Korean Kontext host Chad 0Carroll recently had the chance to speak with actor Steven Yeun, who plays Glenn on AMC’s The Walking Dead. The interview took a look into Steven’s growing career, his influences and inspirations, and his experiences as a Korean-American actor in the American entertainment world, among other things.

To hear the full interview, please check out the Korean Kontext’s podcast page.

1.      Did you have any role models when you were starting out as an actor? Perhaps Korean-American actors?

SY: I don’t know if I had any direct Korean-American role models. I definitely look up to everyone that came into this before me; they had a tough, tough road. John Cho was doing really well when I was starting out. I think for me, my influences were more like people who were good at what they were doing. I really looked up to Steve Carell. I was also really set on Barry Pepper becoming a really good influence of mine, but it was more along the way of how he navigated through Hollywood. I don’t think that many people know who he is, but he’s really talented.

2.      Do you think that over the years the perception of Korean or Asian actors has changed in the United States?

SY: I think it’s slowly changing. I think there are roles out there that help to change that perception. I’m very fortunate to playing something that isn’t stereotypical. I don’t know if that is going to be a hard changing trend, but these are small steps that are making big waves and hopefully five, ten years from now, we won’t be having many conversations about if Asian-Americans can make it in this industry or not.

3.      Being as Koreans are very proud when there’s a Korean actor in a TV show or movie, how do you feel about sometimes being characterized first and foremost as a Korean actor?

SY: I guess that is something that is definitely there. I don’t know if people have been outwardly referring to me being Korean as an actor. In terms of Korea and how they perceived this, it’s really great. When I was there, there was a lot of love, a lot of really kind words, and people were just really kind to me, so I can’t be more thankful. It’s great to have a job in America, it’s great to do something that I love, and then it’s also great to make people proud that somebody of their own culture has been in a fortunate position.

4.      If you were given the chance, would you like to star in a Korean movie or TV show sometime in the future? And if so, who would you like to play alongside you?

SY: I don’t know if I would be good at doing television in Korea. My Korean is okay, but my pronunciation is obviously American. I would say, if I could do films, that would be amazing. But, I definitely want to make sure that if I do star in a film, that it’s not based on the fact that I have some sort of steam coming from America. Rather that it’s that I fit that role and that I can do a good job. Son Kang-ho is one of my heroes over there. That guy is such a chameleon. He’s so dedicated in the moment. If I could play anything with him, that would be so awesome.

5.      Do you have any advice or feedback to give to aspiring young actors?

SY: I’m definitely not the authority on this and I’m definitely very lucky to be where I am. But, I think that if I’ve learned one thing it’s that, definitely, self awareness is really key. I think that’s something that people don’t really talk about. That just means, know yourself well, know what you’re able to do, know what you’re not as good at, and be humble about the fact that you can learn something at all times. It’s not going to be an easy road. Also, put yourself out there. I think one of the problems that a lot of people run into is that Asian-Americans sometimes try to pit themselves up against other Asian-Americans, and that doesn’t matter. There will be instances in which you’ll have to be better than this one other Asian-American guy, but, why not try and be better than everyone else?  Everyone that looks your type, everyone who is a scrawny kid, everyone who is a big bulking dude, everyone that’s a tall, handsome man. Just be good. Not just among Asian-Americans, but, be good for everyone. I think that is something that’s very important that people tend to overlook.

Photo from NRK P3′s photo stream on flickr Creative Commons.

At Korean American Day on January 13, the Korea Economic Institute had the opportunity of catching up with legendary actor Daniel Dae Kim for a conversation about his career, interests, and life as a Korean-American.

The conversation was originally recorded as a podcast (which you can download from our Korean Kontext podcast page) , but we now provide five of the best questions for our blog readers:

1.What was it that made you change your career path from law to acting during your university days?

DDK: For me, when I was going through college, there was a lot of tension between what I felt I should do and what I really wanted to do. It was unfortunate that the thing I wanted to do didn’t fall in line with what was expected of me. As much as I do love politics and government, the thing that I felt that my heart led me to was acting, and so that’s why I changed course.

2. Ronald Reagan once said, “How can a president not be an actor?” What do you think of Obama in terms of acting?

DDK: I think there is a great value to being an orator, a really good orator. I think President Obama is exceptionally good at speechmaking. I think he has a way of connecting to his audience without sounding like he is feeding you B.S., and that is a very important part of the job. When you have someone who is not as strong in that department, I’ve got to admit, I trust that person less or I feel less sure of his capabilities. That is definitely part of it. I think Ronald Reagan was onto something with that statement.

3. As a Korean-American, have you ever had any difficulty balancing your identity between Korea and America?

DDK: I think it is fluid. Throughout my life, there were stages at which I felt, or wished, I was more “American,” even though as Korean-American I am fully American. There were other times when I fully embraced my Korean heritage. It is a question to which the answer is ever evolving for me, but I am happy to say that I feel like I’ve found a nice balance. The older I get and the more sure of who I am I get,  the easier it gets.

But there have been moments where I have felt like I am a person without a country – I am not 100% accepted in America, I am not 100% accepted in Korea – those are the down days. However, usually I really feel lucky to have two cultures in my daily experience. To be able to say that I understand something specific about America that maybe a typical “American” wouldn’t is, I think, a real blessing. I have a perspective on Korea now, as an American, which I think is unique.  So, more of the time, I feel like I am privy to two societies as opposed to master of none.

4. What are some examples of the work that you do in areas outside of acting that perhaps your average American might not be familiar with, and of that, what are you most proud of?

DDK: That’s a really good question.  I’m involved with various charitable organizations, in Hawaii and nationally, and I’m proud of the work I do with them. More recently I’m proud of, gosh, if I can even say proud…I really think, more, the appropriate way of putting it is I am honored to be a spokesperson for organizations like KEI or KACF. I think they are really a large part of what I can offer back to the community – not just the Korean community, but the American community in general. I’m hopeful that I am able to do more of that.

5. Do you think it is important for celebrities to be involved in politics? With your education and experience as an actor, is it important and useful to express your opinion to fans?

DDK: I think that’s a great question because it is one that I am asking myself a lot these days. It’s a fine line, isn’t it? You’re in a position, as an actor, to be able to speak to thousands of people, so why shouldn’t you voice your opinion as a citizen? At the same time, the pitfalls and traps are that you become “just another  dilettante  actor” who has an opinion about something but is out of touch with the world – that’s the cliché, isn’t it? So, you know, I walk that tightrope, and I do have very strong political convictions but I very rarely voice them on Twitter because I feel like that’s not necessarily why people follow me. If they wanted to get political advice, they would follow the pundits who are out there, and they are a dime a dozen. At the same time, if I do feel strongly about something, it’s part of who I am, as a human being, as a citizen of America. So, I think that it does have a place for everyone. If the average person had a Twitter account, they could talk about it, so why should I be limited by what I do?

– To listen to the full podcast and find out about other episodes, make sure you visit the Korean Kontext Podbean page. –

By Linda Kim

What is Korean American Day? How do you celebrate it? Why January 13? These are questions I often receive when I discuss Korean American Day with friends.

Well, first the easy part. January 13 was designated as Korean American Day in 2003 by the Centennial Committees of Korean Immigration and by the United States Congress. This day was chosen in honor of the 102 Koreans that travelled to America on January 13, 1903. Their decision to move to the United States has led to the countless contributions Korean Americans have made in the past 109 years and the contributions the 1.4 million Korean Americans continue to make today.

Moving on to the not so easy part: how does one celebrate Korean American Day? This is a question that I find myself having a difficult time answering. To be honest, I normally answer along the lines of “it’s a day to honor all Korean Americans and recognize the contributions made by Korean Americans.” I then begin to list examples of some of these said contributions.

However, Korean American Day is more than just recognizing the achievements made by Korean Americans, it is also a day to honor the Korean heritage, to reflect on how far the Korea American community has developed since 1903 and perhaps most importantly, a day in which all Americans can become even more exposed to and educated about Korean culture and the ways Korean Americans have contributed to the fabric of America.

Today is about the many Korean Americans who serve and continue to serve alongside their comrades during every major outbreak since World War II; it is about Philip Ahn who broke down the Hollywood barrier and became the first Asian American film actor to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; it is about David Chang who has provided his own Korean perspective on food; it is about Hines Ward and Michelle Wie who give hope to the many aspiring athletes; and it is about how Korean Americans have engrained themselves in America, while also providing their own perspective towards bettering the United States.

Americans across the country are celebrating Korean American Day by hosting events featuring Korean culture, discussing the history of Korean Americans and recognizing the many achievements of Korean Americans.

So now, I leave you with a question – how are you celebrating Korean American Day?

If you interested in learning more about Korean American Day, take a look at Arirang Education.

Linda Kim is the Associate Director Programs for the Korea Economic Institute. The views expressed here are her own.

The photo is of Korean Americans at KEI who are helping to answer Linda’s questions.

By Philippe Cousteau, Chief Spokesperson, USA Pavilion 2012 & Abraham Kim, Ph.D., Vice President, Korea Economic Institute

Tomorrow is the 9^th annual Korean American Day. As we celebrate the contributions of Americans of Korean descent, we also look to the future and how events like Expo 2012, Yeosu Korea further weave the Korean and American experiences together.

IMPORTANCE OF KOREAN AMERICANS IN THE U.S.

Korean American Day was declared in 2003 by the U.S. Congress to celebrate Korean Americans on the occasion of the centennial of Korean immigration to the U.S.

January 13 is Korean American Day every year because it was on that day in 1903 that just over 100 Korean immigrants arrived in Hawaii from Korea.  There, they worked in the sugar cane fields. Today, there are nearly one and a half million Korean Americans. The U.S. is the second largest overseas Korean community in the world after China.

Much like most immigrant groups who came to America to start new lives, Korean Americans are an important part of the menagerie of the American spirit.  From the food and traditions to their important part in American commerce, for over 100 years, Korean Americans’ impact and contributions to America have been significant.

It’s important for us to recognize this impact when we talk about the USA Pavilion at the World Expo to be held in South Korea this summer.

USA PAVILION AT EXPO 2012

This summer, Expo 2012 will be held in the seaside city of Yeosu, South Korea from May 12 to August 12, 2012.  Joining more than 100 countries and eight international organizations, the USA Pavilion will build on the overall theme of “The Living Ocean and Coast,” and the broad impact they have on the economy, environment, and the global community.

The USA Pavilion themes in Yeosu, South Korea will be Diversity, Wonder and Solutions. Through a host of exciting technologies, dynamic storytelling and America’s multicultural lens, the USA Pavilion experience will explore the vital connection between the health and well-being of cultures and communities and the future of one of our most important resources: the ocean. Highlighting the diverse and dynamic nature of America’s ocean and coastal environments, the USA Pavilion will reveal the colorful mosaic of American life. Its stories and experiences will convey the core values of innovation, partnership and hope that define the American spirit.

The USA pavilion at Expo 2012 also represents an opportunity to continue to build the mutual understanding between the United States and Korea that inspires innovative solutions for the challenges that face the global community including:  global security, economic sustainability, and food security.  Through a unique and ongoing partnership, our two nations have advanced practical solutions to the world’s energy and environmental challenges.

Expo 2012 is an opportunity to celebrate this shared vision for a brighter future.

The USA Pavilion 2012 team is proud to be working with the Korean Economic Institute, whose experience and knowledge regarding Korea and Korean-Americans has proved extremely valuable to the project.

USA PAVILION STUDENT AMBASSADOR PROGRAM

This summer also provides an exciting opportunity for American university students who have Korean language skills.  As the official university partner of USA Pavilion 2012, the University of Virginia will administer the Student Ambassadors program, selecting 40 US citizens/permanent resident students from colleges and universities around the country and globe to represent America at the USA Pavilion. The student ambassadors will play many roles in the 12,000-square foot Pavilion. In addition to greeting visitors, government officials and dignitaries, they will provide administrative, protocol and programming support.  This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and those interested have until February 10^th to apply at http://www.pavilion2012.org/student-ambassadors/.

Sources:

http://pavilion2012.org

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_American

http://koreareport2.blogspot.com/2009/01/korean-american-day.html

Photo from USD Space’s photostream on flickr Creative Commons.