Before moving to the Washington D.C. area, Park volunteered his time to further develop the Asian American community in Los Angeles while volunteering for the Asian Professional Exchange (APEX), the leading non-profit organization for Asian American professionals in Southern California.
From 2002 to 2003, he served as a mentor at Green Pastures Youth Center, an alternative high school in Koreatown. From 2003 to 2005, Park sat on the Executive Board of APEX as Vice President, with the 12th Annual APEX Awards Gala as one if his signature events. In 2005, he helped with the creation and reviewing process of grant applications for the Young Nak Presbyterian Church (YNPC) Serving the Community Grants. From 2005 to 2007, Park led as President of APEX and implemented leadership platforms such as the APEX Community Leaders Reception and APEX Leadership Luncheon Series.
From 2003 to 2006, Park hosted a weekly radio program titled “Meeting the Next Generation” on GBC AM1190, which was widely broadcasted to the Korean communities in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas. Through his weekly radio segment, he built bridges between his guests and listeners by interviewing various artists, figureheads in the community, and corporate leaders who were making an impact in society.
Park was also part of the YNPC Serving the Community Grants Committee and has helped award over $1.2 million to the community, the YNPC Kirby Project Committee, which was a committee focused on developing a library at a juvenile detention camp called Dorothy Kirby in Los Angeles County, and the Steering Committee for the 2005 & 2008 Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month (of May) for the City of Los Angeles.
Organizing Key Community Events
On Friday, May 9, 2008, Park helped put together the Asian & Pacific Islander American Heritage Month (APIAHM) Opening Ceremony for the City of Los Angeles. The event was held at City Hall and honored the following individuals: Deputy Chief Terry S. Hara (Spirit of Los Angeles), Peter and Charlie Woo (Dream of Los Angeles), and Takashi Saito (Hope of Los Angeles). This invitation-only event was attended by over 200 individuals with all the Los Angeles City Council Members, as well as the former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, present during the presentation in the Los Angeles City Council Chambers.
On Wednesday, May 28, 2008, Park helped put together the Asian & Pacific Islander American Heritage Month (APIAHM) Closing Ceremony for the City of Los Angeles. The event was held at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel and honored the following individuals: Deputy Chief Terry S. Hara (Spirit of Los Angeles), Peter and Charlie Woo (Dream of Los Angeles), and Takashi Saito (Hope of Los Angeles). This invitation-only event was attended by over 700 individuals, which included (at that time) Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Los Angeles City Council Members, commissioners, and community, as well as business, leaders.
On Friday, March 21, 2008, Park co-hosted a private reception for (at that time) Boston City Councilor Sam Yoon and (at that time) Mayor Jun Choi, Edison, NJ at the trendy Yamato Restaurant in Westwood. Special guests included (at that time) California State Controller John Chiang, Yul Kwon (Survivor Winner), Janet Yang (Executive Producer of Joy Luck Club), Charlie Woo (Chair of CAUSE and CEO of Megatoys), and many other influential Angelinos. Park co-hosted this event with Art Yoon, Curtis Chin, Helene Kim, and Ted Kroeber.
On Saturday, February 2, 2008, Park co-hosted a party for supporters of (at that time) democratic presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama, at the trendy E 3rd Lounge in Little Tokyo. Alongside Kelly Hu, James Kyson Lee, DJ Quickie, and Far East Movement, was close to 200 attendees that packed the venue in support of Barack Obama. Park co-hosted this event with Ben Tran, Carl Choi, Paul (PK) Kim, Michelle Yuen, Oiyan Poon, and Phil Yu.
As a member of the Asian & Pacific Islander (API) Leaders Group Steering Committee, Park helped put together a private reception with (at that time) Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at the Tom Bradley Tower in downtown City Hall on November 27, 2007. Through the leadership of Paula Daniels and Stewart Kwoh, this invitation-only event brought together many of the community and business leaders in the API community.
On Saturday, September 15, 2007, Park hosted his final fundraising gala as his term as President of the Asian Professional Exchange (APEX) came to an end. With a sold out 400 in attendance and close to $20,000.00 from sponsors, the event turned out to be a success! Congratulations to our then honorees: Educated Men with Meaningful Messages (EM3), Countrywide, and Teddy Zee.
Former Community Leadership Roles
- Vice Chairman of the Asian Professional Exchange (APEX)
- Korean American Advisory Board member for the California State 48th Assembly District
- Asian and Pacific Islander Leaders Group Steering Committee member for the City of Los Angeles,
- Board member of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Triton Enterprise Network (TEN) of Greater Los Angeles
- Community Grants Committee member for Young Nak Presbyterian Church (YNPC)
- Volunteer Task Force member for the Goodwill Southern California
- Leadership Conference Planning Committee member for the Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc. (LEAP).
- Board member of the (formerly known as) Korean Churches of Community Development (KCCD)
- Board member for the Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL)
- Associate Director for the Korean American Scholarship Foundation (KASF) – Eastern Region.
Recognition for Community Involvement
Aside from being interviewed on GBC AM1190, Radio Seoul AM1650 (LA), Radio Seoul AM1660 (NY), Park’s work in the community has also been recognized by the Los Angeles Times, Chinese Daily News, and (as of 2008 – many political roles have changed since then) offices of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, California State Controller John Chiang, Congressman Xavier Becerra, Congresswoman Linda T. Sanchez, California State Senator Jack Scott, California State Senator Lou Correa, Vice Chair Judy Chu of the California State Board of Equalization, Honorable Michelle Steel of the California State Board of Equalization, Assemblymember Ted W. Lieu, Assemblymember Mike Eng, Supervisor Yvonne B. Burke, Supervisor Don Knabe, Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Councilmember Ed P. Reyes, Councilmember Eric Garcetti, Councilmember Tom LaBonge, and the City Council for the City of Monterey Park.
Emceeing Community Events
In support of the Los Angeles community, Park emceed the following events:
- 20th Anniversary Korean American Insurance & Financial Professional Association’s banquet at the Wilshire Grand Hotel
- 5th Anniversary (formerly known as) KCCD Celebration & Awards Gala for at the Radisson
- United States – Korea Free Trade Agreement Conference at the Omni Hotel.
He also moderated a plenary session for the (formerly known as) KCCD Lighting the Community Conference titled Revolutionizing the Way Churches Do Community Service.
In support of the Washington D.C. community, Park emceed the following events:
- Inaugural candlelight peace vigil and memorial program, an event hosted by the Global Coalition for Korean War Reconciliation at the National Mall
- 43rd and 44th Annual Scholarship Awards Banquet for the KASF – Eastern Region at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner