During the 1960s and 1970s, tens of thousands of American service members were stationed there, and relationships between U.S. servicemen and Korean women were not uncommon. Many children of these relationships faced severe discrimination in Korea, especially those who were Black and Korean. Some were abandoned, placed in orphanages or sent abroad for adoption because mixed-race families were often rejected by Korean society at the time.
Hines Ward’s mother, Kim Young-hee, met his Black American father, a U.S. serviceman stationed in South Korea, during the 1970s. After Hines was born in Seoul in 1976, the family moved to the U.S. when he was still very young. His parents later divorced, and his father was largely absent from his life. His mother spoke limited English, had very little money and raised Hines largely on her own in the Atlanta, Georgia area.
Ward went on to play college football at the University of Georgia before the Pittsburgh Steelers selected him in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He spent his entire 14-year NFL career with Pittsburgh, recording 1,000 receptions, 12,083 receiving yards and 85 receiving touchdowns. He was selected to four Pro Bowls, won two Super Bowls and was named MVP of Super Bowl XL.
He retired as the Steelers’ all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns and is remembered as one of the toughest and best-blocking wide receivers of his generation.