KAF-GW

About Us

About the Korean American Foundation‒Greater Washington and Korean American Day

The Korean American Foundation‒Greater Washington (KAF–GW) was originally established in 2001 as the Centennial Committee of Korean Immigration to the United States–Greater Washington (CCKI–GW), a Virginia non-profit organization. CCKI–GW was created to celebrate January 13, 2003, the centennial of Korean immigration and to engage in other educational and cultural activities. It was incorporated on October 30, 2001 by founding member Mark Keam. CCKI-GW was granted federal tax-exempt status under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) in June 2003.

In 2001, CCKI-GW founding member Harold Pyon worked with Virginia’s U.S. Senator George Allen and U.S. Representative Tom Davis to pass resolutions through Congress to commemorate the centennial. Eventually, CCKI–GW members became interested in establishing a Korean American Day that could be celebrated annually. The committee and one of its founders, Sekwon Chong, motivated the work to designate an annual Korean American Day by congressional resolution. In December 2004, CCKI–GW filed amendments with the Internal Revenue Service and the Commonwealth of Virginia to change its name to KAF-GW. The revised mission of the renewed organization included the goal of establishing an annual Korean American Day.

Harold Pyon led the effort by requesting Senator Allen’s and Representative Davis’ support for establishing an official annual Korean American Day. They were very receptive to the idea, and began their work on passing House and Senate resolutions. Harold worked with Paul Unger on Senator Allen’s staff to prepare the resolution. Mark Keam, who worked for Illinois’ Senator Dick Durbin, recommended his co-sponsorship and helped to navigate the legislative process. On December 16, 2005, the United States Senate passed Senate Resolution 283 of the 109th Congress, recognizing January 13 as Korean American Day.

On December 13, 2005, the U.S. House of Representatives passed House Resolution 487 of the 109th Congress, recognizing January 13 as Korean American Day. The lead sponsor of the House version was Representative Tom Davis. New York’s Representative Charlie Rangel served as lead co-sponsor. Many other Senators and Representatives and their staffs, as well as numerous Korean American community leaders and organizations worked cooperatively in a bi-partisan effort led by Representative Tom Davis and Senator George Allen to pass these historic resolutions. This was the first time that Congress had officially recognized the history and contribution of an entire ethnic group of immigrants to America.

Beginning in 2006, KAF-GW celebrated January 13th of each year as Korean American Day to memorialize more than a century of Korean Americans’ journey to the United States. Former Senator George Allen and Former Representative Tom Davis received the Guanghwa Award from the government of the Republic of Korea for their outstanding leadership in support of the Korean American Day resolutions.  Former Senator Allen received the award when he visited South Korea in 2009. Former Representative Davis received the award in 2008 at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the USA. On November 3, 2023, KAF-GW received the Korean Presidential Merit Award from President Yoon Suk Yeol for its contributions.

Note: Mark Keam and Harold Pyon contributed valuable details to this brief history.

On December 13, 2005, the House of Representatives of the United States passed House Resolution 487 of the 109th Congress. It states that the House of Representatives –

(1) supports the goals and ideals of a Korean American Day;

(2) urges all Americans to observe Korean American Day so as to have a greater appreciation of the invaluable contributions Korean Americans have made to the United States; and

(3) honors and recognizes the 103rd anniversary of the arrival of the first Korean immigrants to the United States.

On December 16, 2005, the Senate of the United States passed Senate Resolution 283 of the 109th Congress. It states that the Senate –

(1) supports the goals and ideals of a ‘Korean American Day’;

(2) commemorates the 103rd anniversary of the arrival of the first Korean immigrants to the United States; and

(3) encourages the people of the United States to –

(A) share in such commemoration in order to greater appreciate the valuable contributions Korean Americans have made to the United States; and

(B) to observe ‘Korean American Day’ with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.