Michael ByungJu Kim, chairman and founder of MBK Partners, donated $25 million to his alma mater, Haverford College, earlier this year. This transformative gift is slated to establish the Institute for Ethical Inquiry & Leadership. Michael B. Kim is a private equity firm leader who has the distinction of being one of the richest people in Korea. The donation ties for the largest in the school’s history.
In a statement, Kim remarked, “Leadership without ethical thinking and consciousness is like a body without a soul. The newly established institute will redefine our approach to ethics through academic exchanges and international involvement, fostering ethically conscious leadership within the global community.”
Wendy Raymond, president of Haverford College, expressed her gratitude for Kim’s philanthropy, noting, “Now is the perfect time to focus on and teach ethical leadership. This institute will be the foundation of our long-term strategy, Haverford 2030, aimed at nurturing students who are capable of ethical thinking and leadership.”
Effective July 1, Kim will also assume the role of chair of the Board of Trustees at Haverford College, becoming the first Korean-American to hold such a position at a prestigious U.S. college. He has previously served as a board member from 2005 to 2017.
Kim’s philanthropic efforts, notably in the arts and education sectors, reflect his philosophy of ‘impact giving.’ Recognized by Forbes Asia as a leading philanthropist for two consecutive years, 2021 and 2022, Kim has made substantial contributions to various cultural and educational initiatives.
Last year, he supported the enhancement of Korean art exhibitions and educational programs at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in collaboration with the Korea Foundation and the Samsung Culture Foundation. In September 2022, he donated $10 million for the renovation of the Modern Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
In 2021, Kim contributed 30 billion won (approximately $25 million) for the construction of a public library in the Bukgajwa neighborhood of the Seodaemun district in Seoul. Scheduled for completion in the first half of 2027, the library will be named the Seoul Metropolitan Kim ByungJu Library in recognition of his substantial contribution.
Since 2007, the MBK Scholarship Foundation, founded by Kim, has provided full tuition scholarships for four years of college to 202 scholars to date.
Michael B. Kim, 60, immigrated to the United States from South Korea with his family at the age of 11, settling in New Jersey. Kim majored in English at Haverford College and graduated with his bachelor’s degree in 1985. He later earned an MBA from Harvard in 1990.
Residing both in Seoul and the U.S., Kim began his career as a banker at Goldman Sachs, subsequently working at two other firms before founding MBK Partners. Under his leadership, MBK Partners has grown into one of Asia’s largest private equity firms, managing assets exceeding $30 billion, according to Forbes. With a current net worth of $9.7 billion, Kim ranks as the second-richest individual in South Korea.
Kim, who also serves on the boards of the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, Carnegie Hall, and the New York Public Library. Notably, he funded the construction of Ki Yong Kim Hall at Haverford College in 2010. Beyond his roles as an investor and philanthropist, Kim is also an accomplished novelist.
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