“Toby Dawson – Lost and Found,” a one hour documentary about the 2006 freestyle mogul skiing bronze medalist, will air in America in July. Dawson was born in Busan under the name Kim Soo-cheol, but was separated from his family in a busy marketplace when he was only three years old. He was mistakenly placed for adoption with a couple from Colorado in the United States. After winning a bronze medal in the 2006 Winter Olympics, Dawson visited Korea to find his birth family. He has since been appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for Pyeongchang’s bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics.
The documentary was sponsored by the Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS), the Presidential Council on Nation Branding and the Korea Tourism Organization, and was made by Jalbert Productions International. The documentary follows Toby Dawson as he travels to Busan and Pyeongchang. The main purpose of the film is to promote Pyeongchang as host for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.
The film also shows scenes of Toby’s emotional return to the market in Busan where he was separated from his family, a reunion with his birth family and skiing with friends in Pyeonghang.
The documentary also addresses Dawson’s life as an adoptee in America. Adapting to his new home was difficult since there were no other Asians around and the other children teased him. However, he was able to truly enjoy himself and build confidence when he was on skis.
The documentary will air on several different channels in the United States, including NBC, CBS and Fox, until the end of July, and starting in August it will be broadcast internationally in 40 countries.
Dawson visited Korea in February and met Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choung Byoung-gug. Dawson told Chung stories about his early childhood, how much he loved skiing and the story of finding his birth father. Minister Choung said that Dawson’s life was very impressive and that it touched his heart that Dawson was helping Korea promote Pyeongchang’s Olympic bid.
Minister Choung talked about the history of Korean winter sports, and said that the 2018 Winter Olympics can play a crucial role in developing Korea’s image. He added that it is time for Korea to help people from all around the world experience Korean culture.
By Oh Jun Kyung
Korea.net Staff Writer
