It was the summer of 2004! After attending the Young Generation Forum (YGF) in Korea as a supervisor for YGF participants, I realized that we needed a similar gathering in the U.S. in order to sustain the bonding relationship developed among participants from the U.S. through YGF.

After having organized the one-day long Young Generation Leadership Forum (YGLF) in Washington DC for two years in 2003 and 2024 where about 20 young people gathered to talk about the same thing over and over, I realized that a paradigm shift from YGLF was necessary.

Provide 2nd Generation Korean-American undergraduate/graduate students as well as young professionals an opportunity to showcase their research or their industry.

Promote careers in science and engineering for 2nd  Generation Korean-American students and young professionals through technical workshops and guest speaker sessions.

Sustain the nationwide Young Generation (YG) movement by providing leadership training and networking opportunities for leaders at the KSEA YG student chapters and young professionals across America.

2nd Generation Young Korean-Americans to Develop “Technical Excellence and Leadership”.

2nd Generation Young Korean-Americans to Develop “Bonding Relationship” among them. 

Recruit “KSEA Members” from 2nd Generation Korean-Americans for the better future of KSEA.

Bring 2nd Generation Korean-Americans to the “Mainstream KSEA” as Leaders.

Allow the Opportunity for 2nd Generation Young Korean-Americans to “Mingle” to understand cultural differences from each other” to become a truly one Korean-American community. 

YG was originally created to encourage participation from 1.5 and 2nd generation Korean Americans under 35 years old.  It is time to expand the YG to 1st Generation Koreans and non-Koreans who are 35 years old and younger.

Most similar professional organizations have YG group, who are regular members of the society.  So, all YG members should be treated as “regular” KSEA members. 

Integrate YG with entrepreneur group within KSEA.

Use YGTLC/YGNITE as a vehicle to recruit KSEA members and future leaders. With more non-Korean YGTLC/YGNITE participants, KSEA can attract more American industry sponsors.

Adjust YGTLC/YGNITE leadership selection a year in advance to better align funding resources for sponsorships following UKC panning process.

Focus YGTLC/YGNITE to help YG in their professional avenue in life by training interviewing skills, leadership skills, problem solving, team- work building, resume building, multicultural sensitivity/awareness.