KAB TEAM & MEMBERS

  • KAB team

    The KAB team members are all volunteers and work for free to make the KAB association live, they are all honest and do not benefit from any advantage, each pays his membership fee.

    Sarah Maréchal – KAB Public Relations

    Sarah Maréchal – KAB Public Relations

    Sarah is born in Busan and was adopted in 1973 by a Belgian family.

    Has Belgian-native older brother & sister.

    Speaks French, English & Dutch.

    Has 1 daughter (21 years old) & 1 son (18 years old)

    Began studying fashion design then set her sights on studying library science at a college of higher education, and art history (contemporary art) at the University of Brussels.
    Is an administrative assistant in a European institution in Brussels.
    Her hobbies are painting, music, literature, cinema, sports and travelling.
    Was in South Korea for the 1st time (Seoul and Busan) in April 2011 on the occasion of the annual International Conference of Korean Journalists, as a “special guest”.
    Discovered Korean cinema and Kdramas (which she is a fan of!) on long-haul flights, and Korean food thanks to the Shilla and Korea Market stores and Hana & Itaewon restaurants that have opened in the European capital.
    Playing the harp and learning the changgo (janggu), Korean drum, since a workshop was held at the Korean Cultural Center in March 2022.
    Took Korean culture courses at IHECS and Korean in 2021 with the King Sejong Institute, and has been taking private lessons with Ran Choi since 2022.

    🎬 Interview of Sarah

    Myriam Lefrancq – KAB Secretary

    Myriam Lefrancq – KAB Secretary

    “I was born in Seoul in 1975 and arrived in Belgium when I was 15 months old.

    I spent most of my childhood in the Dinant region and I now live in Brussels.

    Trained as a jurist, I now work in the social security sector.

    I was lucky enough to reunite with my biological family at the age of 30. I went to visit them in 2005 and 3 years later, my family came to Belgium for ten days. I thus found my two sisters, my two brothers and my dad (my mom having died when I was 2 months old).”

    Ran Choi – KAB Public Relations (Korean)

    Ran Choi – KAB Public Relations (Korean)

    Ran is KAB Public Relations (Korean), and is also Korean language teacher

    Maryse Josse – KAB Event Manager

    Maryse Josse – KAB Event Manager

    My Korean name is Hyun Ja Oh.

    I arrived in Belgium on December 26, 1976, at the age of 5 and a half.

    I was adopted into a Belgian-French family in Mons. It was only later, at the age of 51, that I started searching for my Korean roots. Perhaps it takes sufficient maturity to receive, accept, and forgive. At 52 years old (already!), I am in a relationship and have two daughters, aged 30 and 21. I work in the public service of Wallonia in project management.

    I am happy to volunteer with the KAB group because I find a sense of belonging to a community there. It allows me to share my experiences as an adoptee and reconcile with Korea.

    Helping other Koreans to go through the same journey has a deep meaning for me and helps me feel fulfilled.

    Michael Cheung – KAB IT Manager

    Michael Cheung – KAB IT Manager

    Michael is KAB IT Manager

    Valérie Maquinay – Penningmeester KAB

    Valérie Maquinay – Penningmeester

    Hello, my Korean name is Han Hyun-Mee. I was born in South Korea and found in Masan at the age of 2. At 2.5 years old, I was adopted by a Belgian family in the Liège region (Verviers).

    I studied to become a primary school teacher, but since I couldn’t find work in my field, I pursued training in management-accountancy. After working in Vilvoorde and Brussels, I moved to Hainaut, and have been working as an assistant accountant for a non-profit organization near Mons for 14 years.

    I have been in a relationship for 10 years and have two wonderful daughters, Amélie (19 years old) and Abigaël (15 years old).

    I love traveling, cooking (especially Korean cuisine), knitting, crocheting, and watching K-dramas. My favorite actors are Lee Joon-Gi, Song Joong-Ki, Kim Soo-Hyun, and Ji Chang-Wook.

    My first trip to Korea was in October 2022, and it was the most beautiful trip I have ever taken. For the first time in my life, I felt at home and was filled with incredible satisfaction as I walked through the various streets of the cities I visited. I had never felt so good in my entire life.

    Since August 2023, I have been taking private Korean lessons with Ran.

    I joined K-A-B to learn more about adoption, meet other adoptees, share, exchange, and be part of this community that is unique to us.

Members

  • Become a member too…

    Why are you a KAB member?

    " Very interested in Asia since childhood, and following my meeting with Johan, a former president of KOBEL, I felt drawn to my country. KAB allows you to meet friends and share experiences during activities "

    President

    Frédérick Van Der Plassche

    @KAB

    Why are you a KAB member?

    " I am an expat living in Belgium. I joined the group to meet and to help others if possible and do cool activities with other people who love Korea "

    Public Relations
    and Korean teacher

    Ran Choi

    @KAB

    Why are you a KAB member?

    " Proud to be Belgian and of Korean origin, I want to promote Korean culture to Korean adoptees and (future) lovers of Korea through the meetings and activities that we are going to organize! "

    Public Relations

    Sarah Maréchal

    @KAB

    Why are you a KAB member?

    "I decided to get involved in the K-A-B association to create contacts and exchange with Koreans who have experienced the same journey as me, to better know my roots/culture and possibly help people who have not had my chance. to find their biological family."

    Myriam Lefrancq

    @KAB

    Secretary

    Why are you a KAB member?

    "I rediscovered Korea in 1989, and since then I have been hanging out with other adoptees. I support KAB and everything that is done to promote meetings."

    Tim

    Why are you a KAB member?

    " I'm one of the oldest adopted in Belgium. My motivation at KAB is to bring two cultures together with a great team. We are ready to assist everyone with advice and action. "

    Vasco De Beukelaer

    Why are you a KAB member?

    "I joined the KAB group because I find a sense of belonging to a community where I can share my experiences as an adoptee and reconcile with Korea."

    Event Manager

    Maryse

    @KAB

    Why are you a KAB member?

    " This page is for all members. Put your text here, for example: I want to meet other adoptees "
    send us an email with your text and picture

    what you do

    Your name here

    @your work

    If you like what KAB does, and want to support us, please become a member, it costs only 25 EUR per year. Your membership fee is used to pay for the administrative costs of the association, and for the organization of events. KAB has strict rules for using the money responsibly.

    Members benefit from reductions during activities and discounts at our partners.

    One of our partners is BamkoBooks. Bamkobooks is an online bookstore and KAB members benefit from a 5% discount all year round ! (https://www.bamkobooks.com).

    More will follow ! Thank you for your support!

    Chargement…

Partners

Some partners support us as well and offer to KAB members some discount, one more reason to become a KAB member! (first get membership, then when you come to one of our activities you will receive a member card)

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