary Film Festival & Panel Discussion
18:00 – 21:00 Gathering Gala Dinner (Samsung)
Dress Code: Formal Attire / Black Tie Optional / Hanbok
Offsite
21:00 – Social Activities Offsite
Sunday August 4
11:00 – 13:00 Closing Ceremonies: Brunch & Goodbyes
14:00 – 17:00 International Leadership Meetings
20:30 – 21:30 Buses Leave for Celebratory Closing Concert
21:00 – 02:00 Celebratory Closing Concert
(w. Asian Chairshot, Galaxy Express, Dan Matthews, Niko Yu)
Club Vera