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]

Each year, KoreAm, the longest-running journal serving Korean America, holds the ”Unforgettable” Gala—a star-studded event where Korean/Korean American talents are recognized for their influence in mainstream media. This year, the gala will be hosted by Randall Park on December 3rd at the Wilshire Park Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, CA, and will honor football star Hines Ward, director Jennifer Yuh Nelson (Kung Fu Panda), actor Sung Kang, and chef Roy Choi (of Kogi BBQ truck fame) with KoreAm’s Achievement Award.

To get everyone in the spirit of the event, KoreAm and Hite Beer & Jinro Soju (who has been sponsoring the event for six years straight!) are hosting the “Soju Wanna Make a Video” contest. The mission of the contest is to create a 60-second commercial featuring either Hite Beer or Jinro Soju. The judging will not be based on how professionally the video is made, but rather how creative and clever the commercial is.

The Grand Prize winner gets:

$1000 cash prize
2 tickets to the ‘Unforgettable’ Gala ($500 a piece)
Showing of winning commercial at the Gala Event.

The deadline for the submission of the video is November 26, so get your cameras out and get those creative juices flowing!

For more details and contest instructions, click here.

[Photo: KoreAm]

“I want to build my final house, my dream house,” and that is exactly what he did. This month’s Atlanta magazine features Pittsburgh Steelers’ wide receiver Hines Ward‘s 15,000 sq. ft. house in his hometown, Atlanta, GA.

Ward, who explained that he was going for a neoclassical style house with a Mediterranean influence, said he “wanted [his] house to be like a W Hotel.” And while Ward’s busy career required him to be away from Atlanta for a majority of the year, he was still able to work with architect David Grace, interior designer Ann Davis, and other talented professionals to make his dream house come alive.

Hines poses against his pool table, which is in the terrace level of his house. This room also includes a weight room, bar, poker room, and television lounges.

Ward always had his family as his main priority and was “always figuring out a way to have his mom and son nearby.”

“We head to Buford Highway and go to one of the Korean restaurants,” he says. “I also like Twist . . . really, anything Asian. I would say I’ve probably tried every sushi restaurant in town.”

As  professional athlete, a workout room is imperative.

So this is where he keeps his mirror ball trophy from DWTS…

A lot of Ward’s input was put into the design of the house. He had the idea of a double-sided fireplace in the foyer, and came up with the design of his custom stair railings.

All the planning, time, and hard work invested in this house was well worth it; the final product is absolutely incredible.

To see more of Hines Ward’s new house, check out this month’s Atlanta Magazine

[Photos: Emily Followill/Atlanta Magazine]

In a weekly series of posts, we will present the Top 5 Most Korean-American cities, selected not only for their numbers, but also for their visibility in mainstream America. Our research was guided by the following criteria: population, famous and/or influential locals, programs, and hotspots.

#5 Atlanta, GA

Ever since the first small waves of Koreans began moving into Atlanta, GA, in 1960, the Korean population has been steadily increasing in the city. According to the 2010 Census, Gwinnett county—often referred to as “New Koreatown” by locals—has seen the Korean population double in the past decade. Climate, conservative religious atmosphere, and life in the family-oriented South seem to be Atlanta’s main draws.

Numbers 

• 48,788 – Atlanta metro area (population data compiled using the 2010 Census)

Visibility

 
• Activist Mia Mingus recently moved to Berkeley, CA, but during her twelve years in Atlanta, she co-founded and was co-executive director of SPARK: Reproductive Justice NOW! and a member of Southerners on New Ground (SONG). She now works as the program director of an organization working to end the sexual abuse of children called generationFIVE, and continues to fight for “disability justice, reproductive justice, queer liberation, and transformative justice.”



• Super Bowl MVP and Dancing With The Stars winner Hines Ward is an ardent advocate for Korean biracial youth, and was recently appointed Goodwill Ambassador to South Korea. His Helping Hands Foundation strives to improve youth literacy in the U.S and end biracial discrimination in Korea. That said, we were all shocked when we heard about Hines’ DUI arrest last month, but we feel his efforts with his Helping Hands Foundation cannot be overlooked, and hope this misstep will be a learning and growing experience for him.

Programs

 
• Each year, the Korean Undergraduate Student Associations (KUSA) of Emory University, Georgia State University, University of Georgia, and Georgia Tech collaborate to organize one of the biggest and exciting student-run event: the KUSA Olympics, a two-day sporting event with categories like men’s basketball, men’s flag football, women’s volleyball, and co-ed softball.
  
  
• The Atlanta chapter of the Korean American Coalition (KAC ATL) is a non-profit organization that helps “facilitate the Korean-American community’s participation in civic, legislative, and community affairs.” Their SMILE (Service, Mentorship, Internship, Leadership, and Empowerment) program is a mentorship program that helps local high school students advance their academic and professional goals.
• Founded last year, Korean Adoptee Network of Atlanta (KANA) is a support system for Korean American adoptees to network, raise adoptee awareness, and share their experiences.

Hotspots

 
• Driving along Buford Highway, you’ll see many storefronts with Korean signs. The strip is home to Koreatown Plaza, the go-to place for all things Korean, and many, many Korean restaurants—including So Kong Dong Soon Tofu, a local favorite for soondubu jjigae (soft tofu stew). Also stop by Buford Highway Farmers Market, an international market owned by Harold Shin that carries fresh kimchi and other essentials for the Korean kitchen.
  
  
• For a fun noraebang night, stop off at Karaoke Melody (also located on Buford Hwy)—they’ve just implemented the use of a cool iPad app called “KJ Touch R” for all of your song selections.
• Yumbii is the first food truck in ATL to serve a “far out” blend of Korean and Mexican flavors. Their menu includes tacos, burritos, sliders, and quesadillas – all served with a spicy Asian BBQ sauce option. Yumbii’s tasty menu was developed by well-known chef, Tomas Lee, who is the founder of Hankook Taqueria, a popular Kor-Mex joint in Atlanta.
  
  
• Another must is Woo Nam Jeong (Stone Bowl House)—we hear their banchan selection is one of the best in ATL.

Locals

 
• Kato, or Christopher Ju, is a music producer  most known for his work with artists such as Lil’ Scrappy, Roscoe Dash, and Crown J, along with LA’s rising talent, Dumbfoundead.
• Yellow Boyz, the “lyrical southern hip-hop group” consisting of Al P, PassDa and Jeniside, recently released their single, “Southern Swang,” and has recently begun attracting a wider audience. The trio has opened for Young Dro, Method Man & Redman and Soulja Boy.
  
  
• The popular and inspirational mommy blogger, Anissa Mayhew, lives in Atlanta with her husband and three children, one of whom—Peyton—was diagnosed with Leukemia when she was 3, and is now cancer-free. Anissa’s own story is a source of motivation after surviving through multiple strokes—the last one, forcing her into a wheelchair. She regularly blogs at www.freeanissa.com.
• All-around entertainer Raymond J. Lee, who can soon be seen in Chil Kong’s much-anticipated film, Mikado Project, and model Chanel Iman also call Altanta their hometown.

Look out for #4 next week!

UPDATE: Check out our Top 5 Most Korean-American Cities Map!

Mindy Gee and Mink Choi contributed to this post.

Earlier today, Superbowl MVP and Dancing with the Stars winner Hines Ward was arrested in DeKalb county, Georgia for DUI. The Pittsburgh Steelers player was booked into the jail at 3:41 a.m. and was held on a $1,000 bond, but posted bail shortly after and was released at around 6:00 AM.

According to the AJC, the arrest wasn’t Ward’s first serious traffic charge in DeKalb. Back in 2006, he was charged with reckless driving and speeding. Ward also recently admitted to having a bad habit of texting while driving on his Facebook page and reached out to his fans for help: “How many of you guys and gals text while driving? I am bad at doing that. It’s very unsafe. Help remind me from time to time to stop texting, tweeting, or facebook while driving. Let’s help each other!”

While we are glad no one was hurt, we wish the superstar who danced his way into many of our hearts would keep his eyes on the road.

[Photo: AP]

Hines Ward, wide receiver of the Pittsburgh Steelers, winner of cult show Dancing With the Stars, and vocal advocate for Korean biracial youths, has yet another title to add to his overflowing resume. Due to his popularity in both the U.S. and Korea, Ward has recently been made an honorary ambassador for South Korea, with the task of promoting a positive relationship between the two countries.

Ward is not just a powerhouse on the field, but also in the realm of social relations and Korean-American issues. In 2006, on his first trip back to Korea since his birth, he met with biracial Korean children in a series of “hope-sharing” discussions, and established the Hines Ward Helping Hands Foundation—an organization dedicated solely to combating discrimination against biracial children. Ward is no stranger to social and political reform in Korea, preparing him well for his new role as honorary ambassador.

[Photo: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images]

More than twenty million viewers watched Hines Ward win Dancing With the Stars on Tuesday.

The Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver and his pro partner, Kym Johnson (who was dancing with a neck injury from a fall last week), wowed the judges when they danced a samba to Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Fantasy” for their final dance-off, earning them a perfect score and the coveted mirror ball trophy.

Winning with the samba routine was particularly special for Ward because he had dedicated the zestful number to his mother, Kim Young-hee, who was doubtful of her son’s dancing skills in the beginning. At the end of the samba, Ward surprised his mother with a kiss, and she, embarrassed, shooed him away (watch the video below – it’s really sweet).

When asked to compare winning Super Bowl IX  to winning DWTS, he told the LA Times that winning the mirror ball trophy was about conquering his fears:

“They mean different things,” he said. “Winning the Super Bowl symbolized being the best in my profession. It along with winning the Super Bowl MVP is the ultimate goal both individually and as a team. It says we are good at what we do as professionals. Winning the mirror ball trophy for me symbolizes overcoming my fear of the unknown. It says that I was able to excel at something I knew nothing about. I was able to rise above difficulty and take a risk. Both prove that hard work pays off. Both are special.”

Watch Hines and Kym’s winning samba routine:

[photo: Adam Taylor/ABC/AP]

Hines Ward, NFL football wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, is the latest athlete to join the new cast of Dancing with the Stars.  Hines Ward is half-Korean and this would technically make him the second Korean (after Margaret Cho) to be on the highly rated ABC show.  Previous winners of DTWS have been ex-football players but Hines Ward is the latest active football player to try his hand at ballroom dancing and the cha cha.  It’d be super cool if Hines won and with his athletic ability, he may have an edge over his competitors.  Does Kristy Alley scare anybody?  Perhaps Ralph Machhio will reprise his Karate Kid role and do a little “wax off, wax on” with his feet.  Who knows but if Hines doesn’t win, I’m personally rooting for Petra Nemcova.

Hines Ward is one of those athletes we should come to admire because he really is a role model.  Charles Barkley famously said that he’s no role model, but thank goodness we have guys like Hines Ward who’s using his fame and fortune to help others.  The Hines Ward story gained national attention when the wide receiver won his first Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Soon after the Super Bowl, he traveled with his Korean mother to South Korea to bring awareness to the difficulties  and discrimination that biracial children encounter, as he’s the son of a Korean mother and an African-American father.

The New York Times wrote about Hines Ward’s recent efforts when he gathered biracial children from Korea for a dinner.

“It’s a great culture,” said Ward, who was born in Seoul to a Korean mother and an African-American soldier father, and was raised mainly in Georgia by his mother. “I love everything about it. But there’s a dark side to that culture. And me, I’m just trying to shed a light on that dark side and make Korea a better place than it already is.”

Ward’s message: never be ashamed; embrace the opportunity to be part of two cultures.

For the full story, go to the New York Times.

Hines Ward, the wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers met up with the South Korean president Lee Myung-Bak during his visit to Pittsburgh during the G20 summit.   According to Hines’ tweets, he presented the South Korean president with a “signed football of Mr. Rooney, Coach Tomlin, and myself.”  Ward also noted that the South Korean President is “a big Steelers fan now.”

Hines Ward described his experience by saying he “Had an awesome visit with Korean President Lee. Again I was another President’s right hand man. I got a chance to welcome him to our great city of Pittsburgh and wished him the best trying to improve the country of Korea. I also added that I will continue to bring a positive light on bi-racial kids of Korea. Also, the first lady was very beautiful.”

Hines Ward started his public bridge to his Korean roots after he had won his first Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Hines Ward is of Korean descent and his life story became an inspiration for many bi-racial kids who live in South Korea.  He has donated $1M to the Hines Ward Helping Hand Foundation to help children who suffer from discrimination.

More from the The Korea Times
President Lee Myung-bak and first lady Kim Yoon-ok met with Korean-American football star Hines Ward and leaders of the Korean community in Pittsburg upon arrival there Friday to participate in the G20 economic summit.

It was the first meeting between Lee and Ward, since the Pittsburg Steelers wide receiver was invited in February 2008 to Lee’s inauguration ceremony in Seoul.

Lee told Ward that he and U.S. President Barack Obama are both fans of the Steelers. Ward said he felt grateful for being invited and gave Lee an autographed football, Cheong Wa Dae said.

Ward has often expressed his love for the Korean people. Recently, he donated $1 million to create the Hines Ward Helping Hands Foundation, and donated another $1 million to help multicultural and Korean people in the United States.

During his visit to a Korean War memorial altar set up in 1991, Lee met with U.S. veterans who fought in the 1950-53 conflict.

Lee said South Korea will never forget those who sacrificed themselves to defend the country and promised to promote exchange programs with veterans and their families.

Lee’s meeting with the veterans is significant as Seoul and Washington are preparing joint events to mark the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the war next year.

On Monday, first lady Kim cooked traditional Korean food and served it to some 50 U.S. veterans and their families in New York.

Early this year, the Korean government launched a 48-member committee to prepare for the 60th anniversary. The panel will work with government agencies and groups of war veterans on commemorative projects.

“Korea will work with American veterans to help post-war generations understand the war and be grateful for the countries that defended our country as members of the United Nations,” a presidential spokesman said. “We will also focus on sharing our experience of rapid economic growth with the world and promoting cultural and economic exchanges.”

For more on Hines Ward on Korean Beacon, click here.

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