About AKASF

The Association of Korean Adoptees San Francisco (AKASF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves the San Francisco Bay Area Korean Adoptee community.

Our mission is to support, educate, and foster community, inspiring adoptees on their life journeys.

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Our History

Founded in 1997, AKASF began connecting adopted Koreans with one another and their Korean heritage, culture, and birthland. Early activities included sharing experiences through panel discussions, “Playshops” with adopted children, dragon-boating, and co-sponsoring screenings of influential films, including those by local filmmaker Deann Borshay Liem.

In 2017, AKASF joined the International Korean Adoptee Associations (IKAA) and celebrated its 20th Anniversary by hosting the IKAA Annual Convention, welcoming over 230 participants from around the world.

Today, AKASF continues to support and connect adoptees through meaningful programs, events, and leadership, fostering community locally and within the broader Korean adoptee network.

What we do

1) Monthly meet up events, which have included:

  • Korean Culture: Cooking classes, Film Screenings, SF Giants Korean Heritage Night

  • Socials: Happy hours (Soju Talks) and dinners

  • Workshops: Korean Citizenship and Writing Workshops

  • Discussion Groups: Focused conversations on topics in the adoptee community (adoptees only)

2) Collaborate and participate with local organizations who support the adoptee and/or the Korean American community. Examples include:

  • Korea Center’s Bay Area Chuseok Festival

  • CAAMFest (Asian American Film Festival)

It doesn’t matter whether you are new to the community or have been involved for many years—we hope to see you at a future event soon!

2025 AKASF BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Christy Zaragoza

Co-President
(she/her)

Christy Zaragoza joined the Board in 2021. She joined the board to be able to contribute to the community and create a space for adoptees to have for themselves. She is interested in hanging out with her dog, doing ceramics, trying new foods, seeing new places and going for long walks at GGP. She hopes to see AKASF continue to be a vibrant and safe community for KADS in the greater Bay Area.

Emily Shewmaker

Co-President
(she/her)

Emily Shewmaker joined the AKASF Board in 2022. Growing up in rural East Texas, she didn’t have many opportunities to engage with or be part of adoptee communities/conversations. When moving to the greater San Francisco Bay Area, the warmth of the AKASF community offered her the solace, space, and connections to dive deeper into her identity and Korean heritage. She hopes to address issues around diversity, equity, and inclusion while also creating meaningful spaces where others who may feel a sense of isolation can feel that they belong.

Song Lee

Board Member
(she/her)

Song Lee joined the Board of AKASF in 2024. A passionate artist and advocate, she began her journey into exploring her identity as a Korean adoptee earlier that year. Discovering a sense of community for the first time, she was inspired by the Association of Korean Adoptees San Francisco (AKASF) and felt a deep desire to contribute to the organization. Her goal is to help others feel the belonging and connection that she has found. Committed to fostering bonding, positivity, and raising awareness of the Korean adoptee experience, Song is eager to use her passion for painting and the arts to empower others along their journey.

Seonah Iverson

Board Member
(she/her)

Seonah joined the Board of AKASF in 2024. She began dabbling in the Asian adoptee community during the pandemic and the spike of anti-Asian hate, which led her to AKASF. From attending her first event early 2024, Seonah recalls experiencing an immediate sense of belonging. This experience fueled the processing of her identity and of being in reunion with birth family - her "coming out of the fog". The AKASF community has made an everlasting impression and has gifted invaluable lessons. She is devoted to creating safe space for other Korean adoptees to learn - from embracing Korean culture in the Korean adoptee way to sharing her own learnings and reflections.