Growing up in the predominantly white Ontario city of Kitchener-Waterloo, Hannah Yoon let herself become the tokenized “little Asian friend,” she tells National Public Radio (NPR). Her friends would even introduce her that way. “No matter how much I tried to blend in, I realized I wouldn’t.”
Now an award-winning photographer, Yoon started capturing stories and images of Canadians and Americans of Korean descent as a personal project two years ago.
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“I originally wanted to challenge the idea of Koreans only being doctors or lawyers,” she writes. “I’m still amazed at how each person opened up and shared their story with me.”
Titled “Hyphenated,” Yoon’s series of intimate portraits and heartfelt introspections showcase how varied these communities are. “My hope is that by hearing even a little bit of our stories, people will explore the depths of their own stories and identities,” she tells NPR. “When we can take ownership of our stories and who we are, it brings diversity to the table.”
— Celina Gallardo
![No hyphen: Lauren McCullough was born in Korea and grew up in the United States after being adopted. “I’m Korean. I’m American. I’m an adoptee,” she says. “I don’t care to hyphenate or qualify; if I did, where would it end?” (Photo: Hannah Yoon)](https://broadview.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/korean-hly003-copy-683x1024.jpg)
![Processing: Through her work, Toronto artist Joyce Jodie Kim aims to shed light on abuse that happens within the Korean-Christian community. (Photo: Hannah Yoon)](https://broadview.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Screen-Shot-2019-10-09-at-2.37.18-PM-1024x949.png)
![Many blessings: Stephen Thatcher was born in Seoul during the Korean War, then adopted and raised in the United States. “I am proud and honoured to be an American and thank God for his abundant blessings; however my Korean heritage is strong,” he says. (Photo: Hannah Yoon)](https://broadview.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Broadview_HY06-copy-684x1024.jpg)
![Accountable: “I don’t have a total grasp of every implication of my Korean-Canadian identity...[but] I want to be accountable to them all,” says Celeste Yim. (Photo: Hannah Yoon)](https://broadview.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Broadview_HY02-copy-1024x691.jpg)
![Exploring: “After 20 years of living in Canada, I’m still learning how to navigate the world as a person of two names, two homes and two cultures,” says Cat Lamora. (Photo: Hannah Yoon)](https://broadview.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Broadview_HY04-copy-684x1024.jpg)
This photo essay first appeared in Broadview’s November 2019 issue.
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