Re: 100% Korean? No, then what %?

[Piapi]

Language does not define you—you are who you think you are. America is a permissive place that allows you to define yourself on your own terms when it comes to race. Korea is also one of the few countries in the world that allows dual citizenship. However, my advice is that you won't truly know if taking up that opportunity is right for you until you actually have boots on the ground in Korea.

You can also choose to live in Korea as a Korean American, just as I do. I naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 1989, and in 2018, I reclaimed my Korean citizenship. I am now retired here. After living in Korea for the last three years, I can say the experience has been positive on balance, though it comes with its own unique set of pros and cons. While Korea is my home base, I am currently searching for a third country where I can spend half of the year. America isn't that country for me anymore—as you may know, it simply has too many issues of its own right now.

I’ve read a few books that beautifully address these kinds of identity and racial complexities. One is Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner, which is a wonderful look at how identity can sometimes be defined by the food we eat. Another is The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver. Pachinko is also an excellent book to read.

Good luck on your journey to finding your identity and happy retirement!

[MichaelY]

Thank you for your feedback. Beautifully written. You are right about America. It used to be the country I wante to retire in. Not anymore, with Trump and things in general. I no longer respect what this country stands for. Sad. When I was young working, I did not think about retirement. But now I do. But I need to stay put until my kids graduate from college, find a job and get married. Maybe, another 8 to 10 years. Oh well, I have to wait and see how I feel then.
I tried to read Crying at Hmart but lost interest after several pages. My attention span is not where it used to be.

[Piapi]

I mostly do Audio books past 70th birthday, downloading from Korea on Libby Apps from my hometown library in Washington state. Crying at H Mart has a very good Audio recording if I remember.

[산정우인3]

As more people from around the world seek to build their lives in Korea, we are reminded of how fortunate we are to call this land our own. Beyond enjoying the comforts of our home, we carry a collective duty: to serve our nation and shape its future for the better.