2024 Heroes and Legends
2024 Heroes and Legends book is now available at your schools and libraries. Click the cover to access E-Book.
Dr. Edward Chang
Professor
“The Art of Ethnic Storytelling”
– By Heather Seong Yang (15)
Dr. Chang’s effort in building intra-racial peace can be seen through his actions as a leading voice during the Los Angeles Riots and his publishings concerning how society ought to achieve racial peace. What we see in Dr. Chang’s efforts is a lifelong journey of someone dedicated to preserving their culture and fostering ongoing discussions within their community. Dr. Chang continues these efforts as the founder of the Young Oak Kim Research Center for Korean Americans. The Young Oak Kim Research Center for Korean Americans is the one of the few Research Centers for Korean Americans, and Dr. Chang has given countless students opportunities to connect with and learn more about their culture. One could say that this research center serves as a sacrament of eternal engagement between future generations and their culture.
Rosa Chang
KASEC
“Making America Accessible One Korean at a Time”
– Celine Hong (18)
Rosa’s advocacy aims to raise awareness and challenge social stigmas, opening the door to a more inclusive future. By highlighting the widely underestimated abilities and potential of these individuals, she aims to foster a community that embraces diversity and celebrates the strengths of every person. When I met Rosa for the first time, I was immediately struck by her natural empathy and unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on the world. Rosa advocates raising awareness and challenging social stigmas, opening the door to a more inclusive future.
Dr. Jung Ae Kang
Anesthesiologist
“A Journey of Empathy, Resilience, and Compassion”
– Joy Han (16)
Dr. Jung Ae Kang faced her fair share of struggles to get to where she is today. Most notably, as mentioned previously, they fled North Korea during the Korean War on the Meredith Victory ship. It was during the Hungnam evacuation on December 22, 1950, at the young age of eight. There she had to withstand freezing temperatures, hunger, and exhaustion. Living in the far city of Hamhung, she had to walk for ten hours to get to the evacuation site. In an environment where there were constant war casualties, her mother always emphasized the importance of empathy, which she withstood for the rest of her life. They further embodied this value through their Christian faith. Dr. Kang pursued a career in the medical field, heavily inspired by her mother and aunt, both of whom worked in medicine.
Dr. Jeong W. Jin
Pianist/Composer
“The Sound of Dreams”
– By Daniel Kim (17)
He grew up in Korea, where his entire family played the piano, but he had no professional influence in his life. His father was a principal of an elementary school, his eldest brother became a professor at Dong-Ah University, the first person to get a PhD in educational statistics. His eldest sister became an elementary school principal, and his second sister became a high school music teacher. While his entire family pursued careers in education and his cousins worked in government, Jin was the only one in the family to choose a different path. Jin fell in love with playing the piano, and as a high school student, he gave lessons to younger students. Many of those students would graduate from music school and become professors, with their main job being a musician. From Jin’s point of view at a young age, he believed he would in ten years be an amateur pianist and didn’t give much thought to his musical career.
So Moon Kim
Artist
“Painting with Love”
– By Ashley Ham and Matheus Koo (16)
So Moon believed that an artist’s greatest struggle is the loneliness that comes from a lack of acceptance from their family. With his mother’s support, So Moon began to heal and embrace his identity as an artist. His mom was So Moon’s most prominent supporter, always restocking his sketchbooks and even helping him find a high school in Seoul where he could continue his journey in art. After graduating from Seoul Art High School, he continued on to Kyung Hee University of Fine Arts.
Esther Na
The Well Mission
“I Want to be Famous!”
– By Gyubin Kim (17)
Pursuing her job as a pastor, Esther Na came to the US as Pastor Na. However, quickly Pastor Na earned the title, “female pastor of the wilderness.” Her early days of settling in the US were quickly consumed by her newfound passion: her passion for caring for the homeless people of Los Angeles. As of now, her life, for the past two decades, has been dedicated to the homeless community, where she actively feeds, clothes, and restores hope to every person she encounters. As a pastor, when restoring hope, she can pray for God’s grace to touch all their lives.
Peter Chung
Animation Director
“Finding Home in Art”
– Ashley Ham (17)
Chung had always found solace in creating art and drawing. From 1979 to 1981, Chung attended the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), where he received formal training in animation to pursue his passion in art and animation. Expanding on his skills on character design and movement while exploring innovative techniques and storytelling methods to enhance the product of his work, this dual focus helped him to develop a clear artistic voice that would later define his globally renowned work.
Chang Kyu Park
First KBS Announcer
“A Life of Reflection: Mentorship, Faith, and Purpose”
– By Joowon Kim (17)
Mr. Park’s story speaks to the lessons of strength, perseverance, and adaptation deeply inculcated into my being. Mr. Park had a very humble Korean upbringing: he listened to his parents, went to school, and attended church every Sunday. Everything changed after he immigrated to the United States after finishing his schooling in Korea.
Sunjoo Yeo
Soprano, Los Angeles Master Chorale
“A Journey of Resilience and Mentorship in Music”
– By Eugene Cho (16)
Sunjoo’s story of overcoming discrimination and adversity became an important part of my journey. It also gave me a sense of pride as a young Korean artist, knowing that someone from my culture had laid the groundwork in such a prestigious institution. Through her actions, Sunjoo showed me that cultural heritage doesn’t have to be a limitation; instead, it can be a unique part of my artistic identity, something that sets me apart. Her achievements have given me a broader vision of what I can achieve and how I can shape my voice to share both my passion for music and my Korean heritage with others.
Irvin Paik
TV Editor/Korean Pioneer Council
“From Challenges to Triumph”
– Aiden Ahn (16)
Irvin began his journey as an actor at Manual Arts High School, where he joined the drama club. At that time, the student body was predominantly Black, but it is now mostly Hispanic. Encouraged by his teacher, Irvin practiced many monologues and immersed himself in acting. He later attended UCLA, graduating in 1964, where a class in motion picture and television inspired him to pursue a career in film. He started as an assistant editor, and one of his favorite projects was working on “ER,” where he edited several episodes during post-production. He also served as an assistant editor on “Sea of Love.” Irvin faced significant challenges in the film industry, particularly the demanding workload and long hours. He learned the valuable lesson that making as many films as possible helps improve one’s skills; he emphasized that experiencing failure is part of the process and that striving for perfection should never hinder action.
2024 TEAM:
Aiden Ahn (15), Orange County School of the Arts
Eugene Cho (16), La Canada High School
Ashley Ham (17), Harvard-Westlake School
Joy Han (16), Girls Academic Leadership Academy
Celine Hong (17), The Science Academy STEM Magnet
Daniel Kim (17), Granada Hills Charter High School
Erin Kim (15), Granada Hills Charter High School
Gyubin Kim (16), North Hollywood High School
Joowon Kim (17), The Science Academy STEM Magnet
Tori Lee Moon (17), Academy of the Canyons
Subin Shin (15), Girls Academic Leadership Academy
Lauren Sun (15), Ramona Convent Secondary School
Heather Yang (16), Immaculate Heart High School
PRODUCERS:
Christopher HK Lee, publisher/executive producer
Jae Ku, producer
Jiyoung Lee, producer
Ashley Park, producer
ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
Alex Chang, , Korean American Pioneer Council (KAPC)
Yonah Hong
Do Kim, K.W. Lee Center and Leadership
Youngmi Lee
Grace Park, Korean American Youth Program