Just as how our own KAs@Work series profiles Korean Americans across the country who are finding success in unconventional careers, a new exciting TV talk show is taking the next step by bringing these stories to your television screens.

The Portfolio has already begun to air on The Korean Channel every Sunday night, and the friendly, easy tone of the interviews has brought a new nuance to Korean heritage. We spoke with producer Sunah Kim and co-hosts Kevin Kim and So-Chung Shinn to learn about their prospects for the show and what viewers can expect to see on the program.

How did the concept for ‘The Portfolio’ come about?

Sunah: Kevin and So-Chung had a weekly show on Korea Radio Broadcast in Flushing for three months in 2010. The enthusiastic, positive feedback from the Korean American community made them realize that there was a need for an in-depth television talk show that profiles Korean Americans and their paths to success. I was brought in to provide some advice based on my experience in film and television production. When I met Kevin and So-Chung, I was overwhelmed by their passion and sincerity, and their mission statements appealed to me strongly, too. So, I decided on the spot to join the team and produce the show, and that’s how The Portfolio came about.

Kevin and So-Chung, both of you come from such different backgrounds. How would you describe each of your roles’ as co-hosts on the show?

Kevin: I believe that our personal and professional backgrounds complement each other extremely well.  So-Chung is the modern day “superwoman/renaissance woman.” She balances family with work, and then on top of that, philanthropy in a way that is truly amazing.  We definitely need to have her on as a guest because so many young women could learn so much from her.  Her expertise in opera, and the arts in general, with her accomplishments in the publishing world, allow her to bring in a perspective that I do not have based on my background. I see my role as the “lay person” in every interview who wants to ask the question on behalf of people who may not have the subject matter expertise of a particular guest’s industry.

So-Chung: Although we have different backgrounds, we share many similarities. We understand the challenges and rewards in balancing family and professional life. We want to promote healthy thinking and help the greater good. It is easy to say that we complement each other because we offer different perspectives, knowledge, and experiences from varying industries. This may be true, but our greater strength lies in our similar desire to help the community by sharing inspirational stories with our audience.

Of course, we find strength in our differences as well. Kevin’s experience in public service is a tremendous asset for The Portfolio. He is instantly likable and has a natural gift for identifying with others, which reassures our guests and makes them feel comfortable. He is very bright and has worked hard to achieve his own successful career, which is inspirational to our viewers. In other words, he fits the profile of our guests, and I look forward to interviewing him on the show someday!

Co-Hosts Kevin and So-Chung

Kevin, what challenges does co-hosting ‘The Portfolio’ bring that vary from your work in public service?

There are a lot more similarities than I originally thought between shooting a TV talk show and running for office.  You realize from the moment the camera turns on, you are in the public eye much in the same way when running for office; every movement or comment you make is being scrutinized by someone.  On the other hand, playing the role of a co-host is more challenging in some ways because you have to be much more multi-dimensional in expressing yourself to a television audience.  This entails asking questions sometimes that you may already know the answer to, but you want to make sure that the audience gets to hear the answer directly from the guest.  It’s also a challenge to learn about a new industry each time.  I think people generally don’t realize how much background research is done on the guest and his/her profession or industry prior to the guest arriving on the set.

So-Chung, You’ve had a lot of experience as a former editor and contributor for various publications. Now, you’re co-hosting a weekly television show. How does it feel to be in front of the camera?

Kevin and I are fortunate to have the support and guidance of our experienced and dedicated producer/director Sunah. Surprisingly, I feel comfortable during tapings and don’t think much about the camera, especially when the conversation starts to pick up momentum. Of course, I’ve been able to draw on my past experience as a writer/editor during the interview process. Whether I am writing for a magazine or taping an episode of The Portfolio, I need to know how to ask questions to learn about the subject and then share this information with readers. I trust our team completely (camera, editor, producer/director, co-host), which makes it easier to focus on the task at hand: making our guests feel welcome and facilitating a conversation that is natural, enlightening, enjoyable, and educational.

Episode 2: Greg Pak, Filmmaker / Comic Book Writer

What are your criteria for recruiting guests for the show?

Our guests are those who live their dreams and inspire others along the way. Success has many faces. Our focus is more on the pursuit of happiness and personal fulfillment rather than financial stardom. Our guests have overcome many obstacles and challenges and may have made many mistakes to get where they are. They have to be willing to share not only their success stories but also their vulnerable moments. They should come to our show to serve as role models for the next generation and not as a promotional tool. And most importantly, they have to share Korean heritage.

We’ll also introduce prominent Korean American organizations that are contributing for KA communities such as Korean American Community Foundation, Korean Cultural Center, Manhattan Korean School, Korean American Family Service Center, and of course, Korean Beacon! The power of community comes from working together! We hope to be a useful and informative source for our young generations when they try to find their paths in this world.

Why is it important for viewers to learn about successful Korean Americans from different industries?

To achieve personal fulfillment, one should not be forced into a line of work that does not feel natural or interesting to them. We want our viewers to understand and appreciate that there are many exciting professions available to them. Unfortunately, many Korean Americans have grown up believing that the only path to success was through medicine, business, or law. We hope to dispel this myth by presenting many different career choices so that they can appreciate their own interests and learn how to take it to the next level. Because our guests are diverse and passionate, our viewers will be able to find someone with whom they can identify and be encouraged to turn their passion into their career.

Episode 3: Hooni Kim, Chef & Owner of Danji

Who would you love to have as a dream guest on the show?

There are so many! We’d like to invite all the wonderful KAs from many different fields. That would include actors such as John Cho and Sandra Oh, LPGA golfer Christina Kim, MVP football player Hines Ward, award-winning author Chang Rae Lee, co-publisher of DC Comics Jim Lee, fashion designer Doo-Ri Chung, business consultant and bestselling author Jane Hyun – ah, the list goes on and on!

Are there any plans to expand the program’s reach to the entire nation? How can viewers who don’t live in the broadcast area gain access to the program’s episodes?

After we complete our first season run, we’ll reach out to other Korean stations in the U.S. and also possibly cable networks in South Korea. For further information, please visit our website.

The Portfolio
- Broadcast weekly at 9PM on Sunday evenings
- Available through The Korean Channel (TKC) through Time Warner Cable (76 & 531) and Cablevision (263) in the New York metropolitan area, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.

Episodes are also available online here. “Like” them on Facebook.

[Photos: The Portfolio]

LPGA golfer Christina Kim bares a little bit of her soul in her first book, “Swinging from My Heels: Confessions of an LPGA Star.”  She gets a little personal and opens up the golf ropes for the world to see what life is like on the LPGA tour.  She’s one of the loudest dressers and the more vocal players and among the Korean players, she stands out even more.  Heck she was in the ESPN semi-nude athlete’s issue.  She bares more in the book and it’s coming out in the next few weeks.

Some of the highlights from Christina Kim’s recently published book, “Swinging from My Heels: Confessions of an LPGA Star”:

• On her close friend and the world’s No. 1 female golfer,Lorena Ochoa: “I have little doubt she’ll retire after the 2012 season. That will give her ten years on tour, the minimum needed to qualify her for the Hall of Fame. She will be thirty-one then and eager to start popping out cute little Mexican babies. Lorena is like a comet passing by — you better enjoy her now, because she will be gone before you know it.”

• On the sexual orientation of players on tour: “Contrary to what many people think, we are not the Lesbians Playing Golf Association. By my count, there are no more than two dozen gay women playing the tour right now. Considering there are 230 active members, you’re only talking about 10 percent of the players … To every player I know the issue is just not that big a deal. There are no superfreaky homophobes out here or militant man haters … At most, a player’s sexuality may be an occasional practice-round conversation piece: ‘Hey did you hear that so and so likes girls?’ ‘Really? Huh. So did you hit an eight-iron or a nine?’ ”

• About the breakup with her longtime boyfriend and caddie: “Having a serious boyfriend gave me a richer, fuller life, but if I’m honest with myself, there were times when golf wasn’t my priority, and over the last few years I had been surpassed by a bunch of broads who don’t have more talent than I do but were definitely a lot more focused.”

• About her on-course temper tantrums: “I was told (by an LPGA official) I needed to improve my attitude and my language and start being a better role model. When the initial shock subsided, I was grateful for the pep talk. I had been oblivious to the fact that everyone on tour thought I was suffering from a case of permanent PMS.”

• On body image: “I’m a professional athlete, but I suffer from all the same insecurities as any other woman, and it’s magnified by having so many eyeballs on me during a tournament. There have been many days when I don’t like my hair or makeup or the way my clothes fit, and it’s hard to play well when you’re unhappy with how you look.”

• On South Korea’s influence on the tour: “There are so many misconceptions and misunderstandings, and it’s been that way for far too long. By the time I reached the LPGA Tour, the stereotype of the emotionless Korean golfer with an overbearing father was already an enduring cliché. … The fans and reporters who grouse, ‘Oh, those Koreans are all the same’ are just too lazy or narrow-minded to make the effort to get to know the individuals. … The LPGA’s biggest revenue stream is from Korean TV networks paying for the rights to broadcast our tournaments in Korea. So the next time a fan grouses that the Koreans are killing the LPGA, I hope someone will point out that, in this economy, it is Korean money that is keeping the tour afloat.”

• On cutting back on her shopping sprees: “Traditionally, I have celebrated every top-ten tournament finish with a little splurging, but this year I’ve stopped treating Saks Fifth Avenue like it was Costco.”

LPGA golfer Christina Kim showed up on The Golf Channel’s the Golf Fix with Michael Breed last week to share a few of her swing tips.  She’s gearing up for the new golf season and it starts this week in Thailand as the LPGA kicks off its 2010 season.  Before Christina hit a golf ball in Thailand, she IM’d an interview with Golf.com to talk about the off season and the future.

What have you been up to in the offseason?
Everything from working hard on my short game, trying new clubs, partying with friends, traveling to places, and playing around with social media.

You partied a lot. Clubs? House parties?
I didn’t go mad crazy partying all the time. Hahaha!!! Clubs, house parties, a lot of just chillin’ at friends’ places — that’s more accurate.

Let’s talk about the LPGA Tour. What do you see happening this year out there for yourself and the tour?
I see both myself and the LPGA Tour taking over by storm. I’m so stoked for the new season. The LPGA is rising again after a brief lull, and the world is ready for something new to stumble upon.

For the full interview, go to golf.com.

We’re starting a new series to capture the key news and moments from the previous week.  So with that quick and clear description, here we go with our very first WEEK IN REVIEW.

Winner of the Week: Chan Ho Park
Chan Ho Park was the first Korean-born player to play in Major League Baseball and now he gets his chance after 16 years to play in his first World Series. If you didn’t know, and we found out quickly from our readers, Byung Hun “Home Run” Kim was the first Korean-born player to reach the World Series. If you remember, he had a habit of giving up home runs in the 9th inning. Let’s hope that Chan Ho Park represents us better.

Christina Kim is Nude and That’s Better Than a Clothed Grace Park
Christina Kim doesn’t look like Honey Lee (Miss Korea) but she is all athlete and she represented the LPGA in ESPN magazine’s body issue. Our staff discovered this week that if you want to drive traffic quickly to a web site, just insert the word “nude.”  Anything naked seems to outperform someone who’s barely naked.  Who would’ve thought that Christina would’ve beaten out Grace Park scantily clad on Maxim?!

Yul Kwon got a(nother) Job!
The guy who has career ADD has a new job. Surprise! Yul Kwon of Survivor fame is now working for the FCC, after having done everything from clerking to reality show contestant. If trends hold true, Yul will change jobs in 2 years.

Don’t RAIN on my Parade!
The RAIN man is starring in Ninja Assassin and he better kick some ass with his big Korean-American male cast. Otw, we ain’t getting more acting gigs in Hollywood for a while.  The movie is coming out on Thanksgiving.

ESPN finally published their “Body Issue” which shows athletes in their birthday suits.  And yes there’s a Korean-American woman who bares it all.  She is LPGA golfer Christina Kim, and she’s joined by other fellow golfers Anna Grzebien and Sandra Gal.  The “Body Issue” is getting some great reviews because it’s done very artistically and it actually reveals not simply a nude body, but it shows some of the pain and hurt that these athletes have endured.  The body is a beautiful thing.   If you don’t know Christina Kim, she’s a Korean-American golfer who’s had great success on the LPGA tour.  She’s one of the more personable and animated golfers on tour, and she’s willing to share her thoughts.  She’s one of the most followed LPGA tour players on Twitter.  For a little more on Christina Kim, check out our interview below when we met up with her at a LPGA tour event earlier this summer.

This past weekend in Albany, the golfing season came to a close for the LPGA developmental league, the Duramed Futures Tour. By the end of the ILOVENY Championship, the top ten players on the money list earned their LPGA tour card, which gives them membership to play with the big girls next year. Of the top ten, three were of Korean descent: Misun Cho of Cheongju, South Korea; Song Yi Choi of Seoul, South Korea; and Christine Song of Fullerton, Calif. Many graduates of the Duramed Futures Tour have gone on to very successful careers on the LPGA tour, such as Christina Kim and Angela Park.  Lets hope that these three ladies make a big splash next year and continue the trend of Koreans winning on the LPGA tournament.

Cho also was a two-time winner this season. She finished the season ranked third in earnings at $64,118. She looks forward to next year’s LPGA season, when she’ll play against several fellow South Koreans.

“It makes me comfortable that there are so many Korean players out there,” said Cho. “I can relate to them. I’m just going to enjoy myself next year and just keep working hard.”

Source: Duramed Futures Tour

The bi-annual golf competition between the American women and the European women concluded on Sunday at Rich Harvest Farms in Illinois with the American women winning over the Europeans in a very tight match with a 16-12 decision.   Michelle Wie and Christina Kim were the two Korean-Americans who led the charge to the American victory.   In fact, Michelle Wie posted a 3-0-1 record during the week, which was best of any player who participated in the Solheim Cup.  She was a captain’s pick which meant she had not originally qualified for the team but was a special selection for the team.  It turned out to be a golden pick because her 3 points contributed signficantly to the win.

Michelle Wie, whose 3-0-1 record was the best of any American this week, grabbed a U.S. flag and held it aloft to cries of “Wheee!” from the crowd. As the last three matches finished, there were shrieks of joy when the next American joined the party, and new rounds of “U-S-A! U-S-A!”

It’s pretty awesome that these two Korean-Americans really represent what it means to be Korean-American.  At the closing ceremony, Christina Kim with “USA” painted on her cheecks, embraced Michelle Wie at the end of the singing of the U.S. national anthem.  Pretty awesome if you ask us!

This week is the Solheim Cup at Rich Harvest Farms in Illinois.  It’s the biennial trans-Atlantic team matchplay competition among the professional lady golfers and it is considered the premier event in women’s world golf.  Think of it as the Ryder Cup for Women.  This week, we’ll see a formidable U.S. team which includes two Korean-Americans:  Michelle Wie and Christina Kim.  Go get’em ladies!

The Solheim Cup features 12 of the top European-born players from the Ladies European Tour (LET) and 12 top American-born players from the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). It was founded in 1990 by Karsten Manufacturing Corporation (KMC), makers of PING golf equipment.
Players from both sides of the Atlantic compete for points in their respective Tour events to earn a coveted place on the team.  Played over three days, The Solheim Cup consists of 28 matches – eight foursome matches, eight four-ball matches and 12 singles played on the final day.

Christina Kim
Seven-year LPGA Tour veteran Christina Kim returns to the Solheim Cup this season after narrowly missing the 2007 U.S. Team. Remembered for pumping the crowd up at Crooked Stick in 2005, she has a 2-1-1 overall Solheim Cup record to her name. Kim is a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour, and looks to bring her positive energy back to this year’s U.S. squad. A fan-favorite every time she tees it up, Kim finished tied for third at the 2009 RICOH Women’s British Open and seventh at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the first major championship of the year. Her two career victories came at the 2004 Longs Drugs Challenge and at The Mitchell Company LPGA Tournament of Champions in 2005. The 25-year-old has more than $3 million in career earnings and has racked up 35 top-10 finishes since her rookie season in 2003. Prior to becoming a member of the LPGA Tour, Kim earned medalist honors at the 2001 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship, where she recorded a career-low 62, for the stroke-play portion of the event.

Michelle Wie
The first LPGA Tour rookie to qualify for the U.S. Solheim Cup team since Paula Creamer in 2005, Michelle Wie used the strength of five top-10 finishes to earn enough points for Captain Beth Daniel to give her the nod as one of two captain’s picks. Wie competed in several match play competitions as an amateur and brings solid experience to the team. During her amateur career, she was the youngest USGA champion in an adult event when she won the 2003 USGA Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship at the age of 13. One year later, she was a member of the victorious U.S. Curtis Cup team, posting a 2-2 record. She also nearly defended her USGA Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship title, finishing runner-up to Yani Tseng. As one of the LPGA Tour’s top rookies this season, Wie has carded 65 percent of her rounds under par and averages 267 yards off the tee.

She is one of the most colorful LPGA golfers on tour and may have one of the most fun loving personalities.  Korean Beacon followed her a bit at last month’s Sybase Classic and it was evident she is one of the best people (man or woman) to play a Pro-Am with because she makes it fun and relaxing for her playing partners.   Today is the start of the first round of the LPGA Championship at the Bulle Rock golf course in Maryland.  Christina Kim has been chosen by the Golf Channel to be mic’d up during her first round.  We would bet that you’ll find more color and personality with Christina Kim than what you would hear from Phil or Tiger.  CK puts the fun into golf.  And don’t forget, she’s a heckuva golfer.

Christina Kim on Golf Blogger Wei Under Par
I’m so thrilled that I’m being given the opportunity to share with my fans and followers what goes through my head as i play a tournament. It’s great for the Tour, and a wonderful way to make people see the real me – Because i’m not sure everyone can read my lips. Lol.

If you’re watching the Golf Channel today, listen for Christina Kim.   If you really want to get a good sense of Christina, then follow her on Twitter because she is one of the most prolific tweeters.

Check out the interview we conducted last month with Christina.

Among the many talented LPGA players on tour, there are a few who simply standout and Christina Kim is one of them.  We first noticed (or heard) her on the first tee of Wednesday’s ProAm at the Sybase Classic.  We could hear her laughing it up with her ProAm partners right before she boomed a drive right down the middle of the fairway.  She has to be one of the happiest and engaging players on tour and I bet she’s probably one of the best players to play a round with at a ProAm.  Check her out on twitter and you’ll see her personality and stream of consciousness.  She’s also one of the most standout dressers and it matches her bold personality on tour.  She loves the fans and they obviously love her.  Watching her during the tournament, you wish other professional (male) athletes would be so nice and engaging as she was with the fans.  We chatted briefly with Christina Kim after her 2nd round at the Sybase for a quick 5.  We asked her what her favorite Korean food is to eat and why the Korean players seem shy on tour.  Check it out below.