michael kim offerings korean proverbs

12 Fascinating Korean Proverbs From Billionaire Financier Michael Kim’s First Novel

Interspersed in Michael ByungJu Kim’s captivating first novel Offerings are delightful Korean proverbs called sajaseong-eo. In the old days, these wise words written in Chinese characters were recited by scholars and noblemen, and eventually many of these sayings were adopted into the everyday vernacular of the common folk. Sajaseong-eo literally means four character proverb, and…

Joe Bae

Big Business Backs Fight Against Anti-Asian Discrimination

Wealthy executives and corporate giants are giving over $1 billion to influence policy and counter violence. The Asian American Foundation (“TAAF”) announced that just two weeks after launching it has raised nearly $1.1 billion to support AAPI communities. This builds upon an initial commitment from the TAAF board of $125 million announced on May 3rd, which was already the largest…

doljanchi korean first birthday

Guide to Doljanchi: the Korean First Birthday

Doljanchi 돌잔치 is the beloved Korean first birthday celebration. Dol 돌 means 12 months have come around, and janchi 잔치 means banquet or feast, so doljanchi technically means birthday party. The term always refers to the first birthday party, but this event is also sometimes called “cheot” dol, 첫돌, or “first” birthday. Koreans celebrate a first birthday…

tai park mother 2

What Mothers Know

I have two teenage daughters who swear to me they will never have children.  They say that they, like all children, are a drain on the life of their mother.  Why would they want to put themselves through that, they challenge us to answer.  I have nothing to say to this.  We men may be…