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General Overview

Established in 1990, KoreAm Journal is a rapidly growing monthly magazine
that highlights the news, stories and issues of Korean Americans nationwide.
What started as a local paper went national in 1997 with a new journal
format. In February 1999 KoreAm Journal emerged as a glossy magazine and
became available at select newsstands and bookstores across North America
and Korea. The publication is now published entirely in color.


By embracing all generations, including the mixed-race and adoptee
communities, KoreAm Journal has become the most widely circulated (more then
40,000 readers), longest-running (publishing 180-plus issues over the last
15 years), independent English-language publication serving the Korean
American community. It has been featured in publications, including Atlantic
Monthly and Monolid, and KoreAm articles have appeared in the Los Angeles
Times and the New York Times Syndicate.

Mission Statement

KoreAm Journal's mission is to be a publication that provides depth and
insight into the evolving Korean American experience.

Recognition

  • 2005 Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Awards, Region 5: Best Nonfiction Magazine Features


  • 2004 New California Media Awards: International; Youth Voice; Workplace Issues/Economy; Investigative/In-depth (runner-up); Arts, Sports & Entertainment (runner-up)


  • 2003 New California Media Awards: Arts/Culture


  • 2003 PACE Setter Award presented by the Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment


  • 2002 Outstanding Service on Behalf of the Korean American Community presented by the Korean American Bar Association of Southern California


  • 2002 Annual Community Service Award presented by the Korean American Coalition San Francisco Bay Area Chapter


  • 2000 GLAAD Media Award nominee

Future

KoreAm Journal is now available at select newsstands and bookstores
throughout the Unites States including Barnes and Noble, Borders and Tower
Records locations. And with the recent unveiling of a redesigned KoreAm
Journal website, which includes a search engine that can access an archive
of all our past articles, this is an exciting time for our publication. We
here at KoreAm Journal hope that you will be able to play an integral part
in our progress and development.

Employment

Seeking Editorial Intern
 KoreAm Journal is looking for an intern to join its editorial staff. Must be familiar with AP style and able to write succinct news briefs. Must be a creative thinker, able to work independently and bring a lot of ideas to the table. Opportunities to write feature stories and profiles available, depending on performance. College students in their third or fourth year or recent graduates preferred. Must commit to at least 3 months and 15 hours a week. Small monthly stipend. Those interested should e-mail a cover letter, resume and 4-6 published clips to corina@koreamjournal.com, or snail mail to Corina Knoll, 17000 S. Vermont Ave., Suite A, Gardena, CA 90247. No phone calls please.

Seeking Freelancers
 Get published in an award-winning national monthly magazine! KoreAm Journal is looking to expand its freelance roster and is seeking contributing journalists from all corners of the world. Must be familiar with AP style and able to write profiles and/or in-depth, compelling feature stories. Should also be able to pitch relevant stories from your area. Those interested should e-mail a resume and 4-6 published clips to corina@koreamjournal.com, or snail mail to Corina Knoll, 17000 S. Vermont Ave., Suite A, Gardena, CA 90247. No phone calls please.

Seeking Photography Intern
 KoreAm Journal is looking for an intern to join its photo department. Must have a genuine interest in photography, art, video, film, etc. Duties include assisting on shoots (some weekends/nights required), archiving and filing images and managing equipment. Photoshop and Illustrator experience is helpful but not required. Opportunities for photo assignments (must have own camera for this). Must commit to at least 3 months and 12 hours a week. Small monthly stipend. Applicants should send resume and/or portfolio (not required) to eric@koreamjournal.com, or snail mail to Eric Sueyoshi, 17000 S. Vermont Ave., Suite A, Gardena, CA 90247.
STAFF
Publisher Jung Shig Ryu immigrated to the U.S. with his wife and three children in 1973. He earned a Ph.D. in mass communication from the University of Oregon in 1977 and worked as an assistant professor at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio from 1977 to 1982. The author of four books, Jung founded KoreAm with his son, James, in April 1990. He is also the publisher and editor of Korean Community News, a biweekly Korean-language publication which serves the South Bay, Calif. region. Every weekday morning at 7 a.m., Jung can be found on the badminton courts with his wife. He is also an avid player of Korean chess. Contact him at jung@koreamjournal.com.
President & Editor in Chief James Y. Ryu was born in Seoul in 1961 and immigrated to the U.S. with his family at age 12. He lived briefly in Eugene, Ore., attended high school in Oxford, Ohio, and eventually earned a bachelor's degree in business management from California State University Long Beach. Together with his father, James founded KoreAm with the hope of creating a well-informed, close- knit Korean American community. Along with his wife, Tammy, he is the proud parent of Nicholas, Audrey, and Michael. When not testing the limits of his editorial staff, James enjoys his lifelong hobby of playing basketball (despite four knee surgeries) and golf. Contact him at james@koreamjournal.com for business inquires and advertising.
Managing editor Corina Knoll left the Midwest in 2000 for the palm trees and snails (who knew?) of Los Angeles. After stints with the Timberwolves and a sports marketing firm, she finally heeded the words of her brilliant journalism professors and succumbed to the life of an overworked, underpaid writer. She hails from Iowa and graduated from Macalester College (the Harvard of the Midwest) in St. Paul, Minn. Corina loves corn, pop culture, soccer, hip-hop, Kevin Garnett, Nick Hornby and a good cow-tipping. Contact her atcorina@koreamjournal.com.
Senior writer Michelle Woo recently returned to Southern California from Phoenix, Arizona, where she worked at a really big newspaper. There, she went from being an education reporter who covered late-breaking debates on school lunches to a fashion and beauty writer who spent many mornings clicking wistfully through the pages of NeimanMarcus.com (for research purposes, of course). While she loved being able to shop for a living, she eventually became tired of getting pricked by cacti and watching her steering wheel turn into melted goo. She decided to throw her life into a U-Haul and move closer to her family, the ocean and her college alma mater (Go UC Irvine Anteaters! Zot! Zot! Zot!) Besides writing for KoreAm, Michelle also enjoys blog-stalking, watching America's Next Top Model and improving her bowling score on Nintendo Wii. Reach her at michelle@koreamjournal.com.
Staff writer Nina Ahn has never lived outside of Southern California and remains flabbergasted when people claim to not like L.A. (Haters! All of you!) After studying the finer points of Shakespeare and modernist literature at UC Irvine, she flirted with the idea of teaching English to unruly 15-year-olds. Her sanity restored, however, she veered toward another career of angst and red pen at KoreAm. When not hunched over her laptop developing carpal tunnel syndrome, Nina loves reading "Goodnight Moon" for the ten thousandth time to her son, watching old episodes of "The West Wing," and, above all, sleeping. Contact Nina at nina@koreamjournal.com. .
Art Director Jiyoon Kim was born in Seoul and moved to Orange, California with her family when she was 17. Always having loved to draw, Jiyoon decided to pursue a career in graphic design and matriculated into Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. There, she met her husband, who is also a graphic designer. Before KoreAm, Jiyoon worked as a freelance designer. When Jiyoon is not fed up with the KoreAm staff, she loves to play with her two dogs, golf and snowboard. Contact Jiyoon at jiyoon@koreamjournal.com with your design comments.
Photography Editor Eric Sueyoshi arrived in Los Angeles in 1994 after studying the art of photography for two years in the resort town of Santa Barbara, California. He received a BFA from Otis College of Art and Design in 1996 and now resides in Los Angeles. When asked if he misses his hometown of Napa Valley in Northern California, Eric looks pensively off into the distance and replies, "Well, sometimes I miss my early morning frolics along the dew-covered paths with the singing birds in the trees. They seem to be saying, 'Good morning Eric," and I say, 'Good morning Birds.'" You can reach Eric to talk pictures or birds at eric@koreamjournal.com.
 
Advertising Manager Gun Bahng graduated from the University of Oregon in August of 2007 with a degree in Marketing. He moved to Los Angeles in November for a change of scenery, pretty girls, and sunny weather (oh...and a new job!). Gun was born and raised in Seoul, Korea and moved to the States when he was eight years old. After fourteen years of life in Portland, Oregon, he became a die-hard Portland Trail Blazers fan. He is hopeful that the new and improved team will eventually win many championships. In his free time, Gun likes exploring California, particularly the beaches and the nightlife. He loves playing on his PSP, trying adventurous foods, and working out. His secret talents include juggling, card tricks, and making up new words. Contact Gun at gun@koreamjournal.com to talk about advertising.
Advertising and account executive Insoo Song is a newcomer to KoreAm but an old-timer in this field. He started his journalism career in 1989 as a reporter at Donga-Ilbo, one of the leading newspapers in Seoul, Korea. After working at the political and social desk for 13 years, he took a sabbatical year in 2002. Enjoying 365 perfect days off with his wife and two sons in Corvallis, a quiet, small town in Oregon, he decided to do away with his old job and begin his new life in the United States. KoreAm is the first place that he chose to work at in America. Regardless of the many headaches that come with being a new immigrant, he is happy because he likes the staff so much.
Marketing manager Jennifer Chang began her career at KoreAm in April 2006, just before graduating from UCLA. While she earned a B.A. in psychology, she realized that listening to other people’s problems wasn’t interesting enough for her and chose to work for KoreAm and Audrey, magazines she had read and loved throughout her college career. Now marketing and coordinating events for KoreAm and Audrey, Jennifer is pleased to realize what an amazing company she works for. Born and raised in Palos Verdes, Calif., Jennifer loves working in the South Bay. In her free time she enjoys playing with her Jack Russell terrier, Kobe, and watching movies. To talk about marketing or event planning, contact her at jennifer@koreamjournal.com .
The first thing you'll notice about Jasmine when you meet her is that she can be charming and goofy at the same time. She spent her undergraduate years at the University of California, Los Angeles, studying Asian American Studies. Apart from being the office manager in charge of payroll and keeping the office in order, she is incredibly gifted, speaking three languages, including English, Korean, and Japanese. She enjoys working for KoreAm because she loves the people and believes in KoreAm's mission. She has a love for cinema, which began at a young age, and growing up, she watched countless films. You just name the movie and she can tell you about it. Her other interests besides watching films include traveling and music. She loves adventure but also appreciates the beauty of sunrise on the beach. For subscriptions and general billing inquiries, contact her at jasmine@koreamjournal.com.