Dear Esteemed CKA Members and Friends,
We are delighted to welcome an exceptional group of 10 new members into the Council of Korean Americans!
This year’s cohort represents an accomplished and diverse group of leaders whose expertise spans business, entrepreneurship, finance, technology, law, education, healthcare, public service, philanthropy, and the nonprofit sector. Together, they bring a wealth of experience, fresh perspectives, and a shared commitment to strengthening the Korean American community and contributing to society through leadership and service.
We are thrilled to have these leaders join the CKA community and look forward to the insight, energy, and leadership they will contribute to our programs, initiatives, and broader mission. Their backgrounds and accomplishments underscore the strength of our network and the continued growth of CKA as a convening platform for Korean American leadership across sectors.
Please join us in congratulating our newest members on this important milestone. Thank you, as always, for your continued support of CKA and its work.
Warm regards,
CKA
INTRODUCING OUR NEW CKA MEMBERS
If you are interested in becoming a CKA Member, please submit your member application here. CKA’s Membership Committee reviews these applications every quarter.
Karen Choi
Partner, Capital Group
Greenwich, CT
Karen Choi is a Partner and Fixed Income Portfolio Manager at Capital Group with nearly 30 years of investment experience. She specializes in fixed income investing and previously held senior investment roles at AllianceBernstein and Prudential Financial. Karen serves on the Board of the New York Women’s Foundation and the Board of Trustees at Horace Mann School and has long championed diversity and inclusion initiatives. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) designation. Karen lives in Connecticut with her husband and four daughters.
Betty Y. Chung
Senior Affiliate, The Solarium Group
Betty Y. Chung is a former U.S. diplomat and Senior Affiliate with The Solarium Group, bringing more than 20 years of experience in diplomacy, international development, and Indo-Pacific strategic cooperation. Throughout her career, she has led multinational initiatives in crisis response, conflict prevention, and partnership building. Inspired by her family’s history and her connection to post-war Korea, Betty is committed to advancing peace, resilience, and cross-cultural collaboration. She is a NetKAL Fellow, an active mentor, and a dedicated advocate for future leaders. Betty resides in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Stephen Chun
CEO & Co-Founder, Connection Bahn
Stephen Chun is CEO and Co-Founder of Connection Bahn and a global technology executive with extensive experience building communities across Asia and the United States. As Facebook’s first employee in Asia and the first business leader for Meta Korea, he helped establish the company’s regional presence and partnerships. Stephen is a passionate advocate for disability awareness and believes in creating stronger, more connected communities through innovation. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the Wharton School, he lives in California with his wife and two children.
William Han
Senior Vice President & Private Client Advisor,
Bank of America Private Bank
William Han is a Senior Vice President and Private Client Advisor with Bank of America Private Bank, advising high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices, business owners, and executives on investment management, credit strategies, and long-term wealth planning. Raised in a first-generation Korean American family, he brings a practical, relationship-centered approach to serving clients through major financial decisions and business transitions. William earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Irvine, and has more than 15 years of banking experience. He lives in Newport Beach with his wife and two children.
Michelle Kang
Chief Executive Officer,
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
Michelle Kang is Chief Executive Officer of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), leading one of the nation’s largest organizations dedicated to advancing early childhood education. Before becoming CEO, she served as NAEYC’s first Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer and previously held leadership positions at Bright Horizons. Michelle is passionate about strengthening educational opportunities for children, families, and educators while mentoring future leaders. She holds graduate degrees from the University of Virginia and the University of Oxford and lives in Maryland with her husband and three children.
Andrew Chongseh Kim
Senior Foreign Attorney (Partner),
Bae, Kim & Lee, LLC
Andrew Chongseh Kim is Senior Foreign Attorney (Partner) at Bae, Kim & Lee (BKL), where he advises U.S. and Korean companies on cross-border legal matters and international business transactions. A former law professor and litigator, he is widely recognized for his research on the American criminal justice system and anti-AAPI discrimination. Andy is a founding board member and Corporate Secretary of the Korean American Institute (KAI) and has dedicated much of his career to strengthening Korean American civic leadership and U.S.–Korea relations. He earned degrees from the University of Chicago and Harvard Law School.
June Y. Lee
Chair & Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation,
University of San Francisco School of Management
Dr. June Y. Lee is Chair and Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of San Francisco School of Management. Her research focuses on international and gender entrepreneurship, examining how institutions shape innovation and business creation. She also serves as Faculty Director of the CityRise Business Initiative, supporting entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Dr. Lee earned her Ph.D. in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University and her undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Economics from Bryn Mawr College.
Hana Sexton
Founder & Chairman,
Association of Koryo Saram Koreans in America
Hana Sexton is Founder and Chairman of the Association of Koryo Saram Koreans in America, the first U.S. nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness of the Koryo Saram community. Raised in Kazakhstan and educated in South Korea, she has lived and worked across Asia, Europe, and the United States, bringing a unique global perspective to her work. Hana is passionate about preserving the history and identity of Koryo Saram while building stronger connections within the broader Korean American community. She is also a certified yoga instructor and an avid Colorado mountaineer.
Joy Wheeler
Managing Director,
YS Kim Foundation
Joy Wheeler is Managing Director of the YS Kim Foundation, where she leads initiatives that empower Korean American youth, strengthen nonprofit organizations, and promote cultural heritage. With more than 20 years of leadership experience, she has held executive roles at GE Capital, DoubleClick, NBCUniversal, FreeWheel, and CreateMe Technologies, where she co-founded the company. Joy also serves on the boards of Korean American Story and Hoboken Charter School. As a Korean American adoptee, she is committed to expanding opportunities and developing the next generation of Korean American leaders.
Tae Yun Yee
General Counsel,
Sambo Motors Group
Tae Yun Yee is General Counsel of Sambo Motors Group, a global automotive manufacturer headquartered in South Korea. His international career has taken him across the United States, Korea, Germany, and the Czech Republic, where he has supported the company’s global legal and business operations. After graduating from George Washington University Law School and serving as a criminal prosecutor, he pursued business studies at Seoul National University before joining Sambo Motors Group. Based in Maryland, Tae enjoys serving his community through Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service while embracing his most rewarding role as the father of two teenage daughters.