The Korean American Chamber of Commerce LA (KACCLA) recognized the outstanding achievements of Korean Americans in various fields at its 47th Annual Gala & Awards Night.
KACCLA held a press conference at the LA Koreatown Chamber office on March 5 to announce the winners in seven categories and elucidate the significance of the gala event.
“We are pleased to announce that the selection committee has chosen seven winners after a rigorous and fair process, screening dozens of nominees for over a month,” said Vice Chairman Jay Kim, who also served as the moderator.
The recipients of the awards were honored as follows: Min Kim from Open Bank was given the CEO of the Year award; Joseph Lee received the Global Business Leader of the Year award; Edward Choi was celebrated with the Professional of the Year award; the Entrepreneur of the Year award was presented to Francis Hyunok Lee; Changjoo Kim was acknowledged with the Innovative Leadership award; Jenny So received the Community Contribution award; and the Emerging Leader award was conferred upon Jeff John Lee.
The gala will take place at the InterContinental Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, in the 5th-floor ballroom, starting at 5:00 p.m. on March 15. The event is expected to draw over 400 attendees, including Korean-Americans, mainstream community members, and business leaders, along with the award’s chairperson and board of directors.
“I am proud to observe the elevated stature of the Korean-American community, with notable figures like the President of the LA Dodgers Foundation, U.S. Representatives Michelle Steel and Judy Chu, and LA Mayor Karen Bass showing interest in attending the event,” Kim remarked.
To support Korean American businesses, the event was organized by entities within the Korean American community, with Dana Estate Wines, a Korean-American-owned company, chosen to supply the wine for the dinner. Korean American businesses also played a key role in organizing and executing the event, including public relations and managing large digital display boards, Kim further noted.
“This year, we are introducing an entertainment segment, which was absent last year, featuring a live performance by singer Park Sangmin and a chorus by the award’s board members,” mentioned Yong Sin Shin.
James Hong also noted, “Despite a slowdown in business, we hope this event will offer a chance for 400 individuals to network and acknowledge the presence of KACCLA in the mainstream community.”
BY NAKI PARK, JUNHAN PARK [park.naki@koreadaily.com]
