I AM KOREAN AMERICAN

Own Words

When introducing myself I like to say that I was “made” in Seoul, “exported” to NYC at the age of 3, “refined” in NJ, and am now “serving” in Seattle.

If you opened up my past you’d see Full Gospel NY Church, a juxtaposition of suburban NJ and urban Manhattan/Flushing, the N and R train, Run DMC, comic books, ultimate frisbee, New Wave albums, Saturday Kung Fu movies, pool halls and haircuts at Astor Place in Greenwich Village.

My parents separated/divorced/moved-to-different-countries when I was a junior in HS. My mom came close to passing away a few times in the last five years, I haven’t had much interaction with my dad since my teenage years, and I haven’t talked to my brother in over 2 years. And you wonder why Koreans are known for our television dramas…

Church was a big part of growing up. I did it all with gusto till about six years ago. Leadership position in youth and college groups, sang in the choir, taught at camps, staffed a college fellowship, etc. Now I enjoy my Sundays outside of church and honor my beliefs in a more personal way.

I moved to Seattle b/c my job asked me to relocate to Redmond, WA in 1996. I did technology/web stuff for a number of years until the dot.com world fell apart. That was one of the best things to ever happen to me. It gave me the impetus to change things up. In a big way and positive way. 

I currently recruit people b/w the ages of 17 and 24 for full-time AmeriCorps service with City Year Seattle and coach ultimate frisbee for an amazing group of diverse kids at Franklin HS. Before City Year I ran a mentoring group for foster youth in high school who wanted to go on to post-secondary. 

I love Seattle (especially the south end!) and have no plans to leave. It’s a fair-sized urban city with easy access to mountains, lakes, islands and rivers. I spend my winters snowboarding and the rest of the year chasing a plastic disc. 

I do, however, miss good Korean food. There’s really nothing close to the places back home or in LA. 

My life has and will continue to be about teaching, coaching, enjoying life, and doing some good.