American Korean Friendship Society (AKFS) presents the New American Hero Awards (NAHA) to Americans of Korean ancestry each year to recognize their contributions towards a better America.
Established in 1996, the AKFS has awarded multiple Americans of Korean descent with the New American Hero Award over the years. The program started in order to acknowledge the services of American patriots from Korean ancestry.
The new American Hero Award 2024 by AKFS is presented to Sung Kim, who has served as an adviser at the South Korean law firm Bae, Kim & Lee (BLK). Kim has been recognized for his significant contributions towards diplomacy and community empowerment.
The award ceremony was held in Atlanta, Georgia, to honor Sung Kim for his great dedication and services to American diplomacy. The association quoted Kim’s efforts to empower Korean Americans and increase their confidence in opting for public service roles.
Sung Kim made history as the first Korean American to serve as the U.S. ambassador to South Korea. He has had a fantastic career serving in different roles, including U.S. ambassador to Korea, director of Korean affairs at the U.S. State Department, the Philippines and Indonesia, and the special representative for North Korean policy in the U.S. State Department.
After having a long and great career as a public server, Kim retired from his last year and took up the leadership role at BLK in January 2024.
New American Hero Award Winners Over the Years
Here is a list of all the members who have received award plaques from AKFS as the new American heroes.
Tom Kim (2005)
Tom received the first New American Hero Award from AKFS for building a free clinic for poor workers in Knoxville, TN. He operated the clinic for over twelve years and treated thousands of needy patients.
Lieutenant Colonel John Oh (2011)
Served as a medical doctor and U.S. Army general surgeon. He had performed heroic services for his country in the war fields in Afghanistan, including many operations where he risked his life. He risked his own life to perform an emergency task by removing an uploaded rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) protruding from an injured soldier.
Samuel “Sammy” Lee (2013)
Sammy won the Olympic gold medal for the United States, becoming the first Asian-American to do so. He was also the first man to win consecutive gold medals in Olympic platform diving. He served as a podiatrist and coached Olympic diving athletes at the University of Southern California and U.S. Olympic training camps.
Jason Pak (2015)
Served as the Captain of the U.S. Army and an elite Ranger. He was severely injured by an improvised explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan. He has been a true inspiration for veterans and civilians alike.
James Suh (2015)
James Suh was a U.S. Navy SEAL and part of the resolute Naval Special Warfare team that fought against the Taliban. He also volunteered in a mission to rescue fellows who were trapped in insurgent fire. He was one of the sixteen troops who were killed when an MH-47 Chinook helicopter was shot down by a missile in Afghanistan.
Colonel Young-Oak Kim (2016)
A U.S. Army veteran who served brilliantly in World War II and the Korean War. He was also a civic leader and a humanitarian. He served as a member of the U.S. 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team. He was a combat leader in Italy and France during World War II.
Peter Meong Rhee (2016)
Peter Meong was an American surgeon, a military veteran, and a professor at Arizona State University. He served as chief of Acute Care Surgery and Medical Director of the Marcus Trauma Center. Peter also served as a battlefield casualty physician in Iraq and Afghanistan during his long career of 24 years.
Byung J. “BJay” Pak (2018)
BJay has received the New American Hero Award because he served as a U.S. Attorney for the district of Georgia. The district includes forty-six countries of Georgia and the cities of Atlanta, Rome, Newnan, and Gainesville with an overall population of more than six million.
Steve Stirling (2018)
He is the CEO/president of the Medicine Assistant Program (MAP) International. The organization has spent around $6 billion on medicine and health supplies to communities in need.
Henry Cho (2022)
He is a comedian known for his unique clean comedy. He has worked nationwide at comedy clubs, the Grand Ole Opry, and SiriusXM Radio.
Victor Cha (2022)
He is a senior advisor at the Center of Strategic & amp; International Studies (CSIS). He is a former director of Asian Affairs in the White House’s National Security Council.
Jim Yong Kim (2023)
Dr. Kim is the 12th president of the World Bank Group, the 17th president of Dartmouth College, and the former director of the World Health Organization’s HIV/AIDS department.
