Hankyoreh reporters win photojournalism awards for work on adoptees and depopulating regions

Hankyoreh reporters Kim Young-won and Choi Hyun-soo have been recognized with excellence awards from the Korea Photojournalists Association for their compelling storytelling through photography. Kim received accolades for two distinct projects: a series titled "Why Was I Adopted... The Nation That Stole My Life Must Answer," which captured the portraits of overseas adoptees forcibly separated from South Korea, and a dynamic shot of player Hwang In-beom's chip shot against Czech Republic during the World Cup.

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I know now that not everything in life gets better. I want to tell the child in the photo that it will get better if you endure, but I can't. Even if I find my mother and brother, the 56 years I lost cannot return.

Kim's series delved into the profound pain of individuals like Simon Hokeberda, 60, who was adopted to the Netherlands at age four. Now a grandfather, Hokeberda expressed the enduring trauma, stating, "I know now that not everything in life gets better. I want to tell the child in the photo that it will get better if you endure, but I can't. Even if I find my mother and brother, the 56 years I lost cannot return."

Choi Hyun-soo's award-winning work, "People Living in a Region Facing Extinction," focused on Taean, a city grappling with depopulation. The report illustrated the challenges faced by its remaining residents, including students struggling with long commutes to the dwindling number of schools and young entrepreneurs like Lee Seung-mook, a flower farmer, and Kim Eun-ji, who opened an independent bookstore and cafe. Despite their efforts to revitalize the area, they expressed frustration with limited support, highlighting the disconnect between official pronouncements about supporting youth and the reality on the ground.

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I regret it. If I had protected her, my mother might have lived longer, but I am heartbroken.

Both projects underscore the deep-seated issues within South Korean society, from the unresolved trauma of overseas adoptions and the search for truth and reconciliation to the economic and social decline threatening rural communities. The photographers' work brings these often-overlooked human stories to the forefront, seeking answers and acknowledging the lasting impact on individuals and regions.

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No amount of money can compensate for my life. I truly want the truth to be revealed.