Jay C. Kim (김창준)

The Honorable ChangJoon “Jay” Kim is Chairman of the US-Korea Washington Forum (formerly Washington Korea-American Forum). He is a former member of the US House of Representatives, R-CA, 1993-1999, and is currently Chairman of the Kim ChangJoon US-Korea Foundation.

When Congressman Jay C. Kim took on the establishment of California’s 41st Congressional district for a new seat in 1992, most thought it was an impossible task. Betting on himself against tremendous odds, Congressman Kim entered the race and came away with a stunning and historic victory, making him the first Korean- American ever elected to the U.S. Congress. Jay Kim came from humble beginnings as an immigrant from South Korea. Working part-time to pay his own way, Jay Kim earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Southern California.

In 1976, Jay Kim started JAYKIM Engineers, designing highways and water reclamation projects. He built the business into a firm of 130 employees, with offices in three Western states. Jay Kim is an award-winning engineer, registered in five Western states, and JAYKIM Engineers was recognized as one of the top 500 design firms in California. Prior to his election to the U.S. House Representatives, Jay Kim served as the planning commissioner of San Dimas and was elected to both the city council and to serve as Mayor of the City of Diamond Bar, CA. Jay Kim was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, presented to immigrants who have made an outstanding contribution to the United States.

Working under the motto “Hard work pays off,” Jay Kim quickly caught the eye of the Republican Party Leadership and was tapped to address the Republican National Convention in 1992. He was unanimously voted a Subcommittee Chairman on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and served as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Buildings. He also served as a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. His efforts to clean up government waste and reduce federal spending won him national praise from the members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Citizens Against Government Waste, Watchdogs of the Treasury, and the Free Congress Foundation. Jay Kim was bestowed with the “Outstanding Legislative Leadership Award” by his freshman class colleagues.

Jay Kim’s post-Congressional career has also been very impressive. He is the Chairman of the Kim ChangJoon US-Korea Foundation, where he uses his political and professional experience to help develop political leadership in South Korea. He is also the Chairman of the Kim ChangJoon Politics and Economy Academy in South Korea, which educates and encourages small business owners to go abroad by providing global marketing skills and professional knowledge. He was appointed to former Korean President Park Geun-hye’s National Economic Advisory Council to help small businesses seek opportunities in the global market. He is the founding Chairman of the Korea-US Washington Forum (formerly Washington Korean-American Forum), and an adviser to numerous international cities in South Korea.

Congressman Kim is currently involved in a number of projects in both Washington and Seoul. He has written for as many as six different publications in Korea and the USA. He has authored four books, and he is frequently sought out for comments on current issues about relations between the two countries. He published the book titled, Be Ready for Next President Trump, in October 2016, when 95% of people in Korea believed Hillary Clinton would be the new US President. This book became a best seller in Korea.

His work and dedication have led him to be bestowed with numerous awards, including the President’s Medal and Award from the Republic of Korea in 2012, the National Security Caucus Award for the National Security Leadership, and the US Department of Commerce’s Spirit of Enterprise Award. These are but a few of the many commendations given to Jay Kim for his decades of outstanding public service. jkimfoundation@gmail.com, https://jayckim.wordpress.com/jay-kims-profile/.