Korean American Foundation Partners with Korean American Institute to Launch a Comprehensive Survey of Korean Americans
Korean American Foundation (KAF) is proud to announce its partnership with the Korean American Institute (KAI) to undertake the “Korean American Community Research Project,” a first-of-its-kind comprehensive survey designed to understand the current state of Korean Americans.
The year 2028 will mark the 125th anniversary of Korean immigration to the United States, and a record number of over two million Americans of Korean ancestry living here today. Yet, despite being the fifth-largest Asian American group, Korean Americans remain underrepresented in the policymaking process, public discourse, and in other influential arenas. The KAF-KAI project seeks to address these inequities by generating insightful information about our community to decision makers for their action.
Led by KAI and a team of accomplished scholars and leaders, this groundbreaking research will take place in phases over the next two years. As data is collected and analyzed, the research team will present its findings periodically to update the Korean American community and interested stakeholders.
“For decades, Korean Americans have contributed immensely to American history, economy, and culture, but the lack of comprehensive data about us has hindered more effective integration,” said Mark Keam, President of KAI. “Our partnership with KAF will create important research that will help our community explain our needs and aspirations to decision makers so that Korean Americans can be fully recognized and supported in the years ahead.”
KAF has committed substantial financial support to KAI and to facilitate this crucial research, ensuring that accurate data informs policies and programs that impact Korean Americans. With the generous support of an anonymous donor, KAF will provide a phased distribution of over $1.5 million in funding to KAI, with $60,000 specifically allocated to this research project. To date, $530,000 has been distributed, with another $500,000 to be provided in March 2025.
“Our mission is rooted in improving the lives of the most vulnerable and marginalized members of our community, and this partnership with KAI reflects our commitment to creating lasting impact,” said John Lim, Chair of the KAF Board of Directors. “As we work toward building a $100 million endowment, innovative projects like this ensure that our efforts are informed, effective, and responsive to the needs of our diverse community.”
To celebrate this collaboration, KAF will present this year’s $500,000 grant to KAI at a press conference at 2:00 PM on March 25, 2025, at EK Art Gallery (1125 Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019). Media representatives are invited to attend by RSVPing by March 21 to info@koreanamericanfoundation.org.
