KoreAm, or KoreAm Journal, was a monthly print magazine published from 1990 to December 2015. It was dedicated to news, commentary, politics, lifestyle and culture published in the United States. It was the oldest and most widely circulated English-language monthly magazine for the Asian American community. The magazine has featured prominent Asian American leaders, politicians, artists, entertainers, athletes and entrepreneurs. It also covered current events related to North Korea, South Korea, Asian Americans, immigrants and communities of color. In 2018, the publication relaunched as KORE magazine. In April 2019, KORE rebranded as Character Media.

History

KoreAm was founded by Jung Shig Ryu and James Ryu in 1990 in Los Angeles, California. The magazine highlighted news, stories, op-ed pieces and entertainment for the Kyopo community—ethnic Koreans living overseas, and primarily Koreans in the United States. The magazine highlighted Korean American perspectives on matters related to Korea, including North Korea's nuclear program, reunification, the six-party talks, the deaths of South Korean presidents, the globalization of South Korean pop culture, and peninsular tensions and conflicts. The magazine also addressed biracial and adoptee communities. KoreAm was the most widely circulated, longest-running, independent English-language publication serving the Korean American community. Two years after KoreAm's founding, the magazine became a major forum for the Korean community relating to the 1992 Los Angeles riots. The riots caused violence, arson, looting and lawlessness. Korean-run businesses were targeted during what has been dubbed this nation's first "multiethnic riot." KoreAm featured prominent Korean Americans on its cover. These stories included Margaret Cho, John Cho, Daniel Dae Kim, Jane Kim, and Michelle Rhee. Stories also included a profile on Pinkberry founder Shelly Hwang, a ground level feature on the Virginia Tech massacre, as well as packages on health care reform, education reform, gays in the military, and Korean Americans affected by Hurricane Katrina. In 2003, KoreAm launched a sister publication, Audrey Magazine. The magazine's official website was launched in 2009. London Trust Media, now Imperial Family Companies, acquired the magazine in 2014. The magazine ceased publication in December 2015. In 2021, an archive of previously published issues was created.

Staff

Editorial Julie Ha, Editor-in-Chief Michelle Woo, Online Editor Jiyoon Kim, Art Director Marketing & Advertising James Ryu, Publisher Joyce Park, Marketing Director Esther Kim, Operations Manager Former Editors Corina Knoll Jimmy Lee John Lee Kai Ma Larry Tazuma

Publication history

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

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2010

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2012

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2015

Accolades

2000

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2011

2013