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Council of Korean Americans (CKA)

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Council of Korean Americans (CKA)

Amplifying Voices | Building Community | Celebrating Identity | Developing Leaders

The Council of Korean Americans is the leading independent, nonpartisan, national voice for the Korean American community. Our mission is to elevate Korean Americans' voice, visibility, and influence everywhere. We achieve this mission through our four pillars: amplifying voice, building community, celebrating identity, and developing leaders.

06/18/2026

Korean American Voices in the Podcast World 🎧✨

In our series, we shine a spotlight on the voices of CKA members and other Korean American leaders featured on podcasts, sharing their unique perspectives and insights with a wider audience.

This week, we're highlighting several podcasts that are making waves:

📖 The Impossible State
Jieun Baek discusses her book Privileged but Powerless and explores how grievances among North Korea’s elites could shape the regime’s future stability and security.
Listen: https://hubs.li/Q04lBJNC0

📚 Hear Us Roar
Rosa Kwon Easton shares the journey behind her novel White Mulberry, discussing publishing strategy, book promotion, and building a literary career as a Korean American author.
Listen: https://hubs.li/Q04lBVB00

🥬 Kitchen Confidante Podcast
Ji Hye Kim discusses opening her new restaurant Little Kim, celebrating 10 years of Miss Kim, and evolving Korean cuisine through approachable vegetarian dishes rooted in Asian American traditions.
Listen: https://hubs.li/Q04lBWkJ0

🎨 Color Shift: Transracial Adoptees
Sarah Myer shares how transracial adoption, q***r identity, fandom, and art shaped the award-winning graphic memoir Monstrous: A Transracial Adoption Story.
Listen: https://hubs.li/Q04lBQSj0

🇰🇷 Korea Deconstructed
Philip Ahn Cuddy reflects on the legacy of independence activist Ahn Chang-ho and discusses the enduring impact of the Dosan family legacy on Korean and Korean American history.
Listen: https://hubs.li/Q04lBHGk0

🇰🇷🇺🇸 Subscribe to the CKA Newsletter and be the first to receive updates on events, community initiatives, and news like this: https://hubs.li/Q04lC5-X0

💙 What’s your favorite podcast episode that features a Korean American perspective? Let us know in the comments below!

06/17/2026

Meet our newest cohort of CKA Members! 💙

These individuals reflect the remarkable depth of leadership across our community, spanning finance, diplomacy, healthcare, entrepreneurship, law, academia, technology, philanthropy, and community advocacy. Collectively, they bring decades of experience, global perspective, and a strong commitment to service, innovation, and impact.

We are thrilled to welcome them to the CKA community. Please help us welcome:

Karen Choi
Andrew Kim
Stephen Chun
Betty Y. Chung
William Han
Michelle Kang
Dr. June Y. Lee
Hana Sexton
Joy Wheeler
Tae Yun Yee

📣 Interested in membership? Submit your application for the next cohort by August 16: https://hubs.li/Q04lBXLw0

06/16/2026

Meet the 2026 CKA Emerging Leaders Fellows! ✨

A few weeks ago, this selected group of Korean diaspora students and young professionals officially began their 10-week hybrid leadership journey. This initiative continues CKA’s long-standing legacy of next-generation development dating back to 2016, while introducing a brand-new program format. As our inaugural cohort, these fellows are the very first participants to experience this specific curriculum.

Selected through a competitive application process, they are currently engaging in a dynamic incubator that combines weekly interactive webinars, 1:1 mentorship with industry experts, and curated leadership readings, alongside immersive, in-person experiences in New York and Washington, http://D.C. Throughout the summer, they will connect with over 40 prominent Korean American leaders, including CKA members who are eager to give back and contribute to the next generation of leadership.

Please join us in welcoming our 2026 ELF cohort and supporting them on their journey this summer and beyond! 🎉

Seongbeen Bae
Leah Cho-Carrier
Clive Chong
Sydney Fish
Ellason Hwang
Rebecca Jang
Irene Kim
Colby Ko
Olivia Lee
Hojin Mun.

Learn more about the leadership program. https://hubs.li/Q04lk9mg0

06/15/2026

Exciting news: CKA has a new Board Chair — and she's been with us since the very beginning.

Congratulations to Catharina Min, co-founder of CKA and our newly elected Board Chair. We are energized and ready for what's ahead.

Learn more here: https://hubs.li/Q04lmLW70

06/12/2026

Leading Change with the Network of Korean American Leaders XIV Fellowship 💙

Last weekend, the XIV Fellowship gathered in Los Angeles under the theme, “Leading Change and Creating Impact,” continuing our 20th anniversary year with a weekend focused on leadership development. Fellows participated in leadership sessions led by Greg Patton, Professor at the USC Marshall School of Business and who have formerly done other trainings for the NetKAL program.

Here are some quick reminders from the weekend:

📣 Deepen your own self-awareness and map others' strengths.
🤝 Build strong communities by showing up for each other.
🔥 Learn from veteran leaders who led before you.

The fireside chat on Saturday evening with Jane Cha Cutler, Phillip Hyun, and Jeffrey Yoo was a major highlight. Diving deep into the intersection of leadership, entertainment, and technology, they shared invaluable insights on how our community can navigate rapidly shifting industries, drive creative innovation, and leverage technology to scale our impact.

Hearing their journeys was a powerful reminder that our learning never stops, especially when we have the opportunity to connect across industries. It was incredible meeting with other CKA members, NetKAL alumni, and Korean American leaders in LA at the CKA NetKAL Reception—including CKA President Angela Sungmee Killoren and CKA Board Members Gloria Lee, Esther Song, William Um, Eugene Choi, and Lisa Yang.

As we celebrate 20 years of NetKAL, Weekend 2 continued to build momentum for a transformative year ahead!

🇰🇷🇺🇸 Subscribe to the CKA Newsletter and be the first to receive updates on events, community initiatives, and news like this: https://hubs.li/Q04l7vWN0

💡 CKA's mission is to advance the national voice and influence of the Korean American community. We do this through our 4 pillars: Advocate for Our Community, Build Community Across Boundaries, Celebrate Our Identity and Impact, and Develop Bold & Compassionate Leaders. NetKAL embodies our commitment to fostering leadership excellence, forging lasting connections, and empowering Korean American executives to make a meaningful impact on a broader scale.

06/11/2026

Korean American Excellence + Korean Culture in the News 🇰🇷✨

In our series, we explore our community's influence, which is more visible than ever. Whether it's through groundbreaking achievements or cultural contributions, we're here and we're making a lasting impact.

This week’s featured story 📰: CKA Member Dr. Suzan Song was featured for her new book and her leadership in advancing trauma-informed mental health care for refugee and immigrant communities. As a nationally recognized psychiatrist, author, and advocate, Dr. Song continues to help shape conversations around healing, identity, and culturally responsive care.y >> https://hubs.li/Q04l5BPC0

Other recent news includes:

📚 Korean American advocate Stephanie Drenka and the Dallas Asian American Historical Society secured a permanent archive home through a partnership with the Dallas Public Library, helping preserve Asian American community history in North Texas for future generations >> https://hubs.li/Q04l5ZWl0

🎭 Broadway costume designer Linda Cho earned two Tony Award nominations for Ragtime and Shmigadoon!, continuing her celebrated run following her Tony-winning work on The Great Gatsby >> https://hubs.li/Q04l5ZYk0

🍝 Korean American chef Sechul Yang opened Sono in New York’s East Village, bringing together his Korean heritage and Italian culinary background >> https://hubs.li/Q04l610H0

And more!

What recent news related to Korean culture and the Korean American community has inspired you lately? Share your thoughts and stories in the comments below! 💙⤵️

🇰🇷🇺🇸 Subscribe to the CKA Newsletter and be the first to receive updates on events, community initiatives, and news like this: https://hubs.li/Q04l5-4t0

06/10/2026

Examining Power and Vulnerability in North Korea 🎙️📚

CKA Member Jieun Baek recently joined Victor Cha on CSIS’s The Impossible State podcast to discuss her newest book, Privileged but Powerless: How North Korean Elite Grievances Reveal the Regime’s Greatest Weakness.

In conversation with Victor Cha, Senior Vice President for Asia and Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Jieun explored the paradox facing North Korea’s elite class: while those closest to the regime experience extraordinary privilege, they also live under intense surveillance, insecurity, and fear. Drawing from her research, she shared how these hidden grievances may expose one of the regime’s deepest vulnerabilities.

The discussion highlighted Jieun’s work examining human rights, power structures, and everyday realities within North Korea through rigorous reporting and analysis.

Join us in celebrating Jieun Baek’s important contributions to global conversations on North Korea and human rights! 🌟

🇰🇷🇺🇸 Subscribe to the CKA Newsletter to receive inspiring updates from CKA members like this one: https://hubs.li/Q04kWW6F0

💡 CKA's mission is to advance the national voice and influence of the Korean American community. We do this through our 4 pillars: Advocate for Our Community, Build Community Across Boundaries, Celebrate Our Identity and Impact, and Develop Bold & Compassionate Leaders. Member features like this one celebrate the identity and impact of our members and help amplify their work, fostering a stronger, more connected community that thrives together.

06/05/2026

In May 2026, we focused on what becomes possible when Korean American leaders invest in one another through mentorship, partnership, and shared growth. As the only national organization of Korean American leaders from all walks of life, we believe we are most effective when we invest in leadership.

Here’s how we continued building what comes next ⤵️

🌴 We announced the inaugural NextGen Summit that will take place at the 2026 Gala & Summit for emerging Korean American leaders ages 18–35.

🎨 We co-hosted the Frieze Seoul 2026 VIP Cocktail Reception during Frieze New York, bringing together artists, curators, founders, and community leaders to celebrate Korean and Korean American voices in the global art world.

🌟 We joined members and partners at The Asian American Foundation’s Heritage Month Summit in New York City, highlighting Korean American leadership across business, media, storytelling, and culture.

⚖️ We amplified members making an impact through public service, scholarship, and storytelling, including Suzan Song, Ed Han, Jieun Baek, and Jason Moon.

💙 We celebrated CKA Vice President Linda Butcher ahead of her transition into a new leadership role, honoring her years of dedication and impact at CKA.

These moments reflect what can happen when leaders continue to show up for this community with generosity, partnership, mentorship, and belief in what Korean American leadership can accomplish together.

🇰🇷🇺🇸 Read the full newsletter + subscribe here: https://hubs.li/Q04k7CMp0

💡 CKA's mission is to advance the national voice and influence of the Korean American community. We do this through our 4 pillars: Advocate for Our Community, Build Community Across Boundaries, Celebrate Our Identity and Impact, and Develop Bold & Compassionate Leaders.

06/04/2026

A letter from CKA President Angela Sungmee Killoren.

As CKA enters its 15th year and NetKAL approaches its 20th anniversary, we look forward to continuing to build, grow, and invest in Korean American leadership together.

🇰🇷🇺🇸 Read Angela’s full letter in the graphic and view the full newsletter here: https://hubs.li/Q04k7wTB0

Address

1100 15th Street NW, Suite 400
Washington D.C., DC
20005

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

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+12026600900

Website

https://councilka.org/

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