Community + Leadership. During the month of February, we focused on nurturing our community and spotlighting leaders whose strides are elevating our collective visibility. This month, we honor the achievements of our trailblazing members, highlighting the significant impact of Songyee Yoon—newly appointed to the HP Inc. Board of Directors—and Julie Kim, recently announced as the incoming CEO of Takeda.
At the start of the month, our Women’s Affinity Group hosted an inspiring webinar designed to empower women in tech leadership, offering strategies to thrive amid rapid AI advancements. Meanwhile, our leadership team visited potential 2025 CKA Envision Gala sites. Stay tuned—we’ll be revealing the location and dates in the coming weeks!
As we move forward with these and other initiatives this year, we are reminded that investing in our community and nurturing strong leadership are essential to our success as an organization and as Korean Americans.
Read on to learn more about these items and other inspiring updates from our members.
Songyee Yoon Joins HP Inc. Board of Directors
CKA Member Songyee Yoon, Founder and Managing Partner of Principal Venture Partners, former President of NCSoft Corporation and 2022 CKA Envision Empower Awardee, has been named to the HP Inc. Board of Directors. This appointment recognizes her expertise in international business, AI, and strategic innovation.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Songyee to the HP Board of Directors,” said Chip Bergh, Chair of the HP Board. “Songyee brings expertise in international business and a deep understanding of AI. As a renowned leader and innovator, Songyee offers a global perspective on emerging technologies and trends in AI, which will undoubtedly help us advance HP’s strategic priorities.”
Songyee is set to play a crucial role in driving HP’s leadership in AI-enabled technology and shaping the future of work.
CKA was honored to host Songyee for the February 6 Webinar focused on the the impact of Korean American women in the tech industry and the evolving landscape of AI. Click below to watch the full conversation.
Junghoon Park Led Business & Society Special Issue on Business and Public Health as Guest Editor
Loyola Marymount University Business Professor Junghoon Park recently served as a guest editor for a leading journal, Business & Society, on a special issue exploring the intersections of business and public health. The issue examines how firms shape and respond to various public health challenges, navigate complex and often ambiguous stakeholder expectations, and engage in interdisciplinary collaboration on public health concerns.
Kevin Yoo’s Company—Haptic—Publishes Revolutionary New Patent
At Haptic, innovation starts with experience—and protecting our IP ensures we can build sustainably while expanding our impact. As we work to bring our HapticNav app to the world for free, we also recognize how licensing can accelerate innovation and make this technology accessible across industries.
We’re thrilled to share our most important patent to date. “System and Method for Haptic Navigation” has been published! A major step toward making navigation not just seen or heard, but felt.
Eugene Cho Interviews with NPR on Recent Humanitarian Pause
Bread for the World’s President and CEO, Eugene Cho, spoke with NPR about how the humanitarian aid freeze and other the tumult at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is affecting efforts to address global food insecurity.
JeanMichael Park Joins Leadership Georgia Board of Trustees as its First Korean American Member
Michael Park has joined the board of one of the nation’s oldest and most successful leadership training programs for young business, civic, and community leaders that have the desire and potential to work together for a better Georgia. Leadership Georgia is a 52-year-old organization that has developed leaders across all sectors and areas of the state.
Jason Moon Voted Vice President of Mukilteo City Council and Takes on Additional Leadership Roles
Jason Moon was voted Vice President of the Mukilteo City Council and has taken on additional leadership roles by joining the National League of Cities Information Technology Council and Small Cities Council, serving as Vice President of the Asian Pacific American Municipal Officials constituency group, and earning a seat on the Puget Sound Regional Council Economic Development Board.
Eddie Ahn Swings Through the Midwest on His Advocate Book Tour
Cartoonist and nonprofit lawyer Eddie Ahn swung through the Midwest on his book tour for Advocate (Penguin Random House), launching his journey in Chicago with a bookstore event and engaging talk with University of Chicago students and faculty. His tour continued in Wisconsin, where he collaborated with student organizers and mentorship programs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to speak at college and high school events, connecting with several hundred students as he discussed his nonprofit work, celebrated his Korean-American heritage, and addressed anti-Asian hate.
Celebrating Korean Heritage and Wellness: A New Blueprint For Self-Care
We are excited to celebrate an important new book on Korean heritage and well-being. Michelle Jungmin Bang’s Sun & Ssukgat: The Korean Art of Self-Care, Wellness, and Longevity launches on February 25, offering a transformative guide to living a healthier, longer life by embracing time-honored Korean traditions. In its pages, you’ll find an inspiring man who reversed his type 2 diabetes and regained his vision; free divers who continue to live strong, foraging and protecting the ocean through their 90s; Buddhist nuns who unlock the secrets of temple food; health patterns I found across China, Japan, and Korea; and steamy, ice cold & budget-friendly sauna house methods that match the best luxury spas in the world.
Early praise calls the book “a work of art, a beautiful love letter to Korean culture, sustainability, and the old (and critically important) ways of living” —Robynne Chutkan, MD, FASGE, Gastroenterologist, author of The Microbiome Solution and host of the Gutbliss Podcast
We are also excited for the book’s upcoming launch event at The Korea Society in NYC and encourage our community to check out the book and discover how these enduring practices can inspire everyday transformation.
CKA leadership has been active across the nation this February, with a focus on self and community care as we support one another in our Korean American community.
In Boston, CKA celebrated Julie Kim’s appointment as the incoming CEO of Takeda Pharmaceutical and welcomed new 2024 CKA members. At the gathering, Julie shared her inspiring journey to become the first Korean American to lead a multinational pharmaceutical company and the first woman to lead Takeda. CKA Executive Director Abraham Kim and Board Member Kee Park spent this time engaging with local members, prospective members, and donors. Special thanks to CKA Member Susan Park for her partnership in organizing the program.
In Washington, D.C., CKA leadership visited potential sites for the 2025 CKA Envision Gala, an event that will bring together trailblazers and leaders from across the country. We are excited to announce more details about this year’s event soon as we continue to focus on building a strong, supportive network for our community.
These initiatives reflect CKA’s commitment to nurturing personal growth within our membership and fostering community care and connection, as we continue our mission to advance the national voice and influence of the Korean American community.