Carrying forward a family legacy rooted in early Korean American history, Billy Yoon preserves cultural memory through his stewardship of Koreana Gifts and Arts. His journey reflects the importance of honoring heritage, collecting stories, and keeping traditions alive for future generations.

From a childhood shaped by storytelling to becoming the creator of Pachinko, Soo Hugh reflects on the power of stories to build empathy and connection. Her journey explores identity, imagination, and the responsibility of using storytelling to help us better understand one another.

Raised between multiple cities and cultures, Jiwon Shin found belonging through K-pop and creative self-expression. Her journey reflects the healing power of performance and the freedom that comes from living authentically.

After immigrating to the United States as a child, Marina Lee witnessed her mother’s long struggle with mental illness while navigating life between cultures. Her story is one of resilience, compassion, and the importance of openly discussing mental health within families and communities.

Born into a once-prominent family in prewar Korea, John Young Ho Lee witnessed his family lose everything under Communist rule following liberation. His journey reflects survival through political upheaval, rebuilding a life through education and work before immigrating to the United States for his children’s future.

Having fled North Korea during the Korean War, Reverend David Jungdo Park built a life rooted in faith and perseverance. His journey reflects survival through occupation, war, displacement, and decades of ministry across both Korea and the United States.

From Japanese occupation to war and displacement, Sun Ok Hwang’s life was shaped by survival and constant movement across Korea. She reflects on building a new life with her husband through shared experience, finding strength in family across generations.

From a forty day escape to the loss of his father and brother, In Whan Rheem recounts a journey defined by both tragedy and faith. His reflections trace how devotion sustained him through war and displacement, ultimately guiding him toward a life of ministry abroad.

As a child, Michelle Kim Rogers imagined America as a place of abundance, only to discover the sacrifice and labor that defined her family’s journey. Through memory and reflection, she traces how resilience, hardship, and unexpected compassion shaped her path.

With only one hundred dollars and a one way ticket, Won Yun began again in the United States after years of displacement. Looking back, he sees his life not just as a story of survival, but as a reminder that the people we walk with shape the legacy we leave behind.

From studying vocal music to running one of the first Korean owned dry cleaners, Chung Kun Lim recounts a journey defined by endurance and reinvention. Her story reveals the quiet trade offs of immigration, where opportunity for the next generation often comes at a personal cost.

Crossing a frozen river and walking alongside thousands fleeing war, Jean Yoon Kwon witnessed the chaos that defined a generation. Her reflections preserve both the beauty of what came before and the lasting imprint of what was lost.

From wartime Japan to Seoul and eventually Chicago, David Soon Ho Kwon recounts a journey marked by discrimination, escape, and reinvention. His memories trace the risks his mother took to protect him, revealing a story grounded in resilience and quiet bravery.

A childhood marked by colonial rule and war led Chang Soon Lee toward a life of faith and service. His journey from Korea to the United States traces how adversity became purpose through ministry, community building, and care for immigrants.

Spring mulberries, mountain air, and the sound of cuckoo birds remain vivid in the memories of In Sook Lee, even as war disrupted her early life. Her journey reveals how resilience and curiosity carried her beyond the limits placed on her, toward a future in the United States.

From wartime uncertainty to starting over in the United States, Jae Hee Jun recounts a journey defined by devotion and endurance. Her story reveals how faith guided her through loss, migration, and the work of building a home and community.

Born in South Hamgyong in 1947, Gil Sung Jun reflects on a life shaped by loss, displacement, and survival after his father was killed during the Korean War. From a harrowing refugee journey to a chance sustained by an American sponsor, his story traces how faith, gratitude, and endurance became a legacy passed on to future generations.

Vana Kim reflects on a life shaped by war, exile, and a search for healing across continents. From Korea to Brazil to Canada, her journey reveals how personal transformation became the foundation for her lifelong commitment to peace.

Jin Young Choi, the first Fulbright Scholar from Korea, passed away on September 7, 2025. A trailblazer in education, her life and achievements continue to inspire future generations.

Suki Park reflects on navigating divorce, motherhood, and life in a new country, sharing how counseling at Family Touch helped her heal and rebuild her family. Her story is one of vulnerability, resilience, and breaking cycles of generational trauma.