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2023 New American Hero Award Dinner. 2023년 이민자 영웅상 시상 만찬 안내. March 3, 2023, 6 PM
American Korean Friendship Society • Jan 24, 2023
2023 NEW AMERICAN HERO AWARD
Cherokee Town Club, 155 West Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta, Georgia
(Free valet parking is available at the main entrance)
Dress: Business Attire
2023 New American Hero Award Recipient
Jim Yong Kim, MD, Ph.D.
Dr. Kim is Vice Chairman and Partner at Global Infrastructure Partners, a fund that invests in infrastructure projects across several sectors around the world. He is a compassionate physician, the 17 th
President of Dartmouth College, the 12 th
President of the World Bank Group, former Director of the World Health Organization’s HIV/AIDS department,
co-founder of Partner in Health.
RSVP to Sharon Woodson at PresidentialOfficePark@gmail or 770-458-7000
Cost: Complimentary for members & invited guests. Table sponsors needed.
Since 2000, the American Korean Friendship Society (AKFS) has held an annual dinner presenting its New American Hero Award (NAHA). Awardees of the New American Hero Award are Americans of Korean ancestry who have made significant contributions to the United States, thereby serving as role models and encouraging and empowering Korean Americans to serve their communities, neighborhoods and our new country the United States of America
Laureates of the New American Hero Award Hall of Fame
- Dr. Tom Kim of Knoxville, Tennessee, who founded the Free Clinic for the Working Poor and has been operating the Clinic for over two decades.
- US Army Lieutenant Colonel John Oh , a medical doctor and retired U.S. Army general surgeon, for his heroic service for his country including his service in Afghanistan where he performed emergency surgery removing an unexploded rocket propelled grenade (RPG) protruding from a wounded soldier’s body.
- Dr. Samuel “Sammy” Lee , the first Asian American to win an Olympic Gold Medal for the United States, and the first man to win back-to-back gold medals (1948 and 1952) in Olympic platform diving.
- US Army Captain Jason Pak, West Point graduate, Captain of the U.S. Army (Ret.) and an elite Ranger, who was wounded by an improvised explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan and serves as an inspiration for veterans and civilians alike.
- US Navy Seal James Suh (March 2, 1977 – June 28, 2005), U.S. Navy SEAL, who was part of a dedicated Naval Special Warfare team fighting the Taliban and volunteered to go on a mission to rescue his fellow SEAL members who were trapped by insurgent fire. He was one of 16 troops killed when his MH-47 Chinook helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan.
- US. Army Colonel Young-Oak Kim (January 29, 1919 – December 29, 2005), a highly decorated U.S. Army combat veteran of World War II and the Korean War, a civic and community leader and humanitarian. He was a member of the U.S. 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and a combat leader in Italy and France during World War II.
- Dr. Peter Meong Rhee, c hief of acute care surgery and medical director of the Marcus Trauma Center, an American surgeon, medical professor, and military veteran. During his 24 years in the U.S. Navy, Dr. Rhee served as a battlefield casualty physician in Afghanistan and Iraq.
- Mr. Steve Stirling , the president/CEO of the Medicine Assistant Program (MAP) International, a Christian global health organization that provides medicine, prevents disease, and promotes health in some of the world’s poorest countries. MAP International has provided more than $6 billion in medicine and health supplies to communities in need since its inception in 1954.
- Mr. Byung J. “BJay” Pak , former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, which includes 46 counties in Georgia, including the cities of Atlanta, Gainesville, Rome, and Newnan. Mr. Pak previously served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Georgia and formerly a three-term member of the Georgia General Assembly.
- US Marine Corps Major General Daniel Yoo , Commander of the U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, or MARSOC, former commander of Special Operations Command Pacific (SOCPAC) and Marine Expeditionary Brigade – Afghanistan (MEB-A), the highest ranking Korean American general officer in the United States military.
- Mr. Henry Cho was born and raised in Knoxville and went into stand-up comedy in 1986.Cho appeared on many television shows in the late 1980s and early 1990s, including The Arsenio Hall Show , Bob Hope ‘s Young Comedians Special, MTV ‘s 1/2 Hour Comedy Hour and VH-1 ‘s Stand-Up Spotlight. Cho is well-known as a “clean” comedian, forgoing profanity and objectionable material, and has sometimes been referred to as “Mr. Clean”.
- Dr. Victor Cha is a senior adviser and the inaugural holder of the Korea Chair the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C. He is professor of government and holds the D.S. Song-KF Chair in the Department of Government and the School of Foreign Service (SFS) at Georgetown University. He served the White House as director for Asian affairs at the National Security Council (NSC). Dr. Cha was also the deputy head of delegation for the United States at the Six-Party Talks in Beijing and received two outstanding service commendations during his tenure at the NSC.
Past Awardees of the Lifetime Achievement Award
- The late Mr. Han Choi , former partner at Ballard Spahr in recognition of his leadership, service and passion for the Korean American community over two decades. Han assisted the State of Georgia by encouraging Korean companies to invest in Georgia. Han’s community service included serving as the President of the Georgia Asian Pacific American Bar Association. the College Football Hall of Fame, Atlanta International Women’s House, Georgia Center for Nonprofits, and Decatur Education Foundation.
- Mr. Jay Eun
, co-founder and CEO of Golden Stella and one of the most respected leaders in the Korean American community. Former Chairman of the Korean American Association of Greater Atlanta, and served as a board member, volunteer and supporter of AKFS since 2002.
- Mr. Baik Kyu Kim, he serves
the President of the Korean American Grocer’s Association, former President of the Korean American Association of Greater Atlanta, and successfully led the fundraising campaign to purchase and build the country’s largest Korean American Community Center.
American Korean Friendship Society
The American Korean Friendship Society, Inc. (AKFS) is a 501©(3) non-profit, non-political civic organization founded in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Society’s mission is to celebrate and strengthen the unique relationship between the peoples of the Republic of Korea and the United States of America. The Society created the New American Hero Award to recognize extraordinary contributions to America made by Americans of Korean ancestry.
- Honorable Yoonjoo Park, Consul General, Republic of Korea ( ex officio )
- General Burwell B. Bell, Commanding General, US Forces Korea (Ret.)
- Mr. Frank Blake, Chair, AKFS , Chair, Delta Air Lines
- Mr. Don Chapman, Chair, ChapCo. Investments
- Robert Hall, CEO, HRH Recruiting, Former District Governor, Rotary International
- Honorable Miles E. Davis, U.S. Magistrate Court Judge, Pensacola, Florida
- General Larry Ellis, Commanding General, US Army Forces Command (Ret.)
- Mr. Jay Eun, Chair, Golden Stella, Inc.
- Mr. Paul Kim, Vice President/Secretary, AKFS , Sr. Attorney, U.S. SEC.
- Mr. Bartow Morgan, CEO, Georgia Banking Company
- The Honorable Sam Olens, Dentons, Former Georgia State Attorney General
- Byung “Bjay” Pak, Partner, Alston Bird, former U.S. Attorney, Northern District GA
- Dr. Stanley Shin, Cardiologist, Statesboro Cardiology
- Dr. Roger Tuttero, Economist/Professor, Kennesaw State University
- Mr. Sunny K. Park, President, AKFS , CEJ, General Building Maintenance
- David H, Kang, Program Director
- Jessica Ahn, Event Director
- Sharon Woodson, Event Coordinator
- Mr. Baik Kyu Kim, he serves
the President of the Korean American Grocer’s Association, former President of the Korean American Association of Greater Atlanta, and successfully led the fundraising campaign to purchase and build the country’s largest Korean American Community Center.
Board Members and Staff
- Honorable Yoonjoo Park, Consul General, Republic of Korea ( ex officio )
- General Burwell B. Bell, Commanding General, US Forces Korea (Ret.)
- Mr. Frank Blake, Chair, AKFS , Chair, Delta Air Lines
- Mr. Don Chapman, Chair, ChapCo. Investments
- Robert Hall, CEO, HRH Recruiting, Former District Governor, Rotary International
- Honorable Miles E. Davis, U.S. Magistrate Court Judge, Pensacola, Florida
- General Larry Ellis, Commanding General, US Army Forces Command (Ret.)
- Mr. Jay Eun, Chair, Golden Stella, Inc.
- Mr. Paul Kim, Vice President/Secretary, AKFS , Sr. Attorney, U.S. SEC.
- Mr. Bartow Morgan, CEO, Georgia Banking Company
- The Honorable Sam Olens, Dentons, Former Georgia State Attorney General
- Byung “Bjay” Pak, Partner, Alston Bird, former U.S. Attorney, Northern District GA
- Dr. Stanley Shin, Cardiologist, Statesboro Cardiology
- Dr. Roger Tuttero, Economist/Professor, Kennesaw State University
- Mr. Sunny K. Park, President, AKFS , CEJ, General Building Maintenance
Founders
The following founding members were and are concerned citizens of both nations who value and have sought to promote the extraordinary relationship between the peoples of these two countries: founding committee chair, Marine Corps General Raymond G. Davis (Ret.), Medal of Honor recipient; Dr. James Laney, US Ambassador to the Republic of Korea; Dr. Sang-Chul Kim, former Mayor of the City of Seoul; Dr. William Chace, President, Emory University; The late U.S. Army General William Livsey (Ret.); Dr. Wan-Kyu Cho, former President, Seoul National University; and Mr. Sunny K. Park, CEO, GBM
Past Chairs
AKFS Founding Chairman (1996-2000) Dr. William Chace, President of Emory University (1994-2003); 2 nd AKFS Chairman (2004-2009) Dr. Wayne Clough, President, Georgia Tech (1994-2008); 3 rd AKFS Chairwoman (2004-2009) Dr. Betty Siegel, President, Kennesaw State University (1981-2006); 4 th AKFS Chairman (2009-2016) Retired General Larry Ellis, Chairman, Ellis Services & Solutions Enterprises, LLC.
American Korean Friendship Society is a nonprofit, non-political organization under IRS Code 501(c)(3)
Address: 3835 Presidential Parkway, Suite 111, Atlanta, GA 30340 www.USKorea.org
Sponsors as of this week
The Blake Family Foundation
American Korean Friendship Society recognize Americans of Korean heritage for their volunteer works and efforts for Korean American community's advancement with Lifetime Achievement Award each year. The recognition is to appreciate their selfless contributions and encourage other members of the community to also volunteer for the community. AKFS Board unanimously honors Dr. Edward Chang (장태환), professor, the University of California at Riverside for 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award. AKFS recognize Dr. Chang's remarkable contributions and voicing tirelessly for the Korean American community in the past nearly three decades. The Award comes with $5,000 prize from Good Neighboring Foundation which to contribute to a nonprofit organization of the Awardee's choice. Dr. Chang is Professor of Ethnic Studies and founding Director of the Young Oak Kim Center for Korean American Studies at the University of California at Riverside. He earned his B.A. (1982) in Sociology and Ph.D. (1990) in Ethnic Studies at UC Berkeley and M.A. (1984) in Asian American Studies at UCLA. Dr. Chang is author of eight books, seven edited volumes, and numerous articles. Professor Chang has studied and been a voice of the Korean community for more than 25 years. He is a leading expert on the Los Angeles Riots, race relations between Korean and African American communities, and Korean Americans. Professor Chang lectured on the topics of Korean-African American Relations and the Los Angeles civil unrest and its impact on the Korean American community at many universities around the country.
AKFS presents the New American Hero Award (NAHA) each year to Americans of Korean ancestry who have made a significant and noteworthy contributions to the United States and have made the immigrant community proud. Immigrants from Korea and Asian countries are well contributed ethnic group in America but seldom recognized as patriot as actual. Since 2005, has recognized thirteen (13) American patriots of Korean heritage with the NAHA. The Board of Directors of the American Korean Friendship Society (AKFS USKorea.org) honors former United States Ambassador Sung Yong Kim for 2024 New American Hero Award. The Award comes with $25,000 prize that will be presented to an American non-profit organization of the honoree's choice on March 15, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. AKFS recognize Ambassador Kim's remarkable contributions made to the United States as a senior diplomat. Ambassador Kim's patriotism and passionate services for the United States enhanced the status of all Americans immigrated from Korea and Asian countries particularly. Sung Yong Kim (김성용) is an American diplomat of Korean ancestry serve the United States as the US Special Representative for North Korea Policy since 2021, and previously from 2014 to 2016. He has also served as the acting Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. In 2008, Kim was appointed by President George W. Bush as the U.S. Special Envoy for the Six-party talks. He later served in the Obama and Trump administrations as the Ambassador to South Korea from 2011 to 2014 and as the Ambassador to the Philippines from 2016 to 2020. In 2020, Kim was appointed by President Donald Trump as Ambassador to Indonesia. Ambassador Kim retired November 2023 and joined Hyundai Automobile Group as senior advisor.
AKFS honors Ambassador Sung Yong Kim with the 2024 New American Hero Award. AKFS also honors Dr. Edward T. Chang, Professor, University of California, Riverside, with the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award.
성 김 전 주한미국대사, '이민자 영웅상' 수상 이민자 영웅상, 성 김 대사, 한미우호협회, 장태한 교수
The Board of Directors of the American Korean Friendship Society (AKFS) honors former United States Ambassador Sung Yong Kim for 2024 New American Hero Award. The Award comes with a $25,000 prize that will be presented to an American non-profit organization of the honoree's choice on March 15, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. AKFS presents the New American Hero Award (NAHA) each year to Americans of Korean ancestry who have made significant and noteworthy contributions to the United States and have made the immigrant community proud. Immigrants from Korea and Asian countries are well contributed ethnic group in America but seldom recognized as patriots. Since 2005, has recognized thirteen (13) American patriots of Korean heritage with the NAHA. AKFS recognizes Ambassador Kim's remarkable contributions to the United States as a senior diplomat. Ambassador Kim's patriotism and passionate services for the United States enhanced the status of all Americans immigrated from Korea and Asian countries particularly. Sung Yong Kim (Korean: 김성용) is an American diplomat of Korean ancestry serving as the United States Special Representative for North Korea Policy since 2021, and previously from 2014 to 2016. He has also served as the acting Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs from January to June 2021. In 2008, Kim was appointed by President George W. Bush as the U.S. Special Envoy for the Six-party talks. He later served in the Obama and Trump administrations as the Ambassador to South Korea from 2011 to 2014 and as the Ambassador to the Philippines from 2016 to 2020. In 2020, Kim was appointed by President Donald Trump as Ambassador to Indonesia. Dr. Edward Chang honored for 2024 AKFS Lifetime Achievement AKFS Board unanimously honors Dr. Edward Chang, professor at the University of California, Riverside for 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award. AKFS recognizes Dr. Chang's contributions and voicing tirelessly for the Korean American community in the past nearly three decades. Dr. Chang is Professor of Ethnic Studies and founding Director of the Young Oak Kim Center for Korean American Studies at the University of California at Riverside. He earned his B.A. (1982) in Sociology and Ph.D. (1990) in Ethnic Studies at UC Berkeley and M.A. (1984) in Asian American Studies at UCLA. Chang is the author of eight books, seven edited volumes, and numerous articles. Professor Chang has studied and been a voice of the Korean community for more than 25 years. He is a leading expert on the Los Angeles Riots, race relations between Korean and African American communities, and Korean Americans. Professor Chang lectured on the topics of Korean-African American Relations and the Los Angeles civil unrest and its impact on the Korean American community at many universities around the country. The award gala will be held on Friday 6:00 PM March 15, 2024 at Westin Atlanta North Hotel. 7 Concourse, Sandy Springs, Georgia. Tickets are $500.00 per person and encouraged to purchase as a table sponsorship. Table sponsorships for AKFS Award Gala are available at $25,000, $10,000 and $5,000 levels. All proceeds of table sponsorship and ticket sales will be used to pay for the event, prize for the awardees, strengthen the US-Korea Alliance and advocate American patriotism in the Asian American community. The American Korean Friendship Society, Inc. (AKFS) is a non-profit (81-1408283 IRS Code 501-C-3) and non-political civic organization founded in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Society celebrates and strengthens the unique relationship between the peoples of the Republic of Korea and the United States of America. The Society created the New American Hero Award to recognize Korean American patriots. The Society presents the New American Hero Award each year at the annual banquet. The award is to recognize Americans of Korean ancestry who have made significant and noteworthy contributions to the United States and have made the immigrant community proud. original content: https://gasiantimes.com/2024/01/22/american-korean-friendship-society-honors-sung-yong-kim-for-2024-new-american-heroes-award-and-dr-edward-chang-for-2024-lifetime-achievement-award/?fbclid=IwAR3VeFB5kx5FqdNRHj6Z0YV29GTfjJ4fZ4vn0Oh42ubYnOpJsz53BwcUZtA
view original: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20232024/218431
Dr. Victor Cha Dr. Kim is Vice Chairman and Partner at Global Infrastructure Partners, a fund that invests in infrastructure projects across several sectors around the world. He is a compassionate physician, the 17th President of Dartmouth College, the 12th President of the World Bank Group, former Director of the World Health Organization’s HIV/AIDS department, […]
Dr. Victor Cha Chair in Asian Studies in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, Senior Advisor at the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), and former Director for Asian Affairs in the White House’s National Security Council.
Mr. Henry Cho An American comedian for over three decades famous for his unique brand of clean comedy. His work can be heard nationwide at comedy clubs, SiriusXM Radio, and the Grand Ole Opry. (Mr. Cho was previously slated to receive the 2020 award, which was canceled due to the pandemic.