Korean American Institute Conferences

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THANK YOU!

for attending the National Conference on Education, Policy, and Action for Korean Americans!

It was a successful weekend of collaboration among 125 attendees, including over 40 expert speakers, 20 elected officials, and 20 community-based organizations.

Please check out our website for videos and photos from the conference that will be posted soon.

We are working on the next national conference to be held in 2025, place and dates to be announced by the end of this year.

Please stay in touch with us as we continue to work together to advance the interested of the Korean American community.

Who Should Attend?

Civic and community leaders working with Korean Americans
Community service providers and advocates
Academics, educators, and researchers specializing in Korean American studies
Elected officials, policymakers, and public affairs professionals
Journalists and media covering Korean American issues
Anyone passionate about Korean American causes

What to Expect?

Expert Panels & Discussions – Explore Korean American history, policy issues, and potential solutions
Workshops & Networking – Engage in training and build professional collaborative partnerships
Research & Data Presentations – Gain insights into the the current state of Korean Americans

Who are some of the participants?

Elected Officials:

Juleigh Chin, New York School Board
Patty Kim, Pennsylvania State Senate
David Ko, Illinois School Board
Grace Lee, New York State Assembly
Linda Lee, New York City Council
Sang Lee, New Jersey City Council
Betty Chim Lieu, California School Board
Ted Lieu, U.S. House of Representatives
Sylvia Chang Luke, State of Hawaii
Daniel Pae, Oklahoma House of Representatives
Ellen Park, California School Board
Ellen Park, New Jersey General Assembly
Kevin Park, California City Council
Sam Park, Georgia House of Representatives
Paul Seo, California City Council
Andy Song, Washington School Board

Academic Researchers:

Edward Chang, University of California Riverside
EunMi Cho, Sacramento State University
Angie Chung, State University of New York Albany
Hahrie Han, Johns Hopkins University
Sung Kim, International Korean Educators Network
Sojung Lim, State University of New York Buffalo
Pyong Gap Min, Queens College
Suzie Oh, Los Angeles Unified School District
Jerry Park, Baylor University

Policy Experts:

Frank Aum, Stimson Center
Jisun Kim Choe, Hospitalist Group of Jefferson Health
Juliet Choi, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum
Jane Kim Coloseus, Emzo Consulting
Susan Kang, Kansas Health Foundation
Martin Kim, Asian Americans Advancing Justice AAJC
Jay Lee, Woori Center
Mel Lee, Woori Center
Jane Rhee, Foreign Policy for America
Jenny Town, Stimson Center

Civic Leaders:

George Choe, Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation
Kwang Choi, Federation of Korean Associations USA
Darragh Hannah, Korean Adoptee Association of Philadelphia
Andrew Jung, Sejong Society
Abraham Kim, Council of Korean Americans
Hannah Kim, Remember 727
Hoon Kim, Konnect DMV
Kevin Kim, Korean American Association of Greater Philadelphia
Man-ki Kim, Korean American Chamber of Commerce for Philadelphia
Tammy Kim, Korean American Center
Yeasoon Kwon, National Association for Korean Schools
John Lim, Korean American Institute
Eunice Song, Korean American Coalition
Mike Song, National Institute for Unification Education

Who is Hosting this Conference?

Korean American Institute
Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation

Which Organizations are Collaborating?

Asian Americans Advancing Justice AAJC
Congressional Korean American Staff Association
Council of Korean Americans
Federation of Korean Associations USA
Konnect DMV
Korean American Association of Greater Philadelphia
Korean American Center
Korean American Chamber of Commerce for Philadelphia
Korean American Coalition
Korean American Grassroots Conference
Koreatown Youth and Community Center
National Association for Korean Schools
National Korean American Service & Education Consortium
National institute for Unification Education, Philadelphia Council
Peaceful Unification Advisory Council
Sejong Society
Woori Center

Register Today

Get Involved

Contact KAI at
info@KA.Institute

The National Conference on Education, Policy,

and Action for Korean Americans

Friday, September 12, to Sunday, September 14, 2025

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Philadelphia Center City
237 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107

All programs inside the hotel will take place on the third floor

Registration: Overture Room
Plenary Sessions and meals: Symphony Ballroom
Breakout Sessions: Aria Room A or Aria Room B

Schedule at a Glance

[as of September 10, 2025, subject to change]

Registration fee covers all programs, including the Friday night reception, Saturday breakfast, lunch, dinner, and all programs. Sunday optional offsite programs are not included in the registration fee.

Registration fee does NOT cover the optional Friday night dinner for those who wish to have a meal with fellow attendees or with non-conference attending friends who live in Philadelphia. List of attendees and local restaurant recommendations will be shared with registered attendees in advance to help coordinate these optional dinners.

For Friday and Saturday programs, the sessions in bold are the prepared presentations by experts and where substantive group discussions will take place. All attendees are requested to participate fully and actively in these sessions.

For the Sunday optional tour, the host organization will provide tour buses, entrance to all site visits, and the lunch, but it will NOT cover any ground transportation costs from those venues to the airport, train station, or bus station. If attendees need to leave early from the Sunday tour, they will be responsible for making their own ground transportation arrangements to be taken from any of those sites to their Philadelphia-based transportation hub for their travel back home.

PROGRAM

Friday ● 9/12

3:00 pm–7:00 pm	Registration
5:00 pm–6:00 pm	Reception
6:00 pm–6:30 pm	Welcome Remarks Austin Davis, Lieutenant Governor, Pennsylvania (video) Patty Kim, State Senate, Pennsylvania
6:30 pm–7:20 pm	Plenary Session: Korean American Policymakers \| Part One Susan Jin Davis, AAPI LEAD Foundation, Pennsylvania \| *moderator* Patty Kim, State Senate, Pennsylvania David Ko, Niles Township Board of Education, Illinois Sam Park, State House of Representatives, Georgia Andy Song, Kent District School District, Washington
7:20 pm-7:30 pm	Announcements
7:30 pm	Optional: Offsite No-host Dinner

Saturday ● 9/13

7:00 am–8:00 am	Registration
8:00 am–9:00 am	Breakfast
8:20 am–8:50 am	Icebreaker: Spotlight on Attendees
8:50 am–9:30 am	Opening Remarks
9:30 am–10:00 am	Plenary Session: Korean American Civic Engagement Hahrie Han, Johns Hopkins University, Maryland John Lim, Korean American Institute, Nevada \| *moderator*
10:10 am–11:15 am	Breakout Session: Philip Jaisohn as a Lesson Plan EunMi Cho, Sacramento State University, California Mia Kim, North Penn School Districts, Pennsylvania \| *moderator* Sung Kim, International Korean Educators Network, California
10:10 am–11:15 am	Breakout Session: Immigration Impacts on Korean Americans Martin Kim, Asian Americans Advancing Justice AAJC, District of Columbia Kevin Koo, U.S. Representative Fletcher, District of Columbia \| *moderator* Jay Lee, Woori Center, Pennsylvania Mel Lee, Woori Center, Pennsylvania
11:20 am–12:25 pm	Breakout Session: Healthcare Impacts on Korean Americans George Choe, Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation, Pennsylvania \| *moderator* Jisun Kim Choe, Hospitalist Group of Jefferson Health, New Jersey Bill England, Pennsylvania Health Access Network, Pennsylvania Susan Kang, Kansas Health Foundation, Kansas
11:20 am–12:25 pm	Breakout Session: Korean American Studies Curriculum Betty Chim Lieu, Torrance Unified School District, California \| *moderator* Ellen Park, Rowland Unified School District, California Karen Umemoto, University of California Los Angeles, California
12:30 pm–1:45 pm	Lunch
12:50 pm–1:20 pm	Icebreaker: Spotlight on Attendees
1:20 pm–2:10 pm	Plenary Session: Korean American Policymakers \| Part Two Juleigh Chin, Herricks Public Schools Board of Education, New York Grace Choi, Karis Consulting Group, New York \| *moderator* Grace Lee, State Assembly, New York Linda Lee, New York City Council, New York Ellen Park, New Jersey General Assembly, New Jersey
2:10 pm–2:40 pm	Town Hall: Korean American Issues Jerry Kang, UCLA School of Law, California \| *moderator*
2:45 pm–3:50 pm	Breakout Session: United States-Korea Relations Frank Aum, Stimson Center, District of Columbia Jane Kim Coloseus, Emzo Consulting, Virginia \| *moderator* Jane Rhee, Foreign Policy for America, District of Columbia Jenny Town, Stimson Center, District of Columbia
2:45 pm–3:50 pm	Breakout Session: Lessons from 1992 Los Angeles Riots Edward Chang, University of California Riverside, California Carol Park, University of California Riverside, California Paul Seo, Rancho Palos Verdes City Council, California \| *moderator*
4:00 pm–4:30 pm	Announcement: Korean American Community Survey Angie Chung, State University of New York Albany, New York Sojung Lim, State University of New York Buffalo, New York Jerry Park, Baylor University, Texas
4:30 pm–5:00 pm	Plenary Session: Korean American Identity Pyong Gap Min, Queens College, New York
5:00 pm–5:40 pm	Call to Action: Korean America’s Future Hari Chon, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington Kellie Chong, U.S. Representative Gonzales, District of Columbia Hannah Kim, Remember 727, District of Columbia \| *moderator* Sang Lee, Palisades Park City Council, New Jersey Daniel Pae, State House of Representatives, Oklahoma
5:40 pm–5:45 pm	Closing Remarks
5:45 pm–6:30 pm	Reception
6:30 pm–8:00 pm	Dinner
6:45 pm–9:00 pm	Program: Celebration of the National Conference and the 50th Anniversary of Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation Emcee: Nydia Han, 6ABC Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Opening Remarks: George Choe, Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation, Pennsylvania Video Presentation of the Korean President’s Visit to Philip Jaisohn Memorial House Video Remarks: Andy Kim, United States Senate, New Jersey Remarks: Ted Lieu, U.S. House of Representatives, California Keynote Address: Sylvia Chang Luke, State of Hawaii Closing Remarks: Mark Keam, Korean American Institute, Virginia

Sunday ● 9/14

* Optional group visits to local sites with significance to Korean American history. * No additional fees are required for these optional activities, but please confirm your participation by Friday, August 29, by sending an email to info@ka.institute. * Times listed are estimates only. The specific times will be finalized closer to date.
Before 8:30 am	Breakfast on Your Own
8:30 am	Buses Depart from DoubleTree Hotel Lobby
8:30 am–10:15 am	Site Visit Church of Holy Trinity, Rittenhouse Square 1904 Walnut St, Philadelphia PA 19103 *Significance:* Rector Floyd W. Tomkins, who led this church, helped Dr. Philip Jaisohn found the League of Friends of Korea in April 1919, to support Korea’s independence movement, and participate in the First Korean Congress held in Philadelphia that month. Plays and Players Theatre 1714 Delancey St, Philadelphia PA 19103 *Significance:* In April 1919, this place was known as the Little Theatre and it was the venue for the First Korean Congress, a conference in support of the independence of Korea convened by Philip Jaisohn and many other Korean American patriots. Independence Hall and Liberty Bell 520 Chestnut St, Philadelphia PA 19106 *Significance:* At the conclusion of the First Korean Congress, the attendees marched to Independence Hall where Dr. Syngman Rhee read the Korean Declaration of Independence by the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea and walked to the Liberty Bell.
10:15 am	Buses from Independence Hall to Philip Jaisohn Memorial House
10:45 am–12:00 pm	Site Visit & Lunch Philip Jaisohn Memorial House 100 E Lincoln St, Media PA 19063 *Significance:* For both the Memorial House and Monument: In 1994, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission placed a historical marker here stating: “American-educated medical doctor who sowed seeds of democracy in Korea, published its first modern newspaper (1896-98), and popularized its written language. The first Korean to earn a Western medical degree and become a U.S. citizen. He worked for Korean independence during the Japanese occupation, 1910-45. Chief Advisor to the U.S. Military Government in Korea, 1947-1948. This was his home for 25 years.”
12:15 pm–12:45 pm	Philip Jaisohn Monument 1671 N. Providence Rd, Media PA 19063
12:45 pm–1:30 pm	Buses from Philip Jaisohn Monument to Hotel
* Those participating in these optional activities who are scheduled to leave Philadelphia on Sunday should arrange their own ground transportation to be picked up at the appropriate time from these locations to the airport, train, or bus station.

PROGRAM

Friday ● 9/12

3:00 pm–7:00 pm Registration
5:00 pm–6:00 pm Reception
6:00 pm–6:30 pm Welcome Remarks Austin Davis, Lieutenant Governor, Pennsylvania (video) Patty Kim, State Senate, Pennsylvania
6:30 pm–7:20 pm Plenary Session: Korean American Policymakers \| Part One Susan Jin Davis, AAPI LEAD Foundation, Pennsylvania \| *moderator* Patty Kim, State Senate, Pennsylvania David Ko, Niles Township Board of Education, Illinois Sam Park, State House of Representatives, Georgia Andy Song, Kent District School District, Washington
7:20 pm-7:30 pm Announcements
7:30 pm Optional: Offsite No-host Dinner

Saturday ● 9/13

7:00 am–8:00 am Registration
8:00 am–9:00 am Breakfast
8:20 am–8:50 am Icebreaker: Spotlight on Attendees
8:50 am–9:30 am Opening Remarks
9:30 am–10:00 am Plenary Session: Korean American Civic Engagement Hahrie Han, Johns Hopkins University, Maryland John Lim, Korean American Institute, Nevada \| *moderator*
10:10 am–11:15 am Breakout Session: Philip Jaisohn as a Lesson Plan EunMi Cho, Sacramento State University, California Mia Kim, North Penn School Districts, Pennsylvania \| *moderator* Sung Kim, International Korean Educators Network, California
10:10 am–11:15 am Breakout Session: Immigration Impacts on Korean Americans Martin Kim, Asian Americans Advancing Justice AAJC, District of Columbia Kevin Koo, U.S. Representative Fletcher, District of Columbia \| *moderator* Jay Lee, Woori Center, Pennsylvania Mel Lee, Woori Center, Pennsylvania
11:20 am–12:25 pm Breakout Session: Healthcare Impacts on Korean Americans George Choe, Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation, Pennsylvania \| *moderator* Jisun Kim Choe, Hospitalist Group of Jefferson Health, New Jersey Bill England, Pennsylvania Health Access Network, Pennsylvania Susan Kang, Kansas Health Foundation, Kansas
11:20 am–12:25 pm Breakout Session: Korean American Studies Curriculum Betty Chim Lieu, Torrance Unified School District, California \| *moderator* Ellen Park, Rowland Unified School District, California Karen Umemoto, University of California Los Angeles, California
12:30 pm–1:45 pm Lunch
12:50 pm–1:20 pm Icebreaker: Spotlight on Attendees
1:20 pm–2:10 pm Plenary Session: Korean American Policymakers \| Part Two Juleigh Chin, Herricks Public Schools Board of Education, New York Grace Choi, Karis Consulting Group, New York \| *moderator* Grace Lee, State Assembly, New York Linda Lee, New York City Council, New York Ellen Park, New Jersey General Assembly, New Jersey
2:10 pm–2:40 pm Town Hall: Korean American Issues Jerry Kang, UCLA School of Law, California \| *moderator*
2:45 pm–3:50 pm Breakout Session: United States-Korea Relations Frank Aum, Stimson Center, District of Columbia Jane Kim Coloseus, Emzo Consulting, Virginia \| *moderator* Jane Rhee, Foreign Policy for America, District of Columbia Jenny Town, Stimson Center, District of Columbia
2:45 pm–3:50 pm Breakout Session: Lessons from 1992 Los Angeles Riots Edward Chang, University of California Riverside, California Carol Park, University of California Riverside, California Paul Seo, Rancho Palos Verdes City Council, California \| *moderator*
4:00 pm–4:30 pm Announcement: Korean American Community Survey Angie Chung, State University of New York Albany, New York Sojung Lim, State University of New York Buffalo, New York Jerry Park, Baylor University, Texas
4:30 pm–5:00 pm Plenary Session: Korean American Identity Pyong Gap Min, Queens College, New York
5:00 pm–5:40 pm Call to Action: Korean America’s Future Hari Chon, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington Kellie Chong, U.S. Representative Gonzales, District of Columbia Hannah Kim, Remember 727, District of Columbia \| *moderator* Sang Lee, Palisades Park City Council, New Jersey Daniel Pae, State House of Representatives, Oklahoma
5:40 pm–5:45 pm Closing Remarks
5:45 pm–6:30 pm Reception
6:30 pm–8:00 pm Dinner
6:45 pm–9:00 pm Program: Celebration of the National Conference and the 50th Anniversary of Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation Emcee: Nydia Han, 6ABC Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Opening Remarks: George Choe, Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation, Pennsylvania Video Presentation of the Korean President’s Visit to Philip Jaisohn Memorial House Video Remarks: Andy Kim, United States Senate, New Jersey Remarks: Ted Lieu, U.S. House of Representatives, California Keynote Address: Sylvia Chang Luke, State of Hawaii Closing Remarks: Mark Keam, Korean American Institute, Virginia

Sunday ● 9/14

* Optional group visits to local sites with significance to Korean American history. * No additional fees are required for these optional activities, but please confirm your participation by Friday, August 29, by sending an email to info@ka.institute. * Times listed are estimates only. The specific times will be finalized closer to date.
Before 8:30 am Breakfast on Your Own
8:30 am Buses Depart from DoubleTree Hotel Lobby
8:30 am–10:15 am Site Visit Church of Holy Trinity, Rittenhouse Square 1904 Walnut St, Philadelphia PA 19103 *Significance:* Rector Floyd W. Tomkins, who led this church, helped Dr. Philip Jaisohn found the League of Friends of Korea in April 1919, to support Korea’s independence movement, and participate in the First Korean Congress held in Philadelphia that month. Plays and Players Theatre 1714 Delancey St, Philadelphia PA 19103 *Significance:* In April 1919, this place was known as the Little Theatre and it was the venue for the First Korean Congress, a conference in support of the independence of Korea convened by Philip Jaisohn and many other Korean American patriots. Independence Hall and Liberty Bell 520 Chestnut St, Philadelphia PA 19106 *Significance:* At the conclusion of the First Korean Congress, the attendees marched to Independence Hall where Dr. Syngman Rhee read the Korean Declaration of Independence by the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea and walked to the Liberty Bell.
10:15 am Buses from Independence Hall to Philip Jaisohn Memorial House
10:45 am–12:00 pm Site Visit & Lunch Philip Jaisohn Memorial House 100 E Lincoln St, Media PA 19063 *Significance:* For both the Memorial House and Monument: In 1994, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission placed a historical marker here stating: “American-educated medical doctor who sowed seeds of democracy in Korea, published its first modern newspaper (1896-98), and popularized its written language. The first Korean to earn a Western medical degree and become a U.S. citizen. He worked for Korean independence during the Japanese occupation, 1910-45. Chief Advisor to the U.S. Military Government in Korea, 1947-1948. This was his home for 25 years.”
12:15 pm–12:45 pm Philip Jaisohn Monument 1671 N. Providence Rd, Media PA 19063
12:45 pm–1:30 pm Buses from Philip Jaisohn Monument to Hotel
* Those participating in these optional activities who are scheduled to leave Philadelphia on Sunday should arrange their own ground transportation to be picked up at the appropriate time from these locations to the airport, train, or bus station.