Korean American Perspectives

In the final episode of our season, host Abraham Kim sits down with the incomparable Kristen Kish—chef, television host, and the recipient of the 2024 Council of Korean Americans’ Inspire Award. Kristen takes us on a journey through her distinctly Midwestern childhood as a Korean adoptee, her path into the culinary world, and the pivotal moments and mentors that shaped her along the way. We hear K...

This episode features a conversation with Paul Kim, the Founder and Principal of LaSalle Asset Management, CEO and Managing Partner of Aventis Asset Management, and Founder and Partner of 2DS Productions in Chicago. Moderated by CKA President Abraham Kim, this conversation was recorded as part of Mr. Kim’s Honoree recognition at the 2024 CKA Envision Gala and Summit. Mr. Kim was honored for his bu...

This episode of the Korean American Perspectives podcast features a conversation with veteran nurse and elder care pioneer Sue Song, featured on HLAG’s Elderly Care Series hosted by the CKA Health and Life Sciences Affinity Group. Moderated by HLAG co-chair Andrew Kim, this discussion explored how Ms. Song is revolutionizing Korean American elder care in the United States. Sue Song is the Administ...

This episode of the Korean American Perspectives podcast features a conversation with Founding Chairman & CEO of Kizan International Bill Kim. Mr. Kim was one of the esteemed honorees at the 2024 CKA Envision Gala and Summit in recognition of his trailblazing business career, as well as his extraordinary contributions to philanthropy and support for Korean art and culture in the U.S. Born in S...

This episode of the Korean American Perspectives podcast features Eddie Ahn, Executive Director at Brightline Defense, artist, and writer of the national bestselling graphic novel Advocate. Mr. Ahn sits down with CKA Executive Director Abraham Kim to discuss his passion for graphic storytelling, his experiences leading an environmental nonprofit, and the impact of his work with underserved communi...

This episode of the Korean American Perspectives podcast features a conversation with Songyee Yoon, a leading venture investor and strategic advisor recognized for her early and insightful bets on artificial intelligence and frontier technologies. Known for her deep understanding of both technological inflection points and global market dynamics, Songyee brings decades of experience at the interse...

This episode of the Korean American Perspectives podcast features Raymond John, CEO and founder of 12+, a nonprofit organization committed to increasing educational equity by transforming school culture and supporting students beyond high school. In this inspiring conversation with Abraham Kim, President and CEO of the Council of Korean Americans, Raymond shares his journey to change the lives of...

In the third episode of our season, we sit down with Dave Gibbons—pastor, author, and social innovator—for a deeply moving conversation rooted in his newly released memoir, The Shape of My Eyes: A Memoir of Race, Faith, and Finding Myself. What begins as a personal reckoning with trauma, identity, and estrangement unfolds into a powerful story of forgiveness, healing, and purpose. Dave opens up ab...

The second episode of our season features an engaging live conversation with award-winning Korean American chefs Beverly Kim and Danny Lee, moderated by Edward Lee. Edward Lee is the celebrity chef and star of Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars, Beverly Kim is a James Beard Award-winning chef and co-owner of Anelya and Parachute HiFi in Chicago, and Danny Lee is acclaimed chef and restaurateur behind c...

A fireside chat with JoAnne Bass, the former 19th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force and the first woman to become the highest senior enlisted leader in any U.S. military service. Moderated by CKA Board Member Debbie Shon, this live conversation was presented at the 2024 Envision Summit held in Washington, D.C. “JO” Bass grew up as a military child both stateside and overseas but calls Mililan...

We welcome you to Season 4 of the Korean American Perspectives Podcast, brought to you by the Council of Korean Americans (CKA). Our podcast is dedicated to amplifying the voices of Korean American leaders and changemakers across various sectors, including corporate, media, and political arenas. Each episode features an in-depth conversation with a distinguished guest, exploring their unique journ...

Our seventh and final episode of season 3 of the Korean American Perspectives podcast features Jennifer Koh, Internationally-Acclaimed Violinist and Founder & Artistic Director of ARCO Collaborative. To speak with her, we have world-class concert pianist and music educator Alpin Hong as our guest host.   In this interview, Ms. Koh shares with us her many musical accomplishments as a gifted violini...

In our sixth episode of season 3 of the Korean American Perspectives Podcast features Marshall Cho, Head Boys Basketball Coach at Lake Oswego High School.   In this interview, Marshall recounts how an early career in teaching coupled with a childhood love of sports first introduced him to the world of coaching. Later, he describes his endeavors in Mozambique where he participated in high-profile i...

In our fifth episode of season 3 of the Korean American Perspectives Podcast, we speak with Debbie Shon, Chief Strategy Officer of USA Gymnastics, legal and political advisor, NBA registered agent, and Vice Chair of the Smithsonian National Asian Pacific American Center.   Debbie Shon is a third-generation Korean American and a woman of many firsts. In this interview, she shares with us her fond m...

In our fourth episode of season 3 of the Korean American Perspectives Podcast, we sit down with Dow Kim, a former leading Wall Street financier, philanthropist, and loving father.   In this interview, we discuss how Dow leverages his talents and love for finance, his tenure at Merrill Lynch & Co, and his philanthropy work as the President of the Dow Kim Family Foundation.   Join us as we explore t...

Our third episode of season 3 of the Korean American Perspectives Podcast features Tammy Kim, Vice Mayor of the City of Irvine and Founder & Managing Director of the Korean American Center in California.   In this interview, we explore Tammy’s successful career path as a former Fortune 500 company executive, nonprofit leader, and now Vice Mayor. Despite her career success and achievements, Tammy s...

Our second episode of season 3 of the Korean American Perspectives Podcast features Chang-Rae Lee, a celebrated Korean American novelist. To speak with him, we have guest host, Stephanie Han, Ph. D. who is an award-winning author, educator, and speaker.   In this episode, Chang-Rae Lee and Dr. Stephanie Han take a deep dive into his latest novel, My Year Abroad. They explore the novel’s themes, it...

We’re glad to be back with Season Three of our podcast, Korean American Perspectives.   This season, we’re introducing three new initiatives. First, we will be bringing in Korean American leaders within the Arts, Culture, Entertainment, and Sports (ACES) space. Second, we will introduce discussions around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity (DEI) by bringing in subject matter experts and other Kore...

Our first episode of Season Three of CKA's Korean American Perspectives podcast series features Steve Park, the Founder and Executive Director of Little Lights Urban Ministries here in Washington, D.C.   Since its founding in 1995, Steve Park dedicates his time and energy to serving those especially in need within the African American community. However, it was not always a walk in the park for St...

Our eleventh and final episode of Korean American Perspectives features Dr. Stephanie Han, award-winning author of Swimming in Hong Kong. Many of us grew up reading books and novels, often very strongly identifying with the characters or stories we grew up with. But it’s difficult when we don’t see ourselves represented in books or literature, and for many Asian American writers and authors, it’s...

This week’s episode of Korean American Perspectives features Eugene Cho, Founder and Visionary of One Day’s Wages and President-Elect of Bread for the World.   You can’t talk about the Korean American community without mentioning faith and spirituality. For many of us growing up in immigrant families, the church often served as the bedrock that grounded our Korean American society here in the Unit...

This week’s episode of Korean American Perspectives features Jinhee Ahn Kim, CEO and Co-Founder of UYU E-Sports Team.   Jinhee Ahn Kim is a serial entrepreneur who has allowed her insatiable curiosity and her amazing ability to find gaps in the marketplace to lead her career from management consulting, fashion, law, education software, and now eSports. In our interview, Jinhee shares about rapidly...

This week’s episode of Korean American Perspectives features David Chun, CEO and Founder of Equilar, the top provider of critical data on corporate executives, including 70% of the Fortune 500 companies. With his company, Equilar, having a unique view into the makeup of C-suites and board rooms, David discusses current executive hiring trends and the need to fix the lack of gender and ethnic diver...

Our seventh episode of Season Two of CKA’s podcast, Korean American Perspectives, features Dr. Kee B. Park, Accomplished Neurosurgeon and Paul Farmer Global Surgery Scholar at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Park has practiced and taught neurosurgery in operating rooms across the world, from Ethiopia to Cambodia-- even North Korea.    Dr. Park is also the Director of the North Korea Program at the Kor...

Our sixth episode of Season Two of CKA’s podcast, Korean American Perspectives, features Chil Kong, Artistic Director of Adventure Theater MTC. Chil has a long award-winning career with major theater companies across Boston, San Diego, Seattle, and L.A. and is currently the only Korean American aristic director of a major theater company in the United States. Facing the COVID-19 pandemic’s turbule...