한국어
The Kansas City Korean community marked Liberation Day with a meaningful gathering for next-generation Korean American leaders.
On August 14, the Federation of Korean Associations in the U.S. Midwest and the Korean American Society of Greater Kansas City (KASGKC) co-hosted a Leadership Workshop & Conversation. The Kansas City Korean Business Network (KBN) also joined, helping next-generation Korean leaders in the region connect and expand their networks.
Nevada Supreme Court Justice Patricia Lee was the featured speaker, sharing her life story and reflections on leadership.
Justice Lee, who is Korean American, is the first Asian American and the first African American justice on the Nevada Supreme Court. She spoke candidly about the challenges of growing up across cultures, how she overcame them, and the values and identity that leadership requires.
About 40 next-generation Korean leaders from Kansas City, the Iowa Korean Association, the Springfield Korean Association, and the Koryo Saram Association attended. Through the talk and Q&A, they discussed identity and leadership as Korean Americans in the United States.
The workshop also became a networking space where next-generation Korean Americans from different careers and backgrounds could share experience and vision and form new relationships. KBN joined the event as well, helping connect local Korean business and professional community members with next-generation leaders.
Held on Liberation Day, the gathering went beyond remembering the past. It gave next-generation Korean Americans in the U.S. a chance to reflect on their identity and the role they will play in the Korean community going forward.
Organizers hope this event will help next-generation Korean Americans across Kansas City and the Midwest stay connected and build new leadership that links their own fields with the Korean community.
On the 81st anniversary of Liberation Day, Kansas City Korean Americans came together through pickleball to connect and celebrate.
The Liberation Day Pickleball Tournament on August 15 brought local Korean residents together to play, socialize, and mark the meaning of the day.
The tournament was split into a regular division and a beginner division so both experienced players and first-timers could take part. More than eight teams competed in each division.
Dan Lee and Joseph Cho won the regular tournament. Beyond the scores, players cheered each other on, met new people, and had a good time.
The event was especially meaningful as a chance for Korean Americans across generations and backgrounds to come together through sport. It remembered Liberation Day while giving Korean Americans in the U.S. today a chance to meet, build relationships, and share a sense of community.
We hope this tournament will keep Kansas City Korean Americans connected through more activities and help build an even more vibrant community.