It’s hard to believe that, by the time you read this issue, we will be knee-deep in holiday celebrations and preparing to bid another year farewell. For the KoreAm family, 2007 was a year full of change, most notably in our staff. After former managing editor Jimmy Lee, who gave seven years of his blood, sweet and tears to the magazine, left in February, Corina Knoll, who started as a staff writer here five years ago, stepped up to the plate and has brought her considerable talent and vision to KoreAm. She even managed to plan her wedding while editing the magazine, without skipping a beat!

Senior writer Michelle Woo also joined us after working as a reporter in Arizona, and has enhanced our community magazine with her care and depth in covering subjects ranging from the “comfort women” to the plight of Baby Elyse. After a more than four-year “maternity leave” to raise her two daughters, former senior editor Julie Ha returned to the magazine in November, and we are happy to have her back.

As I write this, I feel blessed to have such a faithful team, which also includes our great art director and photo editor, Jiyoon Kim and Eric Sueyoshi, respectively. These people, supported by freelancers all over the country, work very hard to bring you slices of the Korean American experience.

As part of that coverage, we have featured many successful female professional golfers over the years. Just two years ago, teen phenom Michelle Wie, dubbed by some the next Tiger Woods of the LPGA, graced our cover. But a string of controversies seemed to plague her, and, now 18, she has yet to live up to the hype.

There’s a new kid in town, however, and so far LPGA Rookie of the Year Angela Park, 19, is showing she just may have what it takes to rise — and stick around — in this sport. She’s even won the respect of golf legend Johnny Miller who says she has the best swing in golf (see page 60). In this issue, we also recap some notable events of 2007 for our community (see page 36), and remember our fallen soldiers in Iraq, whose families will be in our thoughts this holiday.

I wish all of you a warm holiday season and look forward to new challenges in the coming year.