Dear CKA Supporters and Friends,
We are only three weeks away from the 2022 CKA Envision Gala and Summit! We are so excited to host our fantastic three-day festivities to honor the inspiring heroes who positively impact our communities. Please join us in celebration on Thursday – Saturday, November 17 – 19, 2022. Get your tickets today (space is very limited)!
At CKA, we are honored to have held successful programs both in the United States and in Korea. At the University of Georgia, CKA and The Center for International Trade & Security (CITS) co-hosted a fantastic U.S.-Korea Security Forum with CKA Members Dr. Kee Park, Jean Lee, and Dr. Andrew Yeo as panelists. We also traveled to Seoul and met with friends and former CKA Gala Honoree, and former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. We were especially delighted to reconnect with CKA members and develop new connections in Atlanta and Seoul. Thank you to CKA Members Sunny Park and John Rim for graciously hosting our gatherings.
We concluded our 2022 Network of Korean American Leaders (NetKAL) Fellowship this month. Under the themes “Building Bridges with Others” and “Community Endowment,” the NetKAL XI Fellows presented their Community Projects to the NetKAL and CKA communities. Congratulations to Annie Canada, Sooj Park, and Jen Kim for winning the $5,000 award to implement their project, Korean Movie Night! We look forward to seeing your efforts come to fruition. We would also like to extend a special thank you to NetKAL Alumnus & Steering Committee Member John Suh for graciously hosting our Fellows and members in the area, to JPMorgan for their support of this program, and LimNexus LLP for hosting the Community Project Presentations at their office.
As always, we are proud to share the accomplishments of CKA members and the incredible impact our Korean American community makes in academia, finance, advocacy, policy, healthcare, law, and business. If you are interested in becoming a CKA member, please submit your membership application here.
Thank you and take care.
Warm Regards,
Abraham Kim, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Council of Korean Americans
Congratulations to Mike Siegl on his Promotion to Brigadier General!
Mike Siegl was promoted to Brigadier General after receiving Presidential nomination and Senate confirmation, becoming the only Korean American Regular US Army General Officer. Additionally, he became the first Asian American Quartermaster General in June. Thank you for selflessly serving our country and inspiring Asian Americans!
Influenced by the Gyeongbok Palace, a former gathering place for leaders, the building was designed by Korean architects. The research center creates a space to educate Americans about Korea and to learn about Korean researchers.
President and CEO Rose Lee was named a 2022 Pinnacle Award recipient by the Asian American Business Development Center (AABDC). The Pinnacle Award recognizes individuals widely acknowledged as leaders in their fields and at the top of their professional careers and is the highest honor of the AABDC’s annual Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business Awards program.
CKA Celebrates Exciting Programs and Membership Gatherings in Seoul, Atlanta, and Los Angeles
Thank you to our wonderful members and partners for all your support of our programs in the United States and in Korea.
- Hosted by CKA member John Rim (CEO, Samsung’s Biologics), Executive Director Abraham Kim and CKA members organized the first post-pandemic dinner in Seoul, Korea.
- Co-sponsored by the Korea Foundation, CKA members Jean Lee (Wilson Center), Kee Park (Harvard Medical School), and Andrew Yeo (Brookings Institution) with Senior Director Linda Butcher spoke at University of Georgia – Athens about Security on the Korean Peninsula.
- NetKAL Class XI came to a close with its fifth and final fellowship weekend in Los Angeles. NetKAL Steering Committee member John Suh hosted a backyard graduation party for NetKAL graduates and 90+ guests in Pasadena.
We look forward to bringing more opportunities to connect with members, develop leaders, and share knowledge!
Jieun started a new position as Research Manager for “Technology and Human Rights in North Korea” at the Harvard Carr Center for Human Rights Policy. Congratulations!
Dr. Chang co-wrote a piece on America’s first Koreatown in Riverside, California, and was quoted in The Korea Herald on Korean Americans in American history.
Rev. Eugene will present the Keynote Address for the third annual Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA) Summit in November.
Chloe was a panelist for the 2022 Women in Alternative Investments Career Forum hosted by WAVE and CAIA Association.
Loyola Marymount University hosted a Family Business Entrepreneurship Conference, where David gave part of the opening remarks. CKA members Eric Kim, Charles Kim, and Young Kim also participated in the conference.
Jenny has started a new position as Chief Operating Officer of Evidence Action. Congratulations!
Equilar partnered with Intapp to enhance relationship intelligence and accelerate business development efforts.
Travis J. Cross appeared at the 2022 Jeju International Wind Ensemble Festival. He guest conducted the Jeju Seogwipo Wind Orchestra, a full-time professional ensemble established by the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, in a program of works at the intersection of Korean and American concert band music. The Jeju Culture and Arts Center Grand Theater performance was broadcasted on KCTV and YouTube.
The University of California at Irvine’s Center for Critical Korean Studies was awarded a Foreign Language and Area Studies grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
Charles Jung was featured in a new PBS documentary, Rising Against Asian Hate: One Day, in March. The film, executive produced by a Korean American, tells the story of the victims of anti-Asian violence that sparked the Stop Asian Hate movement. Rising Against Hate also focuses on the community response, which included simultaneous rallies in 11 cities across the U.S., which were coordinated by Charles and his team of community organizers, with the assistance of CKA.
Dr. Kim began a new position as visiting professor at Yonsei University. She has also spoken with BBC about the significance of VP Kamala Harris’ trip to Seoul and Tokyo and at the United States Forces Korea 8th Army Commander’s Seminar on regional security challenges and the role of the U.S.-South Korea alliance.
Kevin Kim was chosen as one of the first two appointees for the commission to study the potential creation of a National Museum of Asian-Pacific American History and Culture.
Soo was quoted in the Korea Times about US-led deterrence against North Korea in light of recent developments in North Korea’s missile testing and air drills.
Jennifer Koh reunited with bass-baritone Davóne Tines for a Brooklyn Academy of Music debut of Everything Rises, the story of their artistic journeys and family histories.
Dr. Christopher Kwon served as a keynote speaker at the 11th annual Scholarship Awards Banquet for the Korean American Scholarship Foundation – Southwest regional chapter. This wonderful event awarded 39 scholarships worth over $70,000 to students in various stages of their studies, from medicine, advanced nursing degrees, and business, to theological studies.
Yul Kwon was interviewed by Engadget on how Google is working to help satisfy food cravings and find local businesses.
Congratulations to Edward on joining SPUR as the Chief Communications Officer!
To kick off Season 2 of her hit BBC World Service podcast, the Lazarus Heist, Jean Lee, and her co-host Geoff White, along with the musician Dessa and special guests Seohyun Lee and cybersecurity expert Michael Barnhart, recorded a special episode in front of a live audience in New York in late September, answering listeners’ questions, including What’s it like working in North Korea? How are hackers tracked in real-time?
John has been appointed the National Leader of RSM’s South Korea Practice. Their focus is on providing tax, audit, and consulting services to South Korean companies and nationals operating in the U.S.
Dr. Taeku Lee was interviewed by The Harvard Crimson on his decision to pursue political science in graduate school and the development of ethnic studies at Harvard.
Paul was featured in Insurance Times on his perspective on how technology and the risk landscape have changed following business models shifting post-pandemic.
David will be awarded the BLC President’s Award at Chicago United’s 2022 Bridge Awards Celebration in November. Congratulations!
Margaret Park spoke at the EARCOS leadership conference in Bangkok. She spoke on the importance of leaders engaging in continual deep identity work and moderated a leadership panel.
Michael co-wrote a piece on raising the resilience of an organization by emphasizing agility, psychological safety, adaptable leadership, and cohesive culture.
VGXI celebrated the grand opening of its new headquarters and manufacturing facility in Conroe, Texas.
Ekwan Rhow was named a Top 100 Lawyer in California by the Daily Journal. Congratulations!
John Rim
Samsung Biologics has scored a “Gold Sustainability Rating” from global business evaluator EcoVadis for its sustainability efforts and obtained three global ISO certifications, becoming the first global CDMO to concurrently obtain two international certifications for information security.
Samsung Biologics is also launching new proprietary development technology platforms and started partial operations at Plant 4, the world’s largest single biomanufacturing plant.
Dr. Shin gave the welcoming remarks and moderated the panel “The Role of Congress and U.S. Government in North Korean Human Rights” for Stanford University’s North Korean Human Rights at a New Juncture Seminar.
Jenny was quoted in Newsweek about her perspective on North Korea’s increased missile testing in 2022.
Jerry was invited to attend an intimate gathering of journalists and media representatives at the residence of Vice President Kamala Harris. He has also spoken at various organizations and universities like the Yale School of Management, Harvard Business School, and the 2022 Adobe MAX Creativity Conference.
Andrew Yeo was quoted in the Toronto Star on the relationship between the North Korean and Russian leaders and in the Wall Street Journal on Biden, tax cuts, and electric vehicles made in South Korea. He also co-authored a blog post through Brookings, “It’s time to refocus on what Biden can do on North Korean human rights.”
Suzanne spoke at Kellogg’s Women in Finance Dinner and will join a prominent lineup of investment managers to speak at the 14th Annual Invest For Kids conference in Chicago in November.