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]

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.

#1 Los Angeles, CA

We’ve finally reached the end of our countdown, and Los Angeles is our #1 Most Korean-American city! After immigrating and settling in the city with dreams of a new life, many Koreans found themselves suddenly displaced after the 1992 L.A. Riots (Sa-i-Gu) took its toll on businesses and homes in L.A.’s Koreatown. But since then, K-town has progressively grown into a vibrant neighborhood that combines cultural traditions with new and modern attitudes. While this may be one of those Captain Obvious moments, let us prove it to you by sharing the countless reasons why the City of Angels tops our list.

Numbers

• 324,586 – Los Angeles metro area (population data compiled using the 2010 Census)

Visibility

Dr. Sammy Lee (left) and Lt. Susan Ahn Cuddy (right)

• Los Angeles is home to three Korean American pioneers: Dr. Samuel “Sammy” Lee, Susan Ahn Cuddy and K.W. Lee.
  • A doctor and two-time Olympic gold medalist in the past, Dr. Samuel “Sammy” Lee, the first Asian American to represent the US and win an Olympic gold medal in diving, is an inspiration to anyone with an ambitious dream. Last summer, a square in Koreatown was named after the diving hero.
  • Not only is Lt. Susan Ahn Cuddy the daughter of the first Korean married couple to immigrate to the U.S. in 1902, but she is also the first female gunnery officer appointed to the U.S. Navy; making her an important figure in Korean American history.
  • K.W. Lee, known as the “godfather of Asian American journalism,” is the founder of The Korea Times English Edition and still continues to serve on the editorial board of Color Lines Magazine. The award-winning journalist-activist also has a center inspired by his lifetime of service called the K.W. Lee Center for Leadership—a non-profit organization teaching youth how to become future leaders.

  
  Phil Yu (left) and Paul “PK” Kim (right)

• Phil Yu, the blogger behind Angry Asian Man, recently celebrated his 10th anniversary of being one of the most influential voices in our community. Through his posts, Phil has centralized Asian America by facilitating ongoing discussions about racism, activism and mainstream media’s (mis)representations of Asian Americans. This weekend, Phil will be judging Kollaboration SF 2 along with singer-songwriter Clara C.
• Paul “PK” Kim is a multi-talented leader who not only created Kollaboration, the largest Asian American talent show in the world, but co-founded LiNK, a non-profit organization raising awareness to the pressing issues of North Korean refugees. PK is now the co-host and producer of MNET’s BPM: Beats Per Mnet, a daily series covering the latest and greatest in Asian pop culture. You can watch clips from the series here.
• Ever since “coming out” as an undocumented immigrant, 21-year-old UCLA student David Cho is one of the handful of Asian American students putting a “human face” on the DREAM Act issue. Having recently won the Freedom From Fear Award, David founded ASPIRE (Asian Students Promoting Immigration Rights through Education) to unify undocumented Asian American students on and off campus. He’s also the 1st Korean American drum major of the UCLA marching band!

Programs

Kimchi Chronicles’ Marja Vongerichten visited KYCC this past July.

• Established in 1975, the Koreatown Youth & Community Center (KYCC) offers programs and services specifically aimed towards immigrated and economically disadvantaged children, youths, and their families. Some of KYCC’s programs include clinical services, tree planting, and business education.
• Through education, leadership development, and community organizing, the Korean American Coalition Los Angeles (KACLA) seeks to promote the civic and civil rights interests of the Korean American community in L.A. Last month, we covered KACLA’s 3^rd annual KBBQ Cook-Off, which brought out all of the top KBBQ restaurants in K-town for all of the foodies’ delight.

• Founded in the wake of California’s Proposition 8, Koreans United for Equality (KUE) unites straight and LGBTIQ Koreans in order facilitate a larger acceptance within the Korean community.
• The Southern California Korean College Student Association (scKcSA) is the oldest and largest non-partisan, non-profit Korean American student organization in the US, connecting college students from eleven campuses in Southern California. scKcSA promotes a sense of Korean American heritage among students by serving the community and building a strong social network.
• The KHEIR Center was initially founded in 1985 to provide quality healthcare for low-income, non-English speaking Korean immigrants. KHEIR now operates the only full-time community clinic in the country with Korean, Spanish, and English language capabilities and services 30,000 patient visits per year.

Hotspots

• Roy Choi’s Kogi Truck was the food truck that started it all, and while many try to compete with it, nothing beats the original. Initially parking alongside curbs all over L.A., Kogi Truck now has expanded, making trips to cities in the Valley and in Orange County.
• Cafe Mak is a great café to study for exams, finish up some work from the office, or catch up with your friends. The venue is spacious yet intimate with a peaceful ambience and offers free parking (gasp!) after 8pm.
• Always the spot for running into people you know, Chapman Plaza boasts several sooljibs (Korean bars) and restaurants, a hookah lounge, and NRB. In the plaza, Gaam is one of the more popular sooljibs in K-town with its contemporary décor and vaulted ceilings.

• Belasco is the new “it” club among today’s young Korean Americans in L.A. on Saturday nights. Hosted by Korean promo companies, Belasco’s events are notorious for keeping the party alive and well into the night. Make sure to get there early because lines have gone around the corner before. Other notable club spots are Le Circle and VR.
• As a 21+ NRB, Bobos Karaoke is always a fun place to sing and drink the night away. Bobos offers rooms of many different sizes to accommodate groups of any size. With flat screens in the front and back of each room, you’ll feel a rock star performing for your friends while they sing along as your groupies.
• With all of the KBBQ choices in L.A., we couldn’t narrow it down! Check out our list of L.A.’s Top 5 All-You-Can-Eat KBBQ spots to get your meat fix.

Locals

• L.A. is home to Hollywood so we have to acknowledge the many Korean American actors and actresses who are eliminating stereotypes within the entertainment industry. Comedian Amy Anderson’s daughter Aubrey Anderson-Emmons will soon play the adopted Lily on ABC’s Modern Family while Jenna Ushkowitz sings her heart out on Glee. John Cho is coming out with the new Harold and Kumar movie this winter, and Sung Kang will star in Sylvester Stallone’s new action flick Bullet to the Head. Also be on the lookout for the Ktown Cowboys who are set to start filming their movie version of the wildly popular webisode series.
• On the flip side, KAs are also making a name for themselves behind the camera. UCLA grad Grace Lee wrote and directed The Grace Lee Project, a documentary that tries to breaks down the “Grace Lee” stereotype (i.e. “reserved, dutiful, piano-playing overachiever”). Her new film on Detroit activist Grace Lee Boggs, American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs, is currently in post-production. Previously based in L.A., Michael Kang has directed the Korean American feature West 32nd, which starred John Cho, Grace Park and Jeong Jun Ho. His new film, Knots, is scheduled to release sometime this year. Other filmmakers include Chil Kong and Dennis Lee.

Dumbfoundead and Priscilla Ahn

• As for musicians: Priscilla Ahn‘s musical career blossomed after she touched base in L.A. to follow her music career dream. Her latest album, When You Grow Up, encompasses her growth and journey as an artist in every song. K-town’s new pride, Dumbfoundead (Jonathan Park), recently caught the attention of the L.A. Times with his track “Are We There Yet.” Singer-songwriter and YouTube extraordinaire David Choi, Linkin Park’s Joe Hahn, and Korea’s “National Fairy,” Lena Park, also call L.A home.
• Known for his “dirty style,” David Choe is a K-town originated artist whose work can be distinguished by its raw, graphic and abd layered qualities. Dirty Hands: The Art and Crimes of David Choe, an art documentary based on David’s work, was recently released on DVD.
• Other locals include: Quest Crew‘s Victor Kim and Lydia Paek, Angry Little Girls‘ Lela Lee, AMN Radio‘s Sung Lee, Christina Lee and Eddie Kim, and Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD)’s amazing Chief Deputy, Emile Mack.

This concludes our countdown of the Top 5 Most Korean-American Cities!

Melissah Yang and Eunice Roh contributed to this post.

We are thrilled to report that John Cho and Kal Penn will reprise their roles as our favorite stoners Harold and Kumar in a new film titled A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas. You can also look forward to Neil Patrick Harris making his third appearance as a fictionalized version of, well, himself. Shot in 3D, indieWIRE reports that the much-awaited movie is set to debut in theaters on November 4.

The movie’s premise: “Six years after their Guantanamo Bay adventure, stoner buds Harold Lee and Kumar Patel cause a holiday fracas by inadvertently burning down Harold’s father-in-law’s prize Christmas tree.”

While this might not sound like a storyline that will go down in cinematic history, let’s be real. We don’t watch for Harold and Kumar for great iconic monologues; we watch them for their hilarious adventures that make us turn to our best friends and ask, “Remember that one time…?”

Watch a short clip of John Cho at Comic-Con discussing the new movie.

UPDATED on 8/11/11 with newly released trailer:

[Photo: EW]

Twelve years after the four friends of American Pie pledged to lose their V-cards before graduation, they are back  in American Reunion. Confirmation that John Cho would reprise his role as “MILF guy #2″ came when co-star Thomas Ian Nicholas tweeted: “On the set of #AmericanReunion with @johnthecho looking spiffy.”

After opting out the last couple American Pie films, Cho back has caused tons of media buzz as fans are excited to see him back reprising his most beloved role.

American Reunion is scheduled to release on April 6th, 2012.

[Photo: Thomas Ian Nicholas's Twitter]

Just when The Hangover: Part II is breaking box-office records for its opening weekend, Jamie Chung is already looking towards her next project. According to Variety, Chung is set to join the cast of Knife Fight, an indie political drama that stars Rob Lowe as a “political crisis manager who specializes in playing hardball on behalf of scandal-plagued clients.” Chung will play his savvy assistant. Filming apparently has started as Chung tweeted on Sunday, “First day on set” and “being back in the bay is amazing :)”

Knife Fight is planned to be released in October 2012 to coincide with the 57th US Presidential elections. In the meantime, you can catch Chung with Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Premium Rush, scheduled to be released on January 13, 2012.

Also, John Cho has signed onto a huge remake of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Total Recall. Cho will play McClane, a suave rep for a futuristic company that allows people to experience an imagined, once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Based on Philip K. Dick’s short story “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale,” the new Total Recall is expected to be a big summer blockbuster with a reported $200 million budget.

Total Recall has just started production and is slated to be released on August 3, 2012.

[Photo of Jamie Chung: Frazer Harrison/Getty; John Cho: Tatiana Beller/PR Photos]

A few fun pictures from the week. Enjoy the Hot Clicks of Hyori’s new Soju ad campaign, John Cho’s son and ice fishing in Korea.

Christina Lee hosts Korean Beacons Weekly Monday Mashup highlighting some of the weekly headlines in Korean American news.

This week, December 28, 2009 we cover:

Korean Beacon 2009 Top 10 List: #5 – Ken Jeong
Korean Beacon 2009 Top 10 List: #4 – John Cho
Korean Beacon 2009 Top 10 List: #3 – Rain

Send comments to: beacon@koreanbeacon.com

The Godfather of Korean-American actors is still in his 30′s but it would be safe to say that John Cho is really the guy who paved the way for many young Korean-American actors into Hollywood.  John Cho had a real breakout year.  He was Sulu in this summer’s re-ignition of the Star Trek franchise, and he also found himself in a co-starring role in ABC’s FlashForward.  That’s not just big for being a Korean-American actor, but that’s big for anyone in Hollywood: to get a co-starring role in a large scale movie franchise and then a leading role in a network television show in a single year.  I’d call that a damn good year for any actor.  And to make things real interesting, he found himself stretching the racial boundaries as the fiance of Zoey, played by Gabrielle Union.  Big props to the writer for installing a Korean-American guy in a romantic relationship with an African-American gal.  Oh and btw, just to finish off the year, John was once again named as one of People Magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive for the second year in a row.

John’s been in Hollywood for a long time and all that pounding of the pavement is finally paying off.  When you think of Korean-Americans at the forefront of Hollywood, John Cho is probably the first guy that comes to mind.  He’s come a long way from being the guy who said “MILF” in American Pie and smoked pot in his pursuit of White Castle burgers in Harold & Kumar.  He’s really made it in Hollywood and has become truly recognized.  There’s a good number of up and coming Korean-American actors in Hollywood trying to make it big, but they can all thank John Cho for being the pioneer and showing the way.  And that’s why John Cho has beamed up to #4 as one our top ten most influential Korean-Americans in 2009.

So what happened the past week with Koreans and Korean-Americans?  Well starting this week, we’re beginning a series called Monday Mashup or “Beacon Bits” as we affectionately call it here.  You can find the lovely Christina Lee reviewing the events and people that made the news during the past week and a few quick opinions on top of it.  If you have any thoughts or topics you’d like us to cover, don’t be afraid to email us at “beacon at koreanbeacon (dot) com.”

So who do the Korean boys want to date?  Netizens were asked which “Female celebrity you would most want to have a date with on Korea’s first snowfall of the year.“  Well, according to an Internet poll that was conducted last week, Jessica of the very large girl band SNSD was the winner with 30% of the 792 votes.

John Cho is a MAN!
John Cho sure had a man week. He was selected as one of People Magazine’s Sexiest Men (for the second time) and he showed up at GQ’s Men of the Year ceremony at the Chateau Marmont. And he’s having a good career year with a big part in Star Trek and on ABC’s FlashForward. Not bad for a guy who smoked pot in Harold and Kumar and coined the acronym “MILF.”

What are the hottest flats in South Korea?
According to an article in the Korean Economic Daily, the hottest flats worn by Korean women are from Tory Burch. Maybe that’s why the Wonder Girls showed up at her shop during Fashion Week.

There Was a Korean that Walked the Victoria’s Secret Show
Chanel Iman is partially Korean and she strutted her stuff down the Victoria’s Secret lingerie show in New York last week. It’s referred to as the Super Bowl for supermodels.  How many Korean girls have that kind of bootie?!

You Know You’re Famous When TMZ Decides To Film You
Ken Jeong who broke out this year with his full frontal nudity in The Hangover was spotted by TMZ because they like hanging out at LAX and in front of LA nightclubs.