South Korea's adoption program exposed
South Korea has officially admitted to decades of adoption fraud with 200,000 adoptees impacted
The Rebel Yellow - Issue #50
A deadly 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar has killed over 1,700 people, with the toll expected to climb. South Korea has officially admitted to decades of adoption fraud, while ICE detainments continue to impact Asian American families across the U.S.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth calls for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s resignation over leaked military strike details. At UT Dallas, a Vietnamese student is arrested for allegedly attacking members of a conservative student group, and a Brown University sophomore faces backlash for challenging administrative staffing.
In culture, OpenAI’s new tool revives debates over AI and artistic ethics. Simu Liu returns to the MCU in “Avengers: Doomsday,” Ichiro Suzuki throws heat at 51, and the first AAPI history museum opens in Providence.
Myanmar earthquake death toll climbs to 1,700
A 7.7-magnitude earthquake has killed at least 1,700 people in Myanmar and 18 in Thailand after it struck Friday, leaving rescue teams racing against time.
Casualties
The quake has left approximately 1,700 dead, 3,400 injured and over 300 missing in Myanmar, the country’s military junta government confirmed Sunday. Yet the final death toll could surge past 10,000, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, with economic damages potentially exceeding the country’s annual GDP.
Behind the tremor is the Sagaing Fault, which has long caused big earthquakes. “Based on these historical studies as well as modern geophysical investigations, we (knew) that this place, this segment of the fault, (was) likely to rupture as a big earthquake in the near future,” Shengji Wei of the Earth Observatory of Singapore told CNN, adding that warnings had previously been communicated to Myanmar authorities. “So this earthquake, to us, was not unexpected.”
The devastation reached neighboring Thailand, where 18 have been confirmed dead as of Sunday. Meanwhile, 76 people remained trapped in the debris.
Dire conditions
Rescue work has fallen into the hands of local residents, many of whom brave temperatures of up to 41 degrees Celsius (106 degrees Fahrenheit) without proper tools or technical support. Thousands have also decided to sleep in streets and open areas, fearing damaged buildings could collapse during aftershocks. In Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, the stench of decomposing bodies hangs in the air.
“What we are seeing here is widespread destruction — many buildings have collapsed into the ground,” Han Zin, a resident of Sagaing near the quake’s epicenter, told Reuters. “We have received no aid, and there are no rescue workers in sight.”
International response
In a rare move shortly after the quake, the junta issued an urgent appeal for international assistance. “We want the international community to give humanitarian aid as soon as possible,” spokesman Zaw Min Tun told AFP at a Naypyidaw hospital overwhelmed with injured patients.
Aid teams from China reportedly arrived within 48 hours, with Beijing pledging $14 million in emergency support. India, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Russia have also dispatched rescue specialists and supplies. Meanwhile, the U.S. has committed just $2 million through local humanitarian organizations, with recent USAID cuts hampering the nation’s emergency response capabilities.
“Being charitable and being seen as charitable serves American foreign policy,” Michael Schiffer, former USAID Asia bureau assistant administrator, told The New York Times. “If we don’t show up and China shows up, that sends a pretty strong message.”
South Korea admits to decades of adoption fraud
South Korea’s government has officially acknowledged that it violated children’s human rights by facilitating a foreign adoption program rife with fraud and abuse that sent some 200,000 kids abroad over decades.
The revelation came in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report on its investigation released on Wednesday, following complaints from hundreds of adoptees in the U.S., Europe and Australia.
Damning findings
The commission found that “the state violated the human rights of adoptees protected under the constitution and international agreements, by neglecting its duty to ensure basic human rights, including inadequate legislation, poor management and oversight, and failures in implementing proper administrative procedures while sending large numbers of children abroad.”
The investigation, which began in late 2022, uncovered widespread malpractices including falsified documents to present babies as orphans when they had known parents, identity switching when children died before being flown overseas, and agencies turning adoptions into a “profit-driven industry.” The report echoes what the Associated Press found in its own investigation published last year, which described how birth mothers were pressured or deceived into giving up their children.
Adoptees speak out
Many adoptees have grown up to discover their documents were fabricated. “People need to understand the magnitude of being robbed of your original identity,” Boon Young Han, 50, who was adopted to Denmark at 3 months old, told the Washington Post. “I was adopted to a good family, but that doesn’t really negate any of my rights to know where I came from, how my life began, what happened to me and what happened to my body for the first few months of my life.”
Peter Moller, another adoptee from Denmark who led an international campaign for the investigation, celebrated the findings. “This is a moment we have fought to achieve: the commission’s decision acknowledges what we adoptees have known for so long — that the deceit, fraud and issues within the Korean adoption process cannot remain hidden,” he said, as per The New York Times.
What’s next
So far, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has reviewed 100 cases out of 367 total petitions filed by adoptees from 11 different countries. Of these, 56 adoptees were recognized as “victims” of government negligence, with the remaining cases still under investigation. It recommended that the government offer an official apology, run a comprehensive survey of adoptees’ citizenship status and develop remedies for victims whose identities were falsified. The inquiry is set to expire in May, and some activists are calling for an extension.
While the commission does not have the power to prosecute adoption agencies, the government is required by law to follow its recommendations. Multiple European countries have also launched investigations into their own culpability in the Korean adoption system, while the U.S., which received the most children among other nations, has not yet done so.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth calls for “f*cking liar” Pete Hegseth to “resign in disgrace”
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) has called for the immediate resignation of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, labeling him a “f*cking liar” after reports confirmed that he shared sensitive military information, deemed by many as classified, in an unsecured group chat. Duckworth, a Thai American combat veteran and member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, accused Hegseth of endangering American service members by leaking sensitive details about U.S. military operations in Yemen.
Attack details sent over chat
The controversy stems from a report by The Atlantic, which revealed that Hegseth disclosed the timing and sequencing of a U.S. military assault on Yemen’s Houthi militants in a Signal group chat. The chat included top Trump administration officials and was inadvertently joined by The Atlantic’s Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg, who later published the messages.
According to the leaked transcripts, Hegseth provided real-time details of a March 15 airstrike, including the launch times of F-18 fighter jets, MQ-9 Reaper drones and Tomahawk missiles. National security experts argue that this type of information is inherently classified, as it could have compromised the mission and put American pilots at risk. Hegseth has denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the messages did not contain classified material.
“Pete Hegseth is a f*cking liar,” Duckworth said in a statement on March 26. “This is so clearly classified info he recklessly leaked that could’ve gotten our pilots killed. He needs to resign in disgrace immediately.”
Calls for investigation and accountability
Duckworth insisted that Hegseth, along with every official involved in the chat, must face an independent investigation. “If Republicans won’t join us in holding the Trump Administration accountable, then they are complicit in this dangerous and likely criminal breach of our national security,” she said.
Her concerns are echoed by some Republicans who have broken ranks with the Trump administration. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has announced that he will request an inspector general investigation into the use of Signal for military discussions. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) also criticized the administration, saying the White House is “in denial” about the severity of the breach.
Trump dismisses accusations
President Donald Trump has so far resisted calls to dismiss Hegseth, rejecting the allegations as a “witch hunt.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also defended the former Fox host last week, dismissing the controversy as overblown and politically motivated. Leavitt further questioned the credibility of The Atlantic, calling Goldberg a “registered Democrat and an anti-Trump sensationalist reporter.”
National security concerns
As calls for accountability grow, Duckworth warned that the leaked information not only jeopardized U.S. troops but also damaged the country’s global reputation. “I’m absolutely sure our allies are thinking twice about sharing classified information with us,” she told Time. “We’ve shown that our Secretary of Defense, Director of National Intelligence and NSA are not capable of maintaining security over classified information.”
Orange County Vietnamese family fears father’s deportation after ICE detainment
A Fountain Valley, California, man was unexpectedly detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a routine check-in, leaving his toddler in distress and his wife fearing he could be deported.
What happened: The man, whose identity is being withheld due to ongoing immigration proceedings, had been living in the U.S. since childhood after fleeing Vietnam with his family, his wife, identified only as Khanhi, told KABC. Despite having a work permit and complying with annual ICE check-ins for over a decade, he was detained in February during a visit to the Santa Ana ICE office. He is now being held at the Adelanto detention facility.
Impact: Khanhi described her husband as a devoted father who cared for their 1-year-old daughter, Evelyn, full-time. Since his detention, Khanhi has struggled to explain his absence to Evelyn, who cries for him at bedtime. A recent jail visit ended abruptly when Evelyn, confused by the no-contact rules, had a tantrum.
The big picture: Khanhi’s husband is just one of many individuals impacted by the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Last month, a 64-year-old lab technician at the University of Washington, a legal permanent resident/green card holder of 50 years, was also detained by ICE after returning from a trip to the Philippines. Such arrests highlight the sweeping scope of Trump’s policy, showing that even those further into their paths toward a U.S. citizenship can still be thrown off-course.
With no clear timeline for his release, Khanhi fears deportation will tear their family apart. “I was naïve to think that there was going to be some sort of due process…but that's just not available to us,” she told KABC.
Vietnamese Texas student arrested for alleged bike lock attack on conservative group
A Vietnamese student at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) was arrested on March 25 after allegedly assaulting members of the conservative group Turning Point USA (TPUSA) during a campus tabling event.
What happened: Liam Thanh Tam Nguyen, 20, who also goes by “Alyssa,” was charged with multiple felonies including two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly swinging a bike lock at TPUSA members, striking chapter president Paige Neumann in the head and vice president Shreyas Dalal in the wrist. A now-viral video of the altercation shared by TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk on X allegedly shows Nguyen knocking over a table before attacking the students.
Reactions: The university’s police department has banned Nguyen from campus while affirming support for diverse viewpoints. Some believe Nguyen had also disrupted a separate TPUSA event on March 6. While some condemned the violence, others criticized TPUSA’s politics, with one Reddit user writing, “I wish the university would stop allowing organizations who use disinformation to table on campus.” The Anti-Defamation League has previously characterized TPUSA as supporting far-right policies.
What’s next: Investigation into the case continues. Aside from aggravated assault, Nguyen, who has been released on bond, was also charged with one count of assault of a peace officer, one count of attempting to take a weapon from an officer and three misdemeanors, including one count of resisting arrest and two counts of criminal mischief. Nguyen faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted on the most serious charges. On the other hand, Neumann, who required a neck brace and pain medication, vowed to continue tabling.
Brown student challenges administrators to justify their roles amid rising tuition
Alex Shieh, a sophomore at Brown University, emailed over 3,800 staff members demanding they explain their value to students, sparking backlash and a university investigation.
What he did: Shieh, a computer science and economics major, emailed Brown’s non-faculty staff on March 18, asking them to detail their weekly tasks and justify their positions. He linked his AI-powered database, Bloat@Brown, which rated roles based on redundancy, legality and whether they qualified as “bullshit jobs.” The email, framed as a journalistic inquiry for the defunct Brown Spectator, drew mixed reactions, with some staff reportedly ignoring it and others defending their work.
What he’s saying: Shieh cited Brown’s $46 million deficit and looming $93,064 annual tuition as motivation, arguing administrative bloat drives costs. “Why are there twice as many staff members than faculty members?” he told Newsweek in an interview. “I’m not claiming to know any of the answers. I guess I have an inclination that maybe we might not need them all because we haven’t had that many in the past and the university has functioned fine.”
The aftermath: Brown, for its part, advised employees not to respond and launched a conduct review, citing potential violations like “invasion of privacy” and “misrepresentation.” Meanwhile, Shieh allegedly faced harassment, including leaked personal data and spam subscriptions. Bloat@Brown was also hacked hours after launch, allegedly by someone with university network access. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), which advocates for free speech, has intervened on the matter, with program officer Dominic Coletti telling The Chronicle of Higher Education that merely publishing information “is not enough to base an investigation on.”
The big picture: Shieh’s work mirrors Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) audits, reflecting broader skepticism of higher-ed bureaucracy. Critics note administrative hires have outpaced student enrollment for decades, but defenders argue modern universities provide more services. Brown spokesperson Brian Clark reportedly emphasized the university’s no-loan financial aid policy, while Shieh questioned whether DEI staffers — now under political scrutiny — were sustainable.
OpenAI sparks Ghibli-style AI art trend that Miyazaki once condemned as “the end of times”
OpenAI’s latest AI-powered image generator, built into GPT-4o, has sparked a wave of viral excitement as users create Studio Ghibli-style portraits. Since its launch on March 25, social media has been flooded with AI-generated images mimicking the signature animation style of the beloved Japanese studio behind “Spirited Away” and “My Neighbor Totoro.”
Embracing the meme
While the tool allows users to transform personal photos and internet memes into any art style, many have focused on creating versions of images that resemble Ghibli’s whimsical and painterly aesthetic.
“Grind for a decade trying to help make superintelligence to cure cancer or whatever, mostly no one cares for first 7.5 years, then for 2.5 years everyone hates you for everything,” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman joked on social media on Wednesday. “Wake up one day to hundreds of messages: ‘look I made you into a twink Ghibli style haha.’” Embracing the meme, he even changed his profile picture to an AI-generated Ghibli-style version of himself.
“An insult to life itself”
While fans have enjoyed the ability to create visually stunning AI art, the controversy surrounding AI-generated content — especially when it mimics a well-known artistic style — has led to discussions about the ethics and legality of such tools.
One of the biggest questions raised by this trend is whether OpenAI’s tool infringes on the rights of human artists. Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki has long been critical of AI-generated animation, famously calling an AI demo in 2016 “an insult to life itself.” He further stated, “I am utterly disgusted. … I feel like we are nearing to the end of the times. We humans are losing faith in ourselves.”
AI and artistic integrity
In recent years, AI-generated fan art has become an increasingly common form of online expression. While some see it as a fun and innovative way to engage with beloved artistic styles, others worry that such tools devalue the work of traditional artists by making high-quality imitations effortlessly accessible.
Studio Ghibli has built its legacy on hand-drawn animation and an emphasis on human creativity. Critics argue that the ability to mass-generate Ghibli-style images using AI undermines the painstaking artistry that defines the studio’s films.
“Broader creative expressions”
OpenAI addressed such concerns by stating that its model does not directly replicate the styles of living artists. According to a technical paper released Tuesday, the AI includes a safeguard that prevents users from explicitly requesting images in the style of specific, living creators. However, broader creative expression — such as the “Ghibli look” — are still accessible.
Despite OpenAI’s assurances, legal experts remain skeptical. Josh Weigensberg, a partner at the law firm Pryor Cashman, emphasized that the legality hinges on whether OpenAI trained its AI on copyrighted Ghibli works. “Do they have a license or permission to do that training or not?” he asked.
Fans react to announcement of Shang-Chi’s return in “Avengers: Doomsday”
Marvel Studios has officially confirmed that Simu Liu will reprise his role as Shang-Chi in “Avengers: Doomsday,” marking his first live-action appearance since “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” (2021). The announcement was made during a five-and-a-half-hour livestream unveiling the film’s massive ensemble cast that includes returning MCU stars such as Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Letitia Wright (Black Panther) and Patrick Stewart (Professor X). The highly anticipated film is set for release on May 1, 2026.
Liu’s playful response
Liu reacted to the news with his signature humor, posting on social media: “pokes head out of karaoke booth,” referencing the karaoke scene in his 2021 film. Fans flooded the post with congratulatory messages, celebrating his long-awaited return.
However, Liu had been dodging questions about his Marvel future for months. Entertainment journalist Liam Crowley jokingly called him out, writing, “You lied to my face twice.” Liu playfully responded, “I loved your suit though.”
“Absolutely criminal”
While many fans are thrilled about Liu’s return, some expressed frustration over the long wait for a Shang-Chi sequel. “It's absolutely criminal that we never got a Shang-Chi 2 before Doomsday,” one Reddit user wrote. Another echoed, “Still can't believe we ain't having Shang-Chi 2. First movie was amazing and then they just stopped.”
Some fans worry that Shang-Chi might get overshadowed by the film’s extensive roster of heroes and villains. “Shang-Chi makes sense as one of the leads if the movie focuses on the new Avengers team,” one fan commented. “On the other hand, if it is truly the behemoth that it looks to be, I think Doomsday will focus on heroes and stars with more MCU appearances.”
Will “Shang-Chi 2” still happen?
Although Marvel confirmed the development of “Shang-Chi 2” years ago, the sequel has yet to receive an official release date. Director Destin Daniel Cretton was initially set to direct “Avengers 5” but stepped away to focus on “Shang-Chi 2” and the upcoming “Wonder Man” series. However, he has since taken on “Spider-Man 4,” leading to more uncertainty regarding “Shang-Chi 2’s” production.
Despite the delays, Liu reassured fans that the project is still in the works. His return in “Avengers: Doomsday” could serve as a stepping stone for the long-awaited sequel, but whether Marvel will prioritize it remains to be seen.
He’s still got it: Ichiro Suzuki fires 84-mph ceremonial 1st pitch on Mariners’ opening day
Hall of famer Ichiro Suzuki showed he still has elite arm strength at 51, delivering an 84-mph ceremonial first pitch at the Seattle Mariners' opening day on March 27. “It was gasoline,” said Mariners manager Dan Wilson, who caught the pitch. “I was glad I caught it.” The moment honored Suzuki’s upcoming Hall of Fame induction on July 27 and set the stage for his No. 51 jersey retirement in Seattle on August 9. Despite falling one vote shy of a unanimous Hall of Fame selection, his place in baseball history is unquestioned — and after that pitch, some might argue he could still contribute on the field.
Masaki Kashiwara becomes 1st Japanese to win Abel Prize
The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters awarded the prestigious Abel Prize to Masaki Kashiwara on March 26 for his groundbreaking contributions to algebraic analysis and representation theory. He is the first Japanese mathematician to receive this honor. Often regarded as the "Nobel Prize of Mathematics," the Abel Prize recognizes Kashiwara’s work in bridging different mathematical disciplines to solve complex problems.
A pioneer in algebraic analysis: Kashiwara, now 78, studied at the University of Tokyo before earning his doctorate at Kyoto University, where he has been a researcher at the Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences since 1978. His work has been instrumental in developing algebraic techniques to solve differential equations, a critical area of mathematics that describes how variables change in relation to one another. During his PhD, he laid the foundation for what would become the theory of D-modules, a major tool in algebraic analysis.
Legacy of mathematical innovation: Kashiwara’s research also extended into representation theory, a mathematical framework that explores symmetries in algebraic structures. His concept of crystal bases allowed for complex symmetries to be represented in a more simplified, combinatorial form, making calculations more intuitive. Mathematician Olivier Schiffmann of the University of Paris-Saclay noted that “anybody who’s done representation theory in the past 35 years has used some [of his] work.”
Man of humility and dedication: While Kashiwara’s contributions have fundamentally reshaped multiple areas of mathematics, he remains humble about their practical applications. When asked whether his work had real-world uses, he candidly replied, “No, nothing.” Kashiwara remains dedicated to his work and aims to solve the "affine quiver conjecture," an unsolved problem in his field.
First AAPI History Museum opens in Providence
The nation’s first Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) History Museum opened on Hospital Street in Providence, Rhode Island, on March 26, focusing on immigrant experiences often overlooked in mainstream education. Founded by Jeannie Salomon, the museum evolved from a mobile exhibit into a permanent space with Mellon Foundation support. Its interactive displays explore activism, migration and identity, featuring Providence’s lost Chinatown and local AAPI figures. “I want [AAPI] youth to know their history because it’s not in the textbooks,” Salomon said. Acting Museum Manager Setha Phongsavan, a Laotian American, helped curate exhibits, incorporating refugee stories like his father’s. Amid rising anti-Asian hate crimes, Salomon saw an urgent need for education and dialogue. “Asian American history is American history,” Phongsavan said.
I'm glad to hear the truth is being heard. I was in my 40s when I learned my papers were fabricated in America compared to what was written in South Korea. I know several adopties like me, and I haven't met anyone who said their papers in America matched what their papers in Korea said. If the process in Korea has been found at fault and we know countries like America amplified lies...
On a larger scale, all transracial adoption should be investigated, SK is only one of many countries that uses Church-based, transracial adoption as legal human trafficking for capitalism. Both falsifying papers to make money selling babies, with poor screening of prospective parents and little to no follow-up regarding the placement of adoptees. It's not pro-life, it's pro-birth human trafficking that legally made companies like Holt international worth tens of millions of dollars off of stolen babies with falsified documents.