Stories and Sustenance. As we near the close of January, after experiencing frigid temperatures and abundant snowfall across many parts of the country, our thoughts turn to the stories that sustain and nourish our Korean American community. In a season where warmth is sought amidst the cold, we find solace in the rich tapestry of our shared experiences.
This month, we delve into the power of storytelling and its profound impact on our collective identity. Against the backdrop of Korean American Day, we proudly reflect on our recent event, “Elevating Korean Flavors: A Conversation with Award-Winning Chefs,” where culinary masters Edward Lee, Beverly Kim, and Danny Lee illuminated the intersection of food, culture, and heritage. As we celebrate our culinary heritage, we also rejoice in the recognition bestowed upon us, as CKA and our esteemed Executive Director, Dr. Abraham Kim, were honored with the ‘Community Enhancement Award’ at KAAGNY’s 64th Anniversary Gala, held on Korean American Day.
Moreover, we take pride in the burgeoning influence of Korean Americans in the realms of cinema and literature. From the accolades garnered by Korean American directors and actors during award season to the literary achievements of authors like our own CKA Member Janice Y.K. Lee, whose novel “The Expatriates” is being adapted into an Amazon show, our stories continue to shape and elevate our community on the global stage.
As we gather around the hearth of our shared narratives, let us embrace the warmth of our stories and the sustenance they provide.
Janice Y.K. Lee Redefines Collaboration in Storytelling
Celebrated author and CKA Member Janice Y.K. Lee takes center stage for her role in adapting her novel “The Expatriates” for Amazon streaming.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Janice expressed her excitement at the collaborative process, noting how it brought a newfound humanity to her work. Collaborating with others, she discovered the joy of relinquishing creative control, likening her novel’s adaptation to “cousins: definitely related but wholly different beings.”
As “The Expatriates” prepares for its Amazon debut, Janice Y.K. Lee’s journey serves as a beacon of inspiration for creatives within the CKA community, underscoring the transformative power of collaboration in storytelling.
Valparaiso Capital Partners completed sale of $530 million student housing portfolio to Blackstone
Aaron Kim shared that Valparaiso Capital Partners recently completed the sale of AUD530 million in student accommodation, residential and retail assets. The assets included three high-rise student accommodation buildings in the Brisbane CBD and the associated business and intellectual property.
DigiTx Partners led CardioSignal closing of $10 million in Series A funding
CardioSignal announced the closing of $10 million in Series A funding, led by DigiTx Partners, with participation from Sandwater and existing investor Maki.vc. David J. Kim, managing director of DigiTx, will be joining the board. To-date, CardioSignal has raised $23 million. The Series A investment will fund additional clinical validation of CardioSignal’s breakthrough technology and the expansion of its commercial efforts.
Julia Kim Founded Physician-Developed Postpartum Care Stay In Washington, D.C.
Julia Kim, recently founded Sanu, a comprehensive and personalized experience through their postpartum retreat-style experience that promotes recovery, education, and emotional well-being. Their mission is to normalize a culture of postpartum care by providing foundational postpartum support so families can thrive in the postpartum period and beyond. Julia says, “Sanu strives to be the village of support that I wish I had.”
David J. Lee Joins WEBTOON as CFO and COO
David J. Lee has been recently appointed as the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer at WEBTOON. He will oversee the global corporate, financial, and operations teams of WEBTOON, Wattpad, and Wattpad WEBTOON Studios. Junkoo Kim, WEBTOON Founder & CEO, noted “I’m thrilled to welcome David J. Lee to the WEBTOON team. We are confident that David will help us achieve our ambitions as we solidify our position as the preeminent app-based comics platform.”
Star joins Bluespace.ai as their Recruiter
Esther Star Kimm joins BlueSpace.ai as their recruiter where they are building the next-generation self-driving technology to create the safety and certainty needed for truly driverless vehicles. Congratulations, Star!
David Chun joins the Silicon Valley Community Foundation board
Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF) has appointed David Chun as a member of the board. SVCF noted that Board members provide invaluable support and insight to our work. David’s corporate governance and board diversity expertise will add tremendous value to the foundation. Congratulations, David!
Tina Kim Joins Selection Committees of TEFAF Maastricht and New York, Appointed Board Member of the Art Dealers Association of America
Tina Kim, Founder of Tina Kim Gallery, joins Selection Committees of TEFAF Mastricht and New York, a premier European Fine Art and Antiques fair. She has also become a board member of the Art Dealers Association of America. Alongside these new roles, Tina Kim Gallery recently published a new book on celebrated Mexico City based artist Tania Pérez Córdova and closed a major exhibition of Franco-Egyptian artist Ghada Amer, debuting her major bronze sculptures. Mire Lee, an artist Tina Kim represents, has won the Gold Art Prize. This month, Tina Kim Gallery opens a group exhibition of young contemporary Asian diasporic artists. Tina Kim continues to serve on the selection committee of Frieze Seoul.
Board First Consulting, LLC Joins Forces with Boyden
JoAnn McNutt is excited to announce that Board First Consulting, LLC has become part of Boyden, a globally respected executive search firm consistently featured on the Forbes Top List for the last seven years. She will be serving as Senior Advisors to assist in establishing the Boyden US | Board Consulting Services practice. She and the team are eager to add to Boyden’s esteemed history and start utilizing their combined expertise. Congratulations, JoAnn!
InnovatorsBox® Celebrates MABLE’s Advancement into Phase 2 of the NSF Convergence Accelerator
MABLE (Mapping for Accessible Build Environment) is one of the six teams selected to advance from Phase 1 to Phase 2 of the NSF Convergence Accelerator Track H: Enhancing Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities. Monica Kang, Founder & CEO of InnovatorsBox® and founding partner of MABLE, expresses their delight in continuing this impactful collaboration to advance innovative solutions that enhance the quality of life for persons with disabilities.
Stephen Lee’s Law Firm Wins Health Care Fraud Case
In December 2023, Stephen Lee‘s trial team won a eight-year-long case that involved two trials and multiple appeals for criminal charges against a retired interventional cardiologist doctor. Also, another exciting piece of news is Stephen was honored to have been invested as a member of the Baker Street Irregulars, the premier literary society dedicated to Sherlock Holmes.
Songyee Yoon spoke at Axios Podcast on the future of gaming
Songyee Yoon of NCSoft recently spoke on how AI is changing gaming for many video gamers worldwide. The topic was how video game developers need to advance gaming for users through responsible AI. Listen to the podcast here.
Hyepin Im joins Steph Curry and Religious Leaders on MLK Day Voter Registration Launch
Hyepin Im, Faith and Community Empowerment President and CEO joined national faith leaders and NBA star Steph Curry for the 2024 King Holiday Voter Registration and Protection Launch hosted by Faiths United to Save Democracy. As the sole Asian American speaker, she presented on why AAPIs matter in the upcoming presidential elections as well as challenges AAPIS faces because of voter suppression activities.
Jean Lee shares her perspective on how to read and understand North Korea today
Jean Lee gave a free talk at the East-West Center a part of their Speaker Series about her experience in North Korea. She shared how her time on the ground helped shape her current research on the North Korean hackers who are the focus of her most recent project, the Lazarus Heist podcast series for the BBC World Service. Watch the recording here.
Why do we have so many “Davids” in the world – and what to do about it?
David S. Kim has decided, after all these years, to go by “Davey”. Why? Because there are way too many Korean Americans named “David” and in particular, too many “David Kims”. This is nothing new, we’ve known this since forever. It’s also a very common first name among Jewish families because of the biblical significance of the name. However, the time has come for this David to use a different variation of the name given at birth. It’s an unsettling change for people who’ve only called me “David”, but please give “Davey” a try and see if it sticks. Thanks!
Elevating Korean Flavors:
A Conversation with Award-Winning Chefs
On January 11, CKA organized a notable gathering at the National Museum of Asian Art, “Elevating Korean Flavors: A Conversation with Award-Winning Chefs,”marking Korean American Day. Moderated by chef Edward Lee, the fireside talk attracted nearly 150 enthusiasts. CKA’s Executive Director, Abraham Kim, emphasized the growing popularity of Korean American cuisine beyond the community. Chef Edward Lee shared his culinary journey, blending Korean heritage with southern U.S. flavors in restaurants like Milkwood and Succotash. Award-winning chefs Beverly Kim and Danny Lee also showcased their culinary achievements, contributing to the celebration of Korean American cuisine and promoting unity in the culinary community.
Celebrating Steven Yeun's Triumphs:
A Milestone for Korean American Representation
In a significant milestone for Korean American representation in the entertainment industry, esteemed actor Steven Yeun has recently claimed both an Emmy and a Golden Globe award, underscoring the growing recognition of Korean Americans in film.
Steven Yeun’s Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for his role in “Beef” is a historic achievement, highlighting the rarity of Asian actors receiving such accolades. In his heartfelt acceptance speech, Yeun expressed gratitude for the immense honor and acknowledged the support of those who have championed him throughout his career.
Adding to his list of accolades, Steven Yeun clinched his first Golden Globe Award for Male Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Made for Television Movie, further solidifying his status as a trailblazer in the industry. Reflecting on his journey, Yeun emphasized the interconnectedness of humanity and the power of collective storytelling, inspiring future generations to pursue their dreams fearlessly.
In January, CKA Executive Director Abraham Kim embarked on a journey of engagement and celebration, showcasing the vibrancy and achievements of the Korean American community.
On January 10, Abe participated in the 19th Korean American Day Celebration Program on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Speaking at the esteemed Cannon Caucus Room, Abe eloquently emphasized the importance of 2nd generation leadership and the community’s evolving identity. This enlightening event, organized by the Korean American Foundation – Greater Washington, the Korean Embassy, Overseas Koreans Agency, and the Federation of Korean Associations USA, fostered a diverse and engaging atmosphere, with approximately 100 attendees from the U.S. and South Korea.
The following day, Abe continued his engagement in D.C. at our Korean American Day event — Elevating Korean Flavors: A Conversation with Award-Winning Chefs — hosted alongside the National Museum of Asian Art. Abe opened the event with a speech underscoring the significance of Korean American cuisine. He not only highlighted its growing popularity beyond the Korean community but also lauded the exceptional accomplishments of the participating chefs.
In New York City on January 13, Abe received the Community Enhancement Award from the Korean American Association of Greater New York (KAAGNY)during the organization’s 64th Anniversary Gala. Recognized alongside distinguished recipients, Abe’s award acknowledges his impactful contributions to the Korean American community.
Reflecting on past engagements, Abe attended a Board Meeting & Dinner with local CKA Members in Los Angeles on January 26. This event, exclusive to board members and selected local members, underscored CKA’s commitment to fostering connections and collaboration within the community.