It was a family affair for KACF president and co-founder Kyung B. Yoon at the Consulate General of The Republic of Korea in New York on October 27, where she had two reasons to celebrate – receiving the Moran Medal of the Order of Civil Merit from the Korean government on her birthday.
Korean Consul General Ui-hwan Kim presents Kyung B. Yoon with the Moran Medal of the Order of Civil Merit at the Consulate General of The Republic of Korea in New York on October 27, 2023. Photo by Lia Chang
Korean Consul General Ui-hwan Kim presented the Moran Medal to Kyung for her pioneering work to lift up the Korean immigrant community and her trailblazing leadership in building the Korean American Community Foundation (KACF) into the largest organization in the U.S. dedicated to mobilizing Korean American philanthropy.
Korean Consul General Ui-hwan Kim presents Kyung B. Yoon with the Moran Medal of the Order of Civil Merit at at the Consulate General of The Republic of Korea in New York on October 27, 2023. Photo by Lia Chang
The Order of Civil Merit is South Korea’s highest honor bestowed on civilians for their exceptional contributions to politics, economy, society, education, art, or science.
Kyung was joined by her brother John Yoon and his wife, Yunhee Jang, her sons, Matthew Wang and Brian Wang, her daughter-in-law, Hyunji Kim and her staff members from KACF including Brennan Gang,Young Bae, Elizabeth Hennings and Monica Lee.
Kyung’s brother John Yoon, Korean Consul General Ui-hwan Kim, her son, Matthew Wang, Kyung B. Yoon, her son, Brian Wang, her daughter-in-law Hyunji Kim and her sister-in-law, Yunhee Jang at the Consulate General of The Republic of Korea in New York on October 27, 2023. Photo by Lia Chang
Kyung helped co-found KACF in 2002 and has served as their President since 2008. Her career in poverty alleviation, development economics, and media encompasses her roles as the Executive Producer of Television at the World Bank Institute and a correspondent for WNYW-Fox Channel 5 where she made history as the first Korean American broadcast reporter in NYC. Kyung is currently a contributing reporter to CUNY-TV’s Asian American Life, which is broadcast nationally on PBS stations and for which she received an Emmy nomination.
Matthew Wang, Kyung B. Yoon, Brian Wang and Hyunji Kim at the Consulate General of The Republic of Korea in New York on October 27, 2023. Photo by Lia Chang
She has previously served as the board chair of Philanthropy New York and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy, as a trustee of the New York Foundation, and as a board member of the United Way of New York City.
Monica Lee, Young Bae, Kyung B. Yoon, Brennan Gang, and Elizabeth Hennings at the Consulate General of The Republic of Korea in New York on October 27, 2023. Photo by Lia Chang
Kyung holds a BA in English and political science from Wellesley College and an MA in development economics from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
In December of 2002, the Foundation was incorporated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and in 2003, they awarded their first grants totaling $60,000 to five nonprofit organizations. Since then, KACF has grown to become a trusted partner and leading funder in advancing economic security in the Korean and Asian American communities.
As of today, KACF has given more than $12 million in grants and capacity-building support to community-based organizations working to empower individuals, strengthen families and transform communities impacted by poverty.
Korean American Community Foundation Raises Over $2 Million at Annual Gala
Lia Chang and Kyung B. Yoon at the Consulate General of The Republic of Korea in New York on October 27, 2023. Photo by Lia Chang
Lia Chang. Photo by Kalin Ivanov
Lia Chang is an actor, a multi-media producer, activist, documentarian and an Award winning filmmaker and co-founder of Bev’s Girl Films making films that foster inclusion and diversity on both sides of the camera. Lia is also the host and Executive Producer of BACKSTAGE PASS WITH LIA CHANG, an Arts and Entertainment and Lifestyle program that airs on Sunday at 6:30pm on FIOS 34, RCN 83, Spectrum 56/1996 and streams on MNN2. Lia was recently profiled on Asian American Life. BGF collaborates with and produces multi-media content for artists, actors, designers, theatrical productions, composers, musicians and corporations. www.liachang.com www.liachangphotography.com
Lia Chang Photography 