Tag: houston

From the straw-thatched house of her childhood in Jeolla-nam-do, South Korea, to the bustling streets of Houston, Texas, Terry Sa Yoon’s life has been a testament to resilience and service. Arriving in the United States in 1970, her family was immediately thrown into harrowing circumstances following a parental health scare. Terry’s journey embodies the strength that one must grow into while transitioning to life in a new country, but also the grace of others which help us out of difficult times. Through the kindness of strangers and the support of her community, she found her calling in helping others and today works as a dedicated service coordinator at the non-profit Woori Juntos, paying it forward to make tangible differences in the lives of those in need.

Jackie Faye was born in Dallas, Texas to Korean immigrants; in the 1970s, her grandparents first arrived in Los Angeles, relocated to Alaska, and finally settled in Texas. Faye strongly identifies as being queer, emphasizing the importance of acceptance: of herself, and the risks that come along with it. Yet despite Jackie’s exposure to pain and violence which seek to diminish her identity, she describes her journey as having been worthwhile for the agency and freedom she’s fought for over her own experiences and aspirations. Jackie carries on her father’s passion for music by creating and engaging with music herself, a form of art that allows her to express her thoughts and feelings, as honest as she can be. She emphasizes the importance of being true to yourself in any and every way possible, paying no attention to what others might think about you.

Finalists: Jimmy Byrne, Tina Kim, Young Kim, Danny Maiuri, Kwon Teimchaiyapoom, and Joseph Yoo
Judges: Susan Jhin, Dona Murphey, David Lee, Theresa Choh-Lee, and Kyung B. Yoon
Emcee: Tiffany Justice
Performer: Jackie Faye

Hee Shin Suh was born to a noble, or yangban, family in 1924 in Jangsu, Jeollabuk-do. Mrs. Suh grew up with hired help and openly shares she wasn’t familiar with household chores when she immigrated to Ohio. She even recalls giving her kids under or overcooked rice multiple times and struggling to cook Korean dishes. Seeing her neighbors working and feeling unproductive at home, she found work as a seamstress and continued to work there for the next 20 years.

Dr. Kee Ok Cho’s father firmly believed that women should have access to education. While attending vocational school, Dr. Cho knew she had to go to school in Japan like her sister in order to get the best education possible. Plans quickly changed when Japan began to lose the war. She instead had to attend school in Korea to reduce the chances of being taken to become a comfort woman. Soon after, the Korean War breaks out.

Now as a student at the University of Houston, Kwon Teimchaiyapoom recalls her childhood as a restaurant kid. Kwon being half Thai / half Korean, was brought up in a Western household; never feeling connected to either culture except through the food her family served in their restaurant. It wasn’t until recently, when her parents’ divorce became finalized, that Kwon began to see a shift in her mother, who began to immerse herself into the Korean community of Houston. Seeing her mother make kimchi every week and watching more Korean television sparked a reflection within Kwon herself, to begin her own search for identity. As Kwon continues navigating her place in the world, she hopes to unravel more about herself and her roots.

Susan Jhin became her mother’s primary caregiver after enduring multiple fractures from a serious fall. Providing her with constant care in her home in Houston, Susan began to see hope for her mother’s health. However, after three months of progress, her mother suddenly stopped eating. After a doctor’s visit, Susan was given the difficult task of telling her mother that she had pancreatic cancer with not much time left.

Nam Young Park, born 1931 in North Korea, describes his childhood throughout Japanese occupation, recollecting what it meant to be Korean at that time. After Korea’s eventual independence, Nam began his dream of becoming a lawyer at Korea University. To his dismay, the Korean War broke out just one month into school and he was quickly recruited as a young soldier.

David Shin recalls his dad expressing their family’s immigration to Canada as being “for the sake of his children” despite their struggles with money. Watching his father balance a difficult life of buying properties and paying mortgages– “asset rich, cash flow poor”– led David in a completely different direction towards engineering and law school. He was able to make his own successes during his time in Houston, earning his way up in the world, but still struggled with the guilt ingrained in him from his experiences at Baptist churches. He’s currently on the path to find peace by giving back to his community any way he can.

“Sangsun Yaksu (상선약수, 上善若水) Flow with water, flow with nature” are the words that Dr. Casey Youn continues to carry with him as he flows through his own life; taking any opportunities that comes his way. Born just 7 years before the Korean War broke out, Dr. Youn developed an altruism to give back to community after seeing the aid that the U.S. gave back to Korea during a time of devastation and need. To this day, Dr. Young uses his various work skills – which range from chemical engineering to coffee shop owner – to give back to his Korean American community. He now acts as President of the Korean American Association & Community Center of Houston.

Hae Jung Grace Lee never dreamed of getting married and having children due to her weak body until she met her husband. He was a charming and smart man with a dream of one day receiving a Nobel Peace Prize. In 1996, they both immigrated to Houston, TX where he was offered a position as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas where he could pursue dreams. But shortly after moving to America, the IMF crisis hit Korea and all opportunities in his field disappeared, forcing them to pivot and forget their dreams.

Sang Hui Juhn was born in 1932 in Wonju, Korea, and attended six years of primary school under Japanese occupation. She recalls not being allowed to speak Korean at school and working to provide supplies for the Japanese army instead of studying not fully understanding what was going on. Most of all, she remembers the name she was given – Kiyomoto Eiko. The occupation ended once World War II ended but soon after, conflict began to rise between North and South Korea.

David So was born in South Korea in 1987 and moved to the United States with his family in 1995. Reflecting on his experiences as a 1.5 gen Korean American pastor’s kid, David shares the complexities he’s faced with his own identity but also frustrations he had with the Korean church.

As a freshman in college, Tina Kim rode on the back of her cousin’s motorcycle and got into a terrible accident that completely compromised her mobility. Her mother had to bathe her, feed her, and even teach her how to walk again. But the most challenging part for her wasn’t the physical recovery, it was the emotional and mental recovery. Tina openly shares her journey with mental health and depression while reflecting on how her mother’s love and support helped her overcome one of the darkest moments in her life.

Dona Kim Murphey was born, raised, and still resides in Houston, TX. She experienced prejudice as a woman for the first time when trying to negotiate a deserved higher position. That question of value based on her identity in conjunction with the 2016 election led her further away from an expected path of continued training in academic science.

Helen Chang has formed a steady habit of making the most of whatever life throws at her. At 19, she spun her failed entrance exam to Ewha University into gold, when she chose a different path at Joseon Hotel as an English-speaking receptionist for VIP guests. She rubbed elbows, earned lots of money, and fell in love; eventually leading her to Germany and Las Vegas, then ultimately settling in Texas– all whilst craving the kimchi she missed from home.