DR. YUNG DUK KIM, BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADER,
NAMED BOARD CHAIRPERSON OF ASIAN AMERICAN FEDERATION

        NEW YORK � Dr. Yung Duk Kim, a prominent figure in Asian American business and community affairs for nearly 30 years, has been elected chairperson of the board of the Asian American Federation of New York, a nonprofit community leadership organization.

        He has begun a two-year term as board chairperson after serving as vice chairperson for four years and joining the board in 1998.

        Dr. Kim, who was born in Korea and moved to the United States in 1974, has held numerous business and nonprofit leadership positions in this country, including president and chief executive officer of the Hyundai Corporation (USA) and chairperson of the board of the Korean American Association of Greater New York.

        �We are delighted that Dr. Kim will be leading our board at a critical time, in which Asian Americans continue to be overlooked and underserved despite growing numbers and needs,� said Cao K. O, executive director of the Asian American Federation. �Our organization will benefit from his business acumen, commitment to the Asian American community, and ability to promote understanding and cooperation among diverse people and groups.�

        �I welcome this opportunity to help the Asian American Federation build further on the unique and vital set of services it offers the Asian American community,� Dr. Kim said. �I look forward to working with my colleagues to continue creating bridges, strengthening community services, and pinpointing and addressing unmet needs.�

        The new chairperson�s background and current activities prepare him well for the role.

        Dr. Kim was president and CEO of the Hyundai Corporation (USA), the trading and financing arm of the Hyundai Group in North America, from 1987 until he retired in 1997. His responsibilities spanned marketing, financing, technology, and project and contract negotiations. Earlier in his 23-year Hyundai Group career, he founded the offshore engineering and development division of Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. Using cutting-edge technology, he built the division into one of the world�s leaders in deep-sea gas and oil exploration and production.

        Now a management consultant, Dr. Kim serves as an adviser to Hyundai Heavy Industries and other corporate clients. Also in the business sphere, he is a member of the board of directors of Woori American Bank. As a former chairman of the board of the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industries in the U.S. (KOCHAM) and a current adviser to KOCHAM and the Korean American Chamber of Commerce and Industries in Greater New York, Dr. Kim has been instrumental in nurturing business development and in advancing networking among U.S. and South Korean businesses.

        The themes of fostering alliances and opportunities extend into Dr. Kim�s nonprofit involvement. Serving on the board of The Korea Society since 1987, he was a prime force in establishing the organization and has helped it reach its goals for improving U.S.-South Korea relations. In addition, Dr. Kim serves on the executive committee of the board of Korea Forum International, which promotes U.S.-South Korea cooperation and understanding, as well as on the board of the Korean American League for Civic Action, which trains Asian Americans for political and community leadership. Earlier this year, he was elected chairperson of the board of the Korean American Association of Greater New York, which represents Korean Americans in the New York metropolitan area.

        Dr. Kim received a bachelor�s degree in civil engineering from Seoul National University and a Ph.D. in civil engineering from the University of Western Ontario.

        As Asian American Federation board chairperson, he succeeds Paul D.C. Huang, who completed two terms in that position and remains on the board.

        �We are deeply grateful to Paul for his distinguished contributions during a period in which our organization expanded significantly in services, impact and visibility,� O said. �We will continue to look to him for wisdom and guidance.�

The Asian American Federation of New York is a nonprofit leadership organization created to help unite the city�s diverse Asian American communities by providing community services and identifying and addressing critical needs of Asian Americans. Founded in 1989, the Federation offers management, financial and technical assistance to 35 member agencies and other emerging organizations that provide health and human services. In addition, the Federation analyzes issues, voices concerns, advocates for responsive policies, coordinates service delivery, and leads comprehensive initiatives to benefit the entire Asian American community.

For more information, visit www.aafny.org or call 212-344-5878.

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