Queer Joy in Conversaton: Sammy & Jiwon

Sammy and Jiwon first crossed paths in Brooklyn nightlife, leaving deep impressions on one another: radiant confidence, an ability to light up a room, and joy that was infectious.

Years later, their friendship would continue to deepen through travel across the country. From bowls of soondubu in Koreatown to performing at “Bias,” a K-pop party founded by Sammy Kim to spotlight Asian talent, their bond shifted from casual encounters into collaboration. Jiwon saw in Sammy a performer who not only brought charisma to the stage but also invested deeply in the community they were building; Sammy, in turn, found in Jiwon a partner whose belief in intentionality and purpose reinforced their shared vision.

Together, they helped grow projects like bias and KHSS into platforms where Korean Americans and queer communities could gather, celebrate, and heal. Both see their shared journey as part of a larger responsibility: to model alternative ways of being, loving, and organizing for those who come after them. Binding them is the belief that storytelling, chosen family, and collective care are tools of liberation.

As they look ahead, Sammy and Jiwon hope their friendship shows younger generations that love can exist in many forms, that community can be built from laughter and late nights as much as from protest and struggle, and that chosen family is not a compromise, but a celebration.

🌈 Queer Joy In Conversation invites audiences to sit in on intimate, interpersonal interviews with folks from the Korean American queer and trans community as they reflect upon the unique and shared journeys of finding queer joy in their lives. The second part to KAS’ Queer Joy series, this project aims to highlight the diverse, dynamic, and intersecting identities of the Korean American community; destigmatizing conversations around sexuality and gender. ❤️

Funding for this special Legacy Project series was made possible by The Reva and David Logan Foundation.