I am very pleased to welcome you to the world of the Global Korean Nursing Foundation (GKNF)—United States and Korea. Since my message in 2021, the Foundation in both the United States and Korea sites has made impressive progress in accomplishing its mission. The programs and success stories are too numerous to include in this message, but they can be found on each location's website, http://gknfusa.org and http://www.gknf.or.kr

Since the inception of the Foundation in 2003, board members have upheld the idea that Korean nurses can make a difference in the success of the nursing profession not only in Korea and the United States, but also worldwide. We were reminded of the famous saying, “Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come” (Victor Hugo).

This year's new idea was establishing a philanthropic arm of the Foundation, the Advisory Council (AC), which focuses on raising funds for the Foundation's financial base. This will enable both GKNF leadership teams to provide enduring support for Korean nurses to succeed in their pursuit of global leadership in research, practice, and education, thereby advancing the nursing profession worldwide. Council members who are senior leaders from the GKNF in both sites, have a primary responsibility to achieve its goal.

I am thrilled to report that two of our council members, Mrs. Jung Ja Chwe and Dr. Joobong Park, have generously donated $100,000 each. I hope their generosity serves as a catalyst for future donors.

The Foundation is enjoying the intellectual capital that each board member brings. We have remarkable leaders in research, practice, and education. They have provided mentorship to novice scholars and practitioners, and led numerous webinars for nurses in both countries. One notable webinar featured keynote speakers Dr. Shannon Zenk, Director of the National Institute of Nursing Research, NIH, and Dr. Yeon-Hwan Park, Chief of the Nursing Section, National Research Foundation in Korea, in April 2022. This was the fruit of successful collaboration between GKNF leadership teams in Korea and the United States.

The GKNF-USA held its annual meeting on October 14, 2022, in which global health initiatives were highlighted: the Zambia project was presented by Dr. Minseung Chu (Vice Chair of the Global Health Commission, GKNF-USA) and the Kyrgyzstan project by Dr. Hyunsook Shin (Chair, Global Health Development, GKNF-Korea).

I am pleased to note that the GKNF-USA awarded Korean nurses in the United States a total amount of $35,400 this year. It is my wish that this modest amount will increase as our fundraising activities gain momentum and serve as catalysts for nurses to advance their careers and contribute to the advancement of the nursing profession.

The GKNF-Korea has awarded Korean nursing researchers a total amount of $10,000 this year. In June of this year, Three Kims' Research Grant was awarded to Kim SM, Jeong SH (Professor, Jeonbuk National University), and Jeong SH (Nurse, Jeonbuk National University Hospital). Also, Mi Ja Kim grants will be awarded to master's and doctoral nursing students in December of this year. These research grants are valuable steps toward fulfilling the mission of the GKNF: support capacity building of Korean nurse leaders for advancing nursing science, clinical practice, and policy; facilitate networking of Korean nurses worldwide to foster their leadership in global health; and broaden knowledge exchange with global leaders.

The GKNF-Korea has successfully carried out activities as the one and only nursing NGO in the world. After its designation as an NGO, the GKNF-Korea established its office on the third floor of the Soyun Hun building, which was made available rent free by Dr. MoIm Kim. The Foundation has established broad networks with other NGOs, and it currently has three full-time employees who report to the secretary general, under the direction of Dr. Taewha Lee, the Chair of the Board of Directors. They are working with the board members of the Foundation on various programs that foster capacity building of nurses, including student nurses, for global leadership, and supports public health initiatives for prevention of communicable diseases such as COVID-19 and aids in dissemination of key public health messages for citizens of Korea.

The Foundation is most fortunate to have Dr. Taehwa Lee, second Chair of the Board of Directors, GKNF-Korea, and Dr. Young-Me Lee, fifth President of the GKNF-USA (2021–2022). Their selfless devotion to lead the Foundation has played a key role in its successful growth, both in quality and quantity, not to mention the dedicated collaboration of the Executive Committee members and Boards of Directors, without whose support nothing could have been accomplished.

I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the enduring leadership of Dr. Euisook Kim, who served as the first Chair of the Korean Board of Directors from its inception in 2003 until 2020. She now serves as the Chair of the Korean AC. She played a critical role in getting approval of NGO status from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea with the donation of Dr. Eunja Connie Kim ($100,000). Likewise, I would like to acknowledge the thoughtful leadership of Dr. Kunsook Bernstein, the fourth President of the GKNF-USA, who made a notable increase in Board of Director membership, inclusive of researchers, educators, and clinicians, and who now serves as the Chair of the USA-AC. The energetic leadership of the current President of the GKNF-USA, Dr. Young-Me Lee, has pushed for desired collaborative efforts with the leaders of the GKNF-Korea and revitalized the life of these sister organizations. Her re-election for a second term along with the Executive Committee members promises to be a key force for the preparation of the twentieth-anniversary event next year. The collaborative spirit between the two leaders, Young-Me Lee and Taehwa Lee, and their leadership teams, promises to bring the GKNF to the world stage and demonstrate its leadership in global health and nursing.

I look forward to celebrating the twentieth anniversary of our Foundation next year!

It has been my honor and privilege to serve with such an august group of leaders in the United States and Korea. God bless the GKNF!