2018 Seminar Speakers

Thank you to speakers at the 2018 Seminar!

Monday

Speaker

Biography

Mr. Wan-joong Kim

Consul General, Korean Consulate General in Los Angeles

Appointed as Consul General of the Korean Consulate General in Los Angeles in 2017, Mr. Wan-Joong Kim has assumed several key roles within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Korea since 1990. Some of them include his serving as a Director-General for Overseas Koreans and Consular Affairs for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2017), being the Minister-Counselor for the Korean Embassy in Singapore (2012) and in Peru (2009), and the Director of the East Asian Trade Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (2007). He has also served as a Consul at the Korean Consulate General in New York (2006), as a Director for Strategic Planning for the National Security Council (2005), and as the Consul at the Korean Consulate General in Osaka, Japan. He received his BA in English Language from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul, Korea.

Ms. Sung Kim

Director & Co-founder,

National Korean Studies Seminar

Ms. Sung Kim is the Director and Co-founder of the National Korean Studies Seminar. Graduate of Seoul National University, she has taught in the Korean dual language program in LAUSD and HLPUSD for 23 years. She is also the President of International Korean Educators Network (IKEN) and a board member and former president of K-12 Korean Language Teachers Association. She played a major role in developing the K-12 online Korean Curriculum and online Korean Course. She was awarded as 2011 Distinguished Teacher of the Year from the Ministry of Education in South Korea and was awarded the Global Korea Award from Michigan University in 2017.

Ms. Mary Connor

Co-founder & Advisor,

National Korean Studies Seminar

Ms. Mary Connor taught United States history and Asian Studies for 35 years in the Los Angeles area. She was the co-founder of the Korea Academy for Educators and served as President and Program Director from 2004 to 2012. She now serves as Advisor for the National Korean Studies Seminar. Since 2004, she has organized approximately 100 days of workshops on Korea from coast to coast. Mary has also published two library reference books (The Koreas: A Global Studies Handbook and Asia in Focus: The Koreas). She is the author of Common Core: Korea, Lessons and Resources for the K-12 Classroom (2015).

As a result of her efforts, she received the Republic of Korea’s Prime Minister’s Award in 2011. In the same year, she received the Daekyo Global Education Award that included a free trip to Korea for Mary and her husband. She has also been honored by the Korean Consulate General Los Angeles and has accepted awards from the Council of Korean Studies at Michigan State University, the Peace Corps Association, and the Organization of American Historians. She was also awarded the Pestalozzi Award from Korean American Educational Research Center in 2014.

Consul Nakjung Kim

Director, Korean Cultural Center, Los Angeles

Consul Nakjung Kim is the director of Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles. He attended the Law School of Seoul National University in Korea as an undergraduate, Kyung Hee University in Korea for his MA degree in public administration, and University of Wisconsin for his MA degree in Law. From 2009 to 2012, he was the Minister Counselor at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Italy. Then from 2013 to 2014, he was the Director General, Police Planning Office, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Republic of Korea. From 2014 to 2016, he acted as the Deputy Secretary to the President for Culture and Sports in the Office of the President Republic of Korea.

As the director of the Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles, he has played the role of providing key funding for the National Korean Studies Seminar since 2016. He has also supported the Korean Cultural Outreach Program, and the publication of the resource book, Teaching East Asia: Korea.

Mr. Daniel Kim

General Manager,

Education, Korean Cultural Center, Los Angeles

As the general manager of educational seminar and workshop at the Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles (KCCLA), Mr. Daniel Kim has enthusiastically supported the NKS seminar to ensure its success every year. He is the principle person who suggested the Korean Culture Outreach Program and the publication of Common Core: Korea in 2015 and Teaching East Asia: Korea.

Ms. Jini Shim,

Assistant Director of the National Korean Studies Seminar

Since 2016, Jini Shim served as the assistant director of NKS. She is a Korean language teacher at KECOS, a Korean online school, and at the Korean American Center in Irvine, CA. Since 2014, she has participated in various online Korean curriculum development projects hosted by IKEN and NKS. In 2015, she studied at the Academy of Korean Studies as a graduate fellow, and also has background working in media production and arts exhibition. She received her Bachelor’s in Communication from UC San Diego and her Master’s in Applied Linguistics / TESOL from San Diego State University. She plans to pursue a multiple subject teaching credential at CSU Fullerton in the fall.

Dr. Jennifer Jung-Kim

Lecturer, Department of Asian Languages and Cultures, UCLA

Jennifer Jung-Kim has a Ph.D. in Korean History from UCLA and teaches courses on Korean history and East Asian studies in the UCLA Department of Asian Languages and Cultures and in the International and Area Studies Program. Additionally, she serves as senior editor of the Korean Classics Library series and assistant director of the UCLA Center for Buddhist Studies. Jennifer has been teaching in K-12 workshops for more than 15 years. She is also the parent of a rising senior in the LAUSD system and is an avid volunteer in the Speech and Debate circuit.

Kristine Dennehy, Ph.D.

Professor and Chair, Department of History

California State University Fullerton

Kristine Dennehy is Professor and Chair of History at California State University Fullerton where she teaches Korean, Japanese and World History, as well as seminars in Historical Methodology. She has studied at Yonsei University and her dissertation (UCLA, 2002) “Memories of Colonial Korea in Postwar Japan” focused on evaluations of Japanese imperialism in Korea by ethnic Koreans in Japan and former colonial officials in the late 1940s and 1950s. Since 2016, she has served as a National Screening Committee Member for the Fulbright Commission in Korea.

Dr. Dong Suk (Don) Kim

Adjunct professor

Ethno-musicology, UCLA

Dr. Dong Suk Kim has participated in our programs for over a decade and has received high ratings by participants. He is the founder of the Korean Classical Music and Dance Company, and the Director and founder of the Korean Classical Music Institute of USA. He has participated in over 5,000 school performances and has performed at prestigious venues such as the LA Music Center, the Orange County Performing Arts Center, and the Nixon Whitehouse.

Mr. Warren Wonil Kim

Pansori singer

Mr. Warren Wonil Kim is a vocalist with a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from USC. One of his many performances include the doctor role in the Opera “ La Traviata” and Baritone solo in “Messiah” by Handel. But after losing his voice due to vocal cord nodules, his newfound passion became “Pansori”. He studied Pansori for about 15 years from “Tong Dal Cho”, who is Korea’s Important Intangible Cultural Property as a Pansori master. He runs “Woori Sori (Our voice)” classes and has taught more than hundred students in the past several years.

Ms. Soo Hee Ko

Director, Ko’s Korean Traditional Dance Institute

Ms. Sue Hee Ko is the Director Of Ko’s Korean Traditional Dance Institute and a student Of Tong Dal Cho Master Of Pansori. As a Korean traditional dance master, she is also the National Important Intangible Cultural Property No.92 Initiator Of Taepyeong Mu (Gang Seonyoung Current). In addition to such role, she is the chairperson of various groups such as the Pong San Mask Dance in the USA, ‘Woon Woo Poong Roe’ Samul Nori, Jeung Min Style Gyo Bang Dance Preservation Society in Los Angeles, and is the LAUSD’s Beyond the Bell and KDLP Korean dance and music teacher.

Ms. Jiyoung Park,

General Manager of Field Trip and Public Relations p, Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles

Bilingual in both English and Korean, Ms. Jiyoung Park has always strived to share her passion for both cultures with others. Through the tours given at Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles, visitors can learn about the Korean culture, history, and life styles which helps deepen their understanding of different communities.

Tuesday

Speaker	Biography
Mr. Willie Seung Director, International Foundation of Korea University	As a board member of the International Foundation for Korea University (IFKU), he has been instrumental in having the organization become one of the sponsors of NKS seminar. IFKU supports our fellowship program that allows outstanding educators who live outside California to attend the seminar. As a non-profit organization founded in 1977, IFKU increases support to Korea University to help further the globalization of education and cultural exchanges at the worldwide level. IFKU will actively promote exchange programs at Korea University for students in the United States and other countries around the world.
Mr. Won Yi, Director of International Foundation of Korea University (IFKU)	Mr. Won Yi is the VP and Branch Manager of California Bank and Trust at their Wilshire Center branch and is a board member of the Center for Powerful Public Schools. A native of Korea, Mr. Yi is a graduate of Korea University in Seoul. Mr. Yi has been in the banking industry for over 25 years, is a member of the Rotary Club of Koreatown and has been a Hanmi Radio commentator on the economy for the last 10 years. His interest in education began when he was a teaching assistant in the Bilingual Department at Benjamin Franklin Jr. High School in San Francisco. Mr. Yi graduated from Korea University in Seoul with a BA in English Literature, minor in Education and studied at SFSU Graduate School in Bilingual Ed.
Dr. Suzie Oh Educational Consultant Former Principal, LAUSD	Dr. Suzie Oh is currently an educational consultant (retired principal in Los Angeles Unified School District effective 7/1/16). She taught ESL at Los Angeles High School and other elementary schools. She served as an ESL / Multicultural Education Advisor / Specialist in the central school district office before she worked as principal at Third Street School. She earned her doctorate in education from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, in Educational Leadership. She is also an adjunct professor at California State University Los Angeles. Lastly, she is in great demand as a presenter and author on a variety of educational topics and issues.
Youngmi Yi Director The Myung Won Cultural Foundation, Tea Ceremony	As a graduate of the Myungwon Cultural Foundation Korean Tea Ceremony courses (founded and operated by Eui Jung Kim who is registered as the 27th “Korean Intangible Cultural Assets”), Ms. Youngmi Yi serves as the Director of Myungwon Cultural Foundation Arizona & California Branch. She is also the Director of the Arizona Asian American Association and President of the Korean Women’s International Network of Arizona.
Ms. Meher McArthur Asian art Curator, author and educator	Ms. Meher McArthur is an independent Asian art curator, author and educator. She worked for nine years as Curator of East Asian Art at Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena, where she curated 15 exhibitions and several permanent galleries. Her most recent major exhibitions have been with a traveling exhibitions company. They include Folding Paper: The Infinite Possibilities of Origami (2012-2016) and Above the Fold: New Expressions in Origami, (2015-2017). She is currently Creative Director for the Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden in Pasadena and curates regular exhibitions in its En Gallery. She recently took up a new position as Curator of Academic Programs and Collections at Scripps College, Claremont. She lectures regularly at Southern California museums and writes about art for magazines and websites including www.buddhistdoor.com. She has published many books, such as Gods and Goblins, Reading Buddhist Art: An Illustrated Guide to Buddhist Signs and Symbols, The Arts of Asia: Materials, Techniques, Styles, a biography of Confucius, and two books on origami, including her latest New Expressions in Origami Art. Her children’s books are An ABC of What Art Can Be for the Getty Museum and Michael and the Magical Museum for Pacific Asia Museum.
Ms. Kee Soon Sung President of the Korean Folk Paintings Association of America	Ms. Kee Soon Sung is the president of the Korean Folk Paintings Association of America. She is an award-winning artist who is recognized for her work in both the US and in South Korea. She has had countless exhibitions, and some of the more recent ones took place at the Whittier Gallery, Korean Cultural Center in Los Angeles, and at the Park View Gallery. She has also participated as a judge of world-wide Minhwa & Art Contests in US and Korea. Her artworks are displayed at various government agencies such as the LA Korean Consulate and the Korean Education Center in LA. She has also previously worked with UC Irvine, LA High School, and various middle and high schools throughout the US in activities that promote and provide education about the Korean folk paintings.
Dr. Mariana Linker- Israeli LACMA Docent	Born in Romania, Dr. Mariana Linker-Israeli immigrated with her parents to Israel, where she grew up. She studied Biology at the Hebrew University and the Weizmann Institute. After post-doctoral studies at Caltech in Pasadena and the Weizmann, she returned with her family to the US. She has worked in medical research as an Associate Professor at USC and UCLA and pursued her interests in the arts. She joined the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) docent training program in 2005. Since then, she has been giving tours to school students and to the general public. Her interest in Korean culture was ignited by one of our seminars. She has continued reading about Korea and has provided outstanding tours to our seminar participants for several years. She finds giving tours to our seminar participants very rewarding.

Wednesday

Speaker	Biography
Dr. Sung Deuk Oak	Dr. Sung Deuk Oak is Dongsoon Im and Mija Im Chair Associate Professor of Korean Christianity, Department of Asian Languages and Cultures, UCLA. His publications include The Making of Korean Christianity: Encounters of Protestantism with Korean Religions, 1876~1915, the three-volume series of The History of the Korean Bible Society, 1876-2000, and the five-volume series of Horace G. Underwood Papers, 1885-1921.
Ms. Sung Kim Director & Co-founder, National Korean Studies Seminar	Ms. Sung Kim is the Director and Co-founder of the National Korean Studies Seminar. Graduate of Seoul National University, she has taught in the Korean dual language program in LAUSD and HLPUSD for 23 years. She is also the President of International Korean Educators Network (IKEN) and a board member and former president of K-12 Korean Language Teachers Association. She played a major role in developing the K-12 online Korean Curriculum and online Korean Course. She was awarded as 2011 Distinguished Teacher of the Year from the Ministry of Education in South Korea and was awarded the Global Korea Award from Michigan University in 2017.
Dr. Sung-Ock Sohn Professor of Korean Language, Department of Asian Languages and Cultures, UCLA	Dr. Sung-Ock Sohn (Professor at the Dept of Asian Languages and Cultures, UCLA) has been teaching Korean language and linguistics at UCLA since 1988. She is the director of the UCLA Language Alliance, which offers nearly 60 world languages every year. Her research area includes discourse-functional linguistics, and language acquisition among others. She is the author/co-author of seven books including Integrated Korean (University of Hawaii Press) and Tense and Aspect in Korean. She has also published more than seventy articles on Korean language and linguistics. Her recent publications include A Resource for Korean Grammar Instruction (2013).
Chef Rock H. Kim Gimbob artist	Mr. Rock Hoon Kim is better known as “Rock Chef” who has contributed to the globalization and promotion of Korean food through his “Party Gimbab (also known as Kimbap)” and his restaurant “ROCK’n PARTY” in Korea. He has won many distinguished awards, some of which include the 2014 Luxembourg Culinary World Cup bronze award, the 2012 WACS World Chefs Challenge Semi-final, and a gold medal in the 2011 World Chefs Competition. He enjoys meeting American educators and sharing his passion for Korean food, especially Gimbab through the hands-on activities that he created.
Philip Ahn Cuddy Susan Ahn Cuddy Collection Archives Waterlife Researcher, LLC/University of Hawaii Biomed Technology	Philip Cuddy is a descendant of the Korean Pioneer Generation. He is the son of Susan Ahn Cuddy and grandson of Dosan Ahn Chang ho, two historical icons. Philip has extensively lectured on Korean and Korean American history and his family’s legacy. He has given talks across the US and in Korea. He has written articles, participated in documentaries and edited photos for publications. He has been an active member of community organizations concerned with promoting accurate history. Philip is an alumnus of Harvard School and has degrees in Anthropology and Geography from UC Santa Barbara.
Dr. Lucy Park, Executive Director of the Sejong Cultural Society (Chicago) (last updated 1/8)	Dr. Lucy Park is the Executive Director and one of the founding members of the Sejong Cultural Society, a non-profit organization, based in Chicago since 2003. The Sejong Cultural Society is dedicated to advancing awareness and understanding of Korea’s cultural heritage amongst people in the United States by reaching out to the younger generations through contemporary creative and fine arts. Main programs of the Sejong Cultural Society are Music Competition, Writing Competition, Music Composition Competition, and Sijo (Korean poetry) writing workshops for educators.
Ms. Jini Shim, Assistant Director of the National Korean Studies Seminar	As the assistant director of the National Korean Studies Seminar, Ms. Jini Shim recruit’s participants and handles promotions for the seminar, serves as tech support for various seminar publications and online platforms, and coordinates seminar’s day to day activities. In 2017, she earned an MA degree in Applied Linguistics from San Diego State University and completed her undergraduate studies in Communication and Linguistics at UC San Diego. She has been working at the Korean American Center in Irvine upon graduation and as an online instructor for Korean Education Center Online School. In 2015, she was selected as a research fellow to study at the Academy of Korean Studies.

Thursday

Speaker	Biography
Ven Dr. Jongmae Kenneth Park Dean of Institute for Buddhist Studies USA Sr. Bishop of Korean Buddhist Taego Order A-E Parish	Venerable Dr. Jongmae Kenneth Park is the Dean of Institute for Buddhist Studies USA and the Sr. Bishop of Korean Buddhist Taego Order A-E Parish. Born in 1954 at Seoul Korea, he trained as a Zen Novice from 1972 to 1975 and was ordained a Zen monk in 1975. After coming to the USA in 1979, from 1986 to 2015, he founded 15 temples in 9 different countries, was a Buddhist Chaplain and Faculty Fellow at University of Southern California from 1999 to 2005 and was an Adjunct Professor at Loyola Marymount University from 2006 to 2014. He has published 7 books, one of which is the English-Korean-Sanskrit Buddhist Dictionary.
Daniel Boone Kim, JD	Mr. Daniel Boone Kim, J.D. is a professor at the L.A. Translation and Interpretation College and have taught here for several decades. After he earned his BA in English Language and Literature at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, he came to the United States in 1968 to pursue his MA in Political Science at the University of Houston. He then taught Texas and American Government at Houston Community College. Subsequently, he pursued and earned his JD from South Texas College of Law Houston in 1977. Upon his retirement, he and his family moved to Los Angeles to settle in La Canada Flintridge, California. He had been an official sermon translator at Young Nak Presbyterian Church of Los Angeles, the largest ethnic Korean congregation in the United States, since 1993, until retirement in December of 2017.
Mr. David Lopez	Mr. David Lopez is a Korean War Veteran who has graciously been speaking at our seminar for the past several years. After arriving in Korea July 12, 1951, he joined the 24th Division, 19th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion George Company 2nd Platoon, and 2nd Squad. The 24th Division saw action in Bloody Ridge and Heartbreak Ridge. In Korea, he received the Combat Infantry Badge, Purple Heart, National Defense, Korean Service, United Nations, and the Sigmund Rhee Presidential Citation. When he returned to civilian life in 1953, his rank was Sergeant First Class. At present, he is the Commander of the Korean War Veterans Chapter #56 of Ventura County and has been the Commander since 1996.
Mr. Ernest Lee Executive Director, Korean Friendship Bell Preservation Committee	Mr. Ernest Lee is the Executive Director of the Korean Friendship Bell Preservation Committee (KFBPC) which was established in 2006. It was formed by representatives of several organizations – Korean American Federation, National Unification Advisory Committee, Bell of Friendship Foundation, Long Beach Korean-American Chamber of Commerce and the ROK Marines Veterans Association. The Friendship Bell Preservation Committee is a 501(c)3 Non Profit Organization that is dedicated solely to the preservation of the Korean Friendship Bell and its legacy.
Mr. Christopher Mora	Mr. Christopher Mora is the manager of the Korea Tourism Organization, an organization that has been supportive in providing photographs for Mary Connor’s Teaching East Asia: Korea book.

Friday

Speaker	Biography
Dr. Edward Park Professor Loyola Marymount University, Asian Studies	Dr. Edward Park is a professor of Asian and Asian American Studies at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. He received his Ph.D. in ethnic studies at the University of California, Berkeley. His current research topics include migration studies, race relations, urban studies, and economic sociology. His most recent publications examine the transformation of Koreatown since the Los Angeles Civil Unrest of 1992, migration policies in the U.S. and East Asia, and the role of transnational linkages in the career opportunities of Korean American scientists and engineers.
Ms. Jung Hae Kim Principal Wilton Place Elementary School, LAUSD	Ms. Jung Hae Kim received her B.A. in Asian American Studies from the University of Washington, a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from California State L.A. and attended Graduate School at UCLA for her Education Administrative Credential. She has demonstrated leadership ability in many organizations, such as the Korean American Educator’s Association, President of the Korean Women’s International Network, and Principal and Deputy Superintendent of the Korean Institute of Southern California Saturday Heritage Schools. Since 1980, Jung Hae Kim has held numerous positions in the Los Angeles Unified School District including classroom teacher, Coordinator, Instructional Advisor, Bilingual Advisor, Assistant Principal, and Principal.
Mr. Bill Yoon Koreana Gifts and Arts	Mr. Bill Yoon, the owner of Koreana Gifts and Arts, is a true third generation American Korean. His grandparents all came to the United States in the early 1900s to escape the Japanese military occupation of Korea. Both of his parents, Harold Yoon and Gloria Park, were born in the United States in the early 1900s.
Dr. Eun Hee Koo	Dr. Eun Hee Koo is currently the President and professor of Adroit College, the Founder and the Chairperson of Board of Directors of Korean Language and Culture Foundation. She has taught Korean language and Korean Teacher Education at various universities. She has served as the Honorary Ambassador of Promotion of Jikji, the Extant Oldest Metal Printed Book in the World, in U.S.A. since 2006 until now. She is also a member of PEN Korea as a debut poet and she has published one poetry and three essay books based on her Korean language classroom and experiences as a Korean teacher in the US. She found the Adroit College Ensemble, non-Korean members singing only in Korea. Her research interest is teaching language with music and songs. Her classroom and activities have been introduced on many TV programs in Korea and received many awards including Presidential Award from Korean government.
Arnold Chung, Taekwondo Master, ELITE Taekwondo Center	Master Arnold Chung is the founder and director of Elite Taekwondo Center. He has a 7th degree Black Belt in Taekwondo and has been studying the art for 33 years. He also has a 6th degree Black Belt in Hapkido and Haedong Kumdo. He is an International Referee and is currently active in refereeing high level championships. He is the Poomsae Head Coach of the Team Elite Competition Team which competes in major tournaments such as state, national, and international competitions. He has produced many national team members and one of his students representing Team USA received a silver medal at the World Championship in 2016. He has received many awards throughout his career, currently he is concentrating on helping his students achieve their life goals.
Youngmi Yi Director The Myung Won Cultural Foundation, Tea Ceremony	As a graduate of the Myungwon Cultural Foundation Korean Tea Ceremony course (founded and operated by Eui Jung Kim who is registered as the 27th “Korean Intangible Cultural Assets”), Ms. Youngmi Yi serves as the Director of Myungwon Cultural Foundation Arizona & California Branch. She is also the Director of the Arizona Asian American Association and President of the Korean Women’s International Network of Arizona.