Announcing the HRCap Legacy MAGNET ICONS of 2025

Published by HRCap, Inc. on June 4, 2025

As we proudly celebrate our 25th anniversary at HRCap, we reflect on the legacies we have shaped through purposeful connection, community impact, and visionary leadership. This milestone marks more than the passage of time. It represents the values upheld, the relationships nurtured, and the bridges built across industries and generations.

In celebration of this milestone, we have received and reviewed nominations to identify, amplify, and celebrate the trailblazing Korean American leaders who have served as a magnetic force in their respective fields, catalyzing change with integrity and influence. We carefully looked for leaders who have built communities, ignited change, and transformed culture.

We are proud to unveil the 12 inaugural HRCap Legacy MAGNET ICONS of 2025. As we spotlight these MAGNET ICONS, we celebrate not only their personal milestones but also the collective impact they continue to make within and beyond the Korean American community.

HRCap Legacy MAGNET ICONS of 2025

1. Abraham Kim

Civic Leadership & Public Policy

Dr. Abraham Kim brings more than two decades of leadership in policy research, public engagement, and nonprofit management. Since joining the Council of Korean Americans (CKA) in 2017, he has expanded strategic programs that train and uplift emerging Korean American professionals. 

Through his leadership, over 500 young leaders have participated in CKA fellowships, civic seminars, and policy dialogues. His commitment to elevating Korean American visibility in civic leadership and national decision-making continues to drive long-term progress for the community.

2. HJ Lee

Cultural Storytelling & Digital Archiving

For over 15 years, HJ Lee has served as a cultural archivist and master storyteller, amplifying Korean American voices through Korean American Story. Under his leadership, the platform has produced over 200 personal narratives and interviews, creating one of the largest digital archives of Korean American narratives. His work fosters identity and belonging, especially for younger generations seeking cultural connection. 

Through storytelling, Lee bridges fragmented histories into a powerful collective memory, earning national recognition and speaking engagements at institutions such as Harvard and the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center.

3. Juliana Sohn

Visual Arts & Photography

For more than 20 years, Juliana Sohn has captured the nuanced textures of Asian American life through her photography. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, TIME, The Atlantic, and NPR, and she has photographed over 100 public figures and changemakers across the arts, politics, and business. 

Sohn’s visual storytelling reveals quiet strength and intimate truths, creating visibility for underrepresented narratives. She is a past recipient of awards from the Magnum Foundation and has been a featured speaker on visual representation at institutions like the International Center of Photography.

4. Drew Paik

Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership

Drew Paik spent over 25 years in technology prior to shifting to philanthropy and nonprofit work as the Executive Director of the Korean American Community Foundation (KACF) of San Francisco. He has helped allocate over $3.5 million in grants in total since 2014 to grassroots organizations serving vulnerable populations. 

Paik is known for aligning resources with need, building strong donor ecosystems, and cultivating a network of mutual empowerment that strengthens the Korean American presence across the Bay Area.

5. Ann Lee

Legal & Regulatory Compliance

Ann Lee has over 15 years of experience building a distinguished legal career protecting the public interest and upholding justice across multiple levels of government through complex criminal investigations and prosecutions for state and federal agencies. Now serving as Counsel at Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Lee brings her expertise in legal enforcement and investigatory precision to financial regulation, ensuring transparency and trust across U.S. capital markets.

As a Korean American leader in law and compliance, Lee's legacy is rooted in justice, integrity, and advocacy as she continues to serve as a powerful voice and influential bridge between communities, compliance, and institutional reform.

6. Eugena Oh

Education Equity & Community Empowerment

Eugena Oh has spent 18 years at the intersection of education, equity, and Asian American empowerment. As a senior executive at The Asian American Foundation and former CEO of the

I Have a Dream Foundation, she has led national initiatives that have impacted more than 30,000 students and families. 

Oh’s cross-sector expertise helps her connect corporate partners, government leaders, and community advocates in service of measurable impact. Her leadership has earned her recognition in Crain’s Notable Asian Leaders and several civic advisory boards.

7. Jihoon Rim

Technology & Entrepreneurship

With over 20 years of global business leadership, Jihoon Rim is best known for his transformative impact at Kakao Corporation, where he served as CEO from 2015 to 2018. During his tenure, Kakao’s market value more than tripled. He led the launch of Kakao Bank, expanded into AI and mobility services, and positioned Kakao as one of Korea’s most innovative platforms, serving over 48 million users. 

Now a professor at NYU Stern, Rim teaches innovation and entrepreneurship while supporting early-stage founders through his philanthropic foundation. His leadership model emphasizes legacy, community, and long-term value.

8. Heesun Lho

Philanthropy & Economic Empowerment

Heesun Lho has worked for over 15 years building inclusive economic ecosystems. At the Tory Burch Foundation, she designs strategic programs that have supported over 5,000 women entrepreneurs through grants, mentorship, and access to capital. Her background in finance and philanthropy informs her approach to equity and innovation. 

Lho is a behind-the-scenes powerhouse whose strategic insights have helped shape national conversations on women’s economic empowerment. She was recently honored as one of Crain’s Notable Asian Leaders and continues to advocate for intersectional inclusion in business.

9. Saeju Jeong

Technology & Healthcare

Saeju Jeong has revolutionized health tech and behavioral wellness for over 15 years. As the co-founder and former CEO of Noom Inc., he built a platform that has helped over 50 million users worldwide adopt healthier lifestyles through digital coaching. Jeong’s influence extends beyond tech—he advises global policy institutions and healthcare think tanks, working to reduce barriers in preventive care. 

His work has earned him awards like the EY Entrepreneur of the Year and inclusion in Forbes’ Top HealthTech Entrepreneurs. Through every endeavor, he connects innovation to impact, always centering user well-being.

10. Deuki Hong

Culinary Arts & Hospitality

Deuki Hong’s culinary career spans more than 15 years, with his earliest professional work beginning in his teens at high-profile kitchens like Momofuku. Today, he is a chef, entrepreneur, and co-author of the best-selling cookbook Koreatown. His restaurants, Sunday at the Museum and Sunday Bakeshop, are celebrated not just for their food but for their ability to bring together diverse communities. 

Chef Hong’s approach to Korean American cuisine celebrates and promotes heritage while driving tradition and innovation. His contributions have earned recognition from Zagat, Food & Wine, and the James Beard Foundation.

11. Andrew Kwon

Creative Arts & Fashion Design

Andrew Kwon’s ascent in fashion has been marked by both elegance and depth. In just six years, his eponymous label, Andrew Kwon, has graced runways during New York Fashion Week, been worn by Hollywood A-listers at the Met Gala and Oscars, and featured in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and WWD. 

Kwon’s designs blend haute couture with Korean American storytelling, often inspired by personal memory and generational resilience. As one of the youngest Korean American designers in the luxury fashion space, his success reflects both artistic mastery and cultural pride.

12. Emma Eun-Joo Choi

Media & Entertainment

Emma Eun-joo Choi has been shaping media narratives for nearly a decade. As a writer, performer, and host at National Public Radio (NPR), she has brought fresh, humorous, and vulnerable perspectives to the mainstream. Her podcast, Everyone & Their Mom, reached top streaming charts and introduced a younger, more diverse audience to public radio.

A Harvard alum and a Webby Award nominee, Choi is redefining Asian American representation in media. Her comedic yet poignant voice creates space for connection across generations and communities, using storytelling to affirm identity and inspire joy.

Conclusion

Our HRCap Legacy MAGNET ICONS are not merely leaders of their fields—they are conduits of connection, drawing others toward collaboration, community, and change. Their magnetism is not performative, but rooted in substance, service, and sustained commitment. Whether in storytelling, innovation, education, or advocacy, they truly connect, elevate, and empower others.

With decades of proven expertise, measurable outcomes, and unwavering dedication, our inaugural 2025 MAGNET ICONS reflect the evolving strength of the Korean American experience and remind us that influence is most powerful and sustainable when truly grounded in purpose. Their magnetic leadership sets the tone for a future rooted in unity, resilience, and transformation.

At HRCap, we champion the values they embody, striving to build bridges that connect talent to opportunity, communities to vision, and people to one another. As we look ahead to what the next chapter holds with HRCap 2.0, we remain committed to uplifting leaders who move with authenticity and purpose. We look forward to partnering with these MAGNET ICONS to inspire greater connection, shape culture, and spark progress that resonates across generations.

Sources: HRCap, LinkedIn, Council Korean Americans, FINRA, National Public Radio, Korea Economic Institute of America, Juliana Sohn Studio, I Have A Dream Foundation, Noom Inc., Stern School of Business, Vanity Fair, KACF-SF, Andrew Kwon, FNIH, TAAF, Tory Burch Foundation, KoreanAmericanStory.org

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