The KACF Annual Gala celebrates the accomplishments of extraordinary individuals and organizations in our community. Funds raised will support the work of KACF and our non-profit grantee partners in the Korean and Asian American communities.

 

Past Honorees, Keynote Speakers & Special Guests

 

2022

• Honorees: Joseph Y. Bae –  Co-CEO of KKR; Lee Jung-jae – Actor & Star of Squid Game
• Trailblazer Award: Michelle Zauner – Musician & Author of Crying in H Mart

2021

• Honorees: Daniel Dae Kim – Actor & Producer; Youn Yuh-Jung – Actress
• Trailblazer Award: Awkwafina – Actress
• Special Guest: Marilyn Strickland – U.S. Congresswoman (Washington’s 10th District)

2020

• Honorees: KACF’s 2020 Grantee Partners
• Legacy Award: John M. Hong, M.D. – Co-Founder of KACF
• Trailblazer Award: Lenzo Yoon – CEO of Global & Business at Big Hit Entertainment
• Special Guests: Miky Lee – Vice Chairwoman of CJ Group; BTS

2019

• Honorees: Min Jin Lee – Author of Pachinko; Juju Chang, Co-Anchor of ABC News’ Nightline
• Special Guest: Caroline Kennedy – Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan

2018

• Honoree: Miky Lee – Vice Chairwoman of CJ Group
• Trailblazer Award: Chloe Kim – Olympic Gold Medalist & 4-Time X Games Gold Medalist

2017

• Honoree: Chong-Moon Lee – Chairman & CEO of Ambex Venture Partner; Founder of Diamond Multimedia Systems
• Keynote: Marvin Myungwoo Chun – Dean of Yale College & Richard M. Colgate Professor of Psychology, Neuroscience, Cognitive Science

2016

• Honoree: Jeong H. Kim – Co-Founder of Kiswe Mobile & President Emeritus of Bell Labs
• Keynote: Jim Yong Kim – President of World Bank Group

2015

• Honoree: Ken Jeong – Actor, Comedian, Producer & Physician
• Keynote: Ban Ki-moon – United Nations Secretary-General

2014

• Honoree: Jin Roy Ryu — Chairman & CEO of Poongsan Group
• Keynote: General Colin Powell – Former U.S. Secretary of State

2013

• Honoree: John Kim – Vice Chairman & CIO of New York Life
• Martha Choe – CAO of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

2012

• Honoree: Yongmaan Park – Chairman & CEO, Doosan Group

2011

• Honoree: Higgin Kim – CEO of Byucksan Engineering
• Keynote: Howard Koh – U.S. Assistant Secretary for Health

2010

• Honoree: Sung-Joo Kim – CEO of MCM
• Keynote: Paull Shin – Washington State Senator

2009

• Honoree: Andrew Kim – Co-Founder of Sit/Kim Int’l Investment
• Keynote: Jim Yong Kim – President of Dartmouth College

2008

• Honoree: Youngsuk “YS” Chi – Vice Chairman of Elsevier
• Honoree: Wonil Cho – Former Korean Consul General to New York

2007

• Honoree: William Rhodes – Chairman, President & CEO of Citibank
• Keynote Speaker: Jeannie Park – Executive Editor, PEOPLE Magazine
• Special Guest: Michael Bloomberg – Mayor of the City of New York

2006

• Honoree: Dong-Jin Oh – CEO of Samsung Electronics America
• Community Catalyst Awardee: Ford Foundation