Korean American Community System structures are currently facing an urgent need for transformation following the passing of prominent philanthropist and community titan Myung Ki Hong. While his dedicated leadership drove immense progress, his absence exposed a critical structural vulnerability: a reliance on individual icons rather than institutionalized networks.
When problems arose in the past, a leader was always there to gather people, donate needed funds, and take personal responsibility when organizations wavered. An extraordinary individual was filling the void that should have been occupied by an established framework.
People cannot live forever. Corporations continue to operate when chief executive officers change, and universities continue to educate students when presidents leave. A community operates under the exact same principle. If a community relies solely on the personal wealth, personal connections, and personal dedication of a specific individual, it simply means that an enduring operational structure has not yet been built.
Los Angeles is home to numerous Korean American organizations spanning civil rights, welfare, education, culture, and business. A significant portion of these groups were formed around first-generation immigrants and have relied heavily on the personal capabilities of individual presidents or board chairs. Consequently, when these key leaders stepped down, organizational momentum often faltered or internal conflicts surfaced.
Lessons in Systemic Sustainability
Other immigrant groups offer valuable lessons in structural sustainability. In 1922, Greek Americans established the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association to combat discrimination and promote civic participation. By embedding education, scholarship, philanthropy, and youth programs directly into their organizational structure, they created clear channels for long-term engagement across generations. This strong institutional foundation empowered leaders like former Vice President Spiro Agnew and former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis to emerge onto the national political stage.
Korean Americans have achieved impressive individual political milestones in federal, state, and local governments since the 1992 Los Angeles riots. However, individual achievement is distinct from collective political capacity. True political power lies in building an institutional framework that systematically recruits talent, mobilizes voters, secures political funding, and advocates for core community interests over time.
Building a Unified Multigenerational Structure
Progress is already visible in Southern California. The Korean American Foundation, established in 2018 with foundational support from Hong, launched a Founders Circle of donors contributing over $100,000. The foundation has distributed millions of dollars to dozens of non-profit organizations, turning individual charitable gifts into a permanent community asset.
Similarly, the LA Korean Association is driving a generational transition with English-speaking and younger board members. Specialized organizations like the Korean Youth and Community Center, led by 1.5-generation leaders, have evolved into professional non-profit institutions with diversified funding and expert staff.
Connecting first-generation resources and experience, 1.5-generation bridging capabilities, and second- and third-generation professional networks within a robust Korean American Community System represents the true path forward. Five years after Myung Ki Hong’s passing, the central question facing community leaders is no longer “Where is the next great leader?” but rather “Can our community thrive systematically on its own?”
By Eunyoung Lee, Kyungjoon Kim
