Leaves of Change. As October brings a season of transformation, we embrace the shifting scenery of new opportunities, connections, and growth within the Korean American community. This month, we proudly celebrated the launch of our three Regional Chapters in Southern California, Atlanta, and Boston. These events brought together Korean American leaders and innovators, from the craft beverage industry in Los Angeles to an Asian American owned craft soju distillery in Atlanta, to collaborative discussions in Boston. CKA Regional Chapters bring our mission to life by fostering leadership, collaboration, and deeper connections within local communities. We look forward to the continued work in these regions and the launch of our next chapters in 2025.
In Washington, D.C., we hosted a family BBQ on October 5, where members came together in a relaxed and welcoming environment, strengthening bonds within our community.
This month, we also introduced the Legacy Tree of Hope, a special project for the upcoming 2024 Envision Gala and Summit. This digital tribute invites our community to honor the trailblazers and mentors who have paved the way for us. The Legacy Tree will be displayed at the Gala and will continue to grow afterward, serving as a lasting tribute to the resilience, achievements, and hope that define our shared journey—offering inspiration for future generations long beyond the event itself.
We hope you will read this newsletter and witness the power of change and growth as we celebrate our community’s achievements and prepare for the exciting seasons ahead.
Sam Hyun Takes 1587 Sneakers to Shark Tank, Showcasing Asian American Pride
CKA Member Sam Hyun recently made an appearance on the season premiere of Shark Tank to pitch his innovative sneaker brand, 1587 Sneakers, which is catered specifically to the Asian American community. Co-founded with Adam King, 1587 Sneakers aims to challenge the stereotype that Asian Americans are follower consumers, positioning the brand as “unapologetically Asian American.”
In their pitch to the sharks, Sam and Adam highlighted the powerful influence Asian Americans have on sneaker culture, driving trends and styles in the market. The brand, which officially. launched just over a year ago in 2023, has quickly grown from packing and shipping out of a small office in Roslindale to fulfilling orders from a full-scale warehouse.
1587 Sneakers, named after the year the first documented year that Asians landed in America, carries a bold message of pride in Asian American identity. Sam’s appearance on Shark Tank showcases his commitment to elevating and empowering the Asian American community through entrepreneurship.
Former Target Chief Legal Officer, Don Liu, Receives Prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award
Don Liu, the former chief legal and compliance officer of Target, recently retired from one of the world’s largest companies. Throughout his career, Don has been praised for his tenacity and high standards. He is known for working closely with business leaders as a partner rather than just a legal adviser while maintaining unwavering integrity.
In recognition of Don Liu’s significant contributions to the legal profession and paving paths for future generations of leaders, The American Lawyer awarded him one of its seven 2024 Lifetime Achievement Awards recipients at The American Lawyer Industry Awards ceremony held on November 13th in New York City.
NetKAL 12’s Kimbap Chronicles Meets with 30 Youth in Los Angeles
Thanks to KYCC (the Koreatown Youth and Community Center) in Los Angeles, the NetKAL 12 Kimbap Chronicles team had three successful youth circles on Friday, September 20. 30+ youth participated across a middle school girls group, and high school boys and high school girls group. There were fun and deep conversations, and of course, over 60+ kimbap were made.
Susan Go Presents The AI Enterprise for Government at Dreamforce’s Global Public Sector Keynote
Dreamforce is the world’s largest AI conference and Salesforce’s annual conference. This year, Susan Go addressed global government leaders on the profound opportunity for AI in transforming the delivery of government services.
Ed Park’s Same Bed Different Dreams Releases as Paperback
Same Bed Different Dreams, a Pulitzer finalist and the winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, is now out in paperback from Random House. Michael Chabon, author of THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER & KLAY, posted on Instagram: “First book in ages that I wanted to go back and immediately start reading again.”
Chang Lim Receives DEI Champion Award at 2024 OCCDL Gala
Chang Lim was among the award recipients recognized at this year’s annual gala and awards ceremony hosted by the Orange County Coalition for Diversity in the Law (OCCDL), an organization dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession.
Eunice Choi is Named to The CCBJ List of 50 Women to Watch
Eunice Choi was named to the 2024 CCBJ list of the most influential women working to improve the industry with their dedication to the success of their team and company, as well as to commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion, mentorship and professional and personal development. Her bio will be featured in the CCBJ November 2024 newsletter.
James Rhee Inspires Students at Ewha Womans University
James Rhee, visionary CEO, investor, educator, and bestselling author of red helicopter – a parable for our times, recently delivered an inspiring guest lecture at Ewha Womans University in Seoul. Over 100 students gathered to hear his insights on business ethics, accounting, and the importance of making the world a better place. Following a dynamic Q&A session, James stayed to connect with students, sign autographs, and take photos.
Frank Aum is Interviewed by NK News Podcast on Peacebuilding with North Korea
Frank Aum, Senior Expert on Northeast Asia at the United States Institute of Peace, served as the featured guest on the NK News podcast to talk about North Korea, including how to jumpstart diplomacy and improve ties, how US diplomatic risk-taking got NK back to talks in 2018, and why peaceful coexistence is as important as deterrence.
Jinyoung Lee’s Songs of Love Releases in Theaters Across Korea
Jinyoung Lee’s heartfelt film Songs of Love, which was shared at the 2023 CKA Envision Summit, will officially been released in theaters across Korea through CGV/CJ Entertainment on October 30. This is a remarkable achievement for an independent film, celebrating the contributions of the Korean diaspora through music. Be sure to support this powerful message of love by encouraging friends and family in Korea to watch Songs of Love in theaters. View the Trailer.
Hyepin Im Speaks on Asian Americans and The Presidential Election
Faith and Community Empowerment (FACE) CEO & President Hyepin Im was invited to speak at Princeton Theological Seminary’s Center for Asian American Christianity Event: Asian Americans and the Presidential Election. Alongside panelists Khyati Y. Joshi, Brad Onishi, and Jerry Park, Ms. Im engaged in open dialogue about political consciousness, democratic participation, and the presence of faith in civic engagement for Asian American communities.
Group of 82 Inaugural Meeting Elevates Korean American Leadership
On September 30, in partnership with Korea Finance Society (KFS) and Equilar, CKA hosted the inaugural meeting of the Group of 82 in New York City. This event brought together 28 executives and board leaders to strategize advancing Korean Americans into public and private board positions. The initiative is guided by a steering committee that includes CKA Executive Director Abraham Kim, CKA Board Vice Chair Soo Kim Venkatesan, Jeannie Diefenderfer, CKA Member David Chun, and CKA Member Sandor Hau. Discussions focused on creating a directory of leaders prepared for board roles and fostering leadership in corporate governance.
Key participants, such as CKA Member and KFS Board Member Sandra Schubert, and CKA Member Marie Oh Huber, contributed to the robust conversations. Hosted by CKA Board Member Lucy Lee and Akin, the event aligns with CKA’s strategic plan to promote Korean American representation in corporate, media, and political spaces. The Group of 82 aims to provide networking, mentorship, and resources for executives seeking board opportunities while enhancing the visibility of Korean American leadership in the U.S.
Regional Chapter Launch Events: Celebrating Community Across the U.S.
CKA officially launched its SoCal, Atlanta, and Boston regional chapters last month, with exciting kickoff events held throughout October to celebrate. These gatherings connected Korean American leaders and professionals while showcasing the unique cultural contributions of Korean Americans in each region.
The SoCal chapter kicked off on October 10 with Craft & Culture: Tasting & Mixer, featuring a panel of Korean American innovators in the craft beverage industry. Attendees enjoyed a tasting session highlighting Korean American-owned brands. On October 19, the Atlanta chapter celebrated its launch at Minhwa Spirits, where attendees gathered for an evening of community and cultural pride. Finally, on October 20, the Boston chapter’s kickoff event brought together leaders across various industries for a roundtable discussion, followed by a presentation on Korean beverages and a communal Korean dinner.
These events mark the beginning of a new chapter for CKA, and we look forward to more regional chapters launching next year as we continue to build community across the nation.
October marked a season of growth and transformation for CKA Executive Director Abraham Kim as he traveled across the country, connecting with Korean American leaders, supporting regional chapters, and advancing CKA’s mission. At the end of September, Abe was in New York City for the launch of the Group of 82, aimed at advancing Korean Americans into public and private board positions. This new community will provide networking, learning, and support for executives pursuing board opportunities while also offering seasoned board members a platform to mentor rising leaders.
On October 5, Abe joined CKA members in Washington, D.C., for a family-friendly BBQ in McLean, VA. Hosted by CKA Member Young Ahn and Vivian Lee, the event was a great time for Abe to connect with members and their families in a relaxed setting, strengthening bonds across the region as the fall season began.
Abe returned to New York later in the month to complete interviews with two 2024 CKA Envision Gala honorees, Catherine Kim and Kristen Kish. These conversations wrapped up a series of interviews with all four honorees, whose stories will be featured at the Envision Gala and shared as part of CKA’s Elevate video series.
In Los Angeles, Abe supported the SoCal Regional Chapter launch, participating in their event focused on bringing together and supporting Korean American leaders in the region and beverage industry. In Boston, Abe attended the CKA Boston Regional Chapter launch, providing remarks and encouraging collaboration among Greater Boston’s Korean American leaders. He also participated in a Harvard alumni panel, representing CKA and sharing insights as a Korean American leader and Harvard alumnus.
Abe’s travels in October reflect CKA’s commitment to nurturing change and fostering a connected, global community. He looks forward to continuing these efforts as we embrace this season of growth and new beginnings.