Born in Korea but adopted by an American family, Marissa Brandt grew up in the United States where she played hockey with her sister Hannah Brandt, who competed for the U.S. at the Olympics while she did for the unified Korean women’s ice hockey team (see feature).

Today she will be honoured in Gangneung by the Republic of Korea’s Minister of Health and Welfare, Neunghoo Park, the Director General of the Bureau of Population and Child Policy, Kangho Lee, and the President of the Korea Adoption Services, Wondeug Kim, at a luncheon with other adoptees from Korea who have worked at the Olympics.

The Korean women’s national team player will be appointed honorary ambassador for adoptee birth family search. Neunghoo Park will thank the adoptees for their contribution to the Olympic Winter Games and express the support for overseas adoptees with increased post-adoption services and birth family searches.