• The young Korean American Network (yKAN) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan organization of 1.5 and 2nd generation Korean-Americans in the New York City  area. The organization consists primarily of young professionals from various job industries, as well as academic fields. All members are volunteers who volunteer their time in order to help promote and advance the Korean-American presence in American society.

    History:
    The young Korean American Network started in 1989, however was officially inaugurated in August 30, 1990 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan organization. Their first president, Michael Han, was a founding member who sought to create the organization as a response to the lack of a networking hub for the Korean-American community in New York.

    Since its inauguration, the organization has grown in the past two decades in number with over 5,000 members receiving the organizations newsletters and announcements.

    Mission:

    “…is to elevate Korean-American professionals by fostering educational programs, community service, and networking opportunities. Through these activities yKAN addresses the issues of our community and provides a forum for those who share common experiences and face similar challenges.”

    Objectives:

    • Create a professional network to facilitate the even exchange of ideas and common goals among all Korean American professionals
    • Foster a professional Korean-American presence in our community by sponsoring educational programs and opportunities
    • Promote social awareness and activism through community service
    • Foster mutual understanding between Korean-Americans and other ethnic groups
    • Promote greater opportunities for the current and future generations of all Korean Americans

     

     

  • What does yKAN do?

    yKAN pursues its mission by fostering educational programs, community service, networking and other events and opportunities throughout the year. In this way, yKAN provides a forum for those who share common goals, challenges and experiences. Through the combined efforts of its members, yKAN aims to further the interests of the Korean-American community and open the doors of opportunity for current and future generations.

    How do I get involved?

    yKAN holds various community service, networking & social events throughout the year, including General Meetings. While the topic of the general meetings will vary from month to month, the purpose is always the same–to provide a venue for Korean American professionals to network and learn about community service, advancement, social and cultural issues and opportunities.

    Learn more about how to Get Involved!

  • The following list is a sampling of the industry sectors and companies represented by over two decades of yKAN members passing through our network.

    Consulting & Audit:

    • McKinsey & Company
    • IBM
    • Pricewaterhouse Coopers
    • Accenture / Andersen Consulting
    • Deloitte
    • Bearing Point
    • Gartland & Mellina Group

    Finance & Accounting:

    • Ernst & Young
    • PricewaterhouseCoopers
    • American Express
    • Deloitte & Touche
    • Merrill Lynch
    • Goldman Sachs
    • Deutche Bank
    • Bankers Trust
    • Met Life
    • NY Life
    • Bank of America
    • Morgan Stanley
    • TD Ameritrade
    • Bank of New York Mellon
    • JP Morgan Chase
    • Citibank
    • Travelers
    • Macquarie
    • KPMG
    • ED&F Man
    • Bear Sterns
    • State Farm
    • UBS
    • Warburg Pincus
    • RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland)

    Pharmaceutical & Healthcare:

    • Johnson & Johnson
    • St. Vincent Medical Center

    Technology, Services, & Software:

    • IBM
    • Samsung
    • SAP
    • Canon
    • Lexis-Nexis
    • Bloomberg

    Law, Government, Civil Service & Military:

    • Brooklyn Federal Courthouse
    • City of New York
    • US Army

    Fashion & Design:

    • Estee Lauder
    • Louis Vuitton
    • Turbo Holdings

    Media & Marketing:

    • Sony BMG
    • Ogilvy
    • Digitas
    • Euro RSCG MVBMS
    • Ziff Davis Media

    Education:

    • Laguardia Community College

    Non-Profit:

    • Thirteen
    • American Cancer Society
    • National Gallery of Art
    • Jewish Museum
    • Lower East Side Tenement Museum
    • Times Square BID
    • Diocese of Brooklyn & Queens

    MBA, Graduate School, Law School (Graduate Students in yKAN):

    • New York University – Leonard N. Stern School of Business
    • Columbia University
    • Harvard University
    • UPenn (Wharton)
    • Cornell University
    • Princeton University
    • Yale University
    • CUNY Baruch – Zickling School of Business
    • Rutgers University
    • Brown University
    • Duke
    • Perdue
    • MIT (Sloan)
    • University of Chicago