|
A DNA test has confirmed that a Busan man is the biological father of U.S. freestyle skier Toby Dawson, who took bronze in the men's mogul competition at the Turin Winter Olympics last year.
According to the DNA test, Kim Jae-su is with more than 99 percent probability the father of the Korean-American skier, who was adopted in the U.S. 26 years ago. The test was conducted by DNA test firm HumanPass at the request of the Korea Tourism Organization late last month. The KTO was asked for a DNA test by Dawson when it contacted the skier to name him as an honorary ambassador for the state-run tourism organization. Kim accepted the DNA test and came to Seoul to present six hairs and epithelial cells from the mouth on Feb. 3. But the test was not conducted as scheduled on Feb. 9, since the blood sample from Dawson did not contain the serum needed for a DNA test. Dawson sent 10 hairs on Feb. 20 and the DNA test confirmed the biological relationship.
Learning about the result of the test, Kim said, ¡°As soon as I saw the picture of Dawson, I knew that he is my lost son Bong-seok.¡± Dawson¡¯s biological mother remarried after divorcing Kim. Dawson was adopted by an American ski instructor couple in Colorado through Holt Children¡¯s Service in 1982, when he was three years old and living in the orphanage Namkwang Community Center in Busan. In the orphanage, he was called Kim Su-cheol. He had become separated from his mother in the crowd at a local market in 1981.
 |
|
U.S. skier Toby Dawson arrives at Incheon International Airport with his girlfriend Leah Halmi on Tuesday morning.
|
 |
|
After Dawson grabbed bronze at the Turin Winter Olympic Games last year, the story of his search for his biological father hit headlines in Korea. He had already given up on the search at one stage since too many people claimed to be his biological parents.
With his girlfriend Leah Halmi, Dawson arrived at Incheon International Airport from Los Angeles on Tuesday morning. Kim was not there to welcome him. Dawson will leave for the U.S. on March 4 after meeting his long-lost family and attending a ceremony to name him honorary ambassador of the KTO. During the stay, he will also participate in activities to support Pyeongchang¡¯s bid to host the 2014 Winter Olympic Games and visit Holt Children¡¯s Service.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
|
