Letter from the Chairperson

Dear GKNF family,

Twenty years ago, the foundation's history began with the decision to establish a foundation for the purpose of building a network of Korean nurses around the world, and enhancing the leadership of Korean nursing in Los Angeles, with 32 nursing leaders donating $1,000 each as a foundation.

The Secretary of State from Illinois, USA, registered us as GKNF Inc., and held an inaugural conference in Korea in 2004 to start the foundation’s official activities in the United States and Korea. The foundation, which had grown mainly around scholarship projects and academic conferences to cultivate Korean nursing leaders who wanted to grow according to it’s vision, has grown into a sister institution in Korea and the United States with the same vision and mission, as efforts were needed to assist Korean nursing leaders entering the United States.

Particularly remarkable was the $100,000 donation donated by Dr. Kim Eun-ja (Connie Kim) to the U.S. Foundation, which led the GKNF to leap forward as a non-governmental organization (NGO). Global Korean Nursing Foundation was approved as a corporation in 2014 that follows the rules of the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

GKNF not only created a program that promoted the capacity building of Korean nurses, but also helped establish networks among Korean nurses working in various parts of the world. Additionally, a new way for Korean nurses to play leadership roles in the international stage was established through the foundation.

In the beginning, the foundation sought to support those preparing to complete their PhDs at Korean nursing colleges and allow success in post-doctoral courses in the United States. With the support of Zhongguen Pharmaceutical and Chong Kun Dang Gochon Foundation, it allowed them to go to prominent U.S. nursing colleges for a year of research and training. In 2004, the program was successful at a prominent U.S. school, which allowed Korean nursing professors with excellent research backgrounds to serve as mentors. I would like to express my special gratitude for the hard work of professors Kang Deok-hee (UT Austin), Kim Mi-young (Jonhs Hopkins), Hong We-saeng (UCSF), Lim Eun-ok, and including myself (UIC) for their efforts and time as early mentors and professors.

Over the past 20 years, the foundation has mainly strengthened our faculty’s abilities, by supporting research funds that lead to success as a researcher/scholar, providing scholarships, and operating training programs to prepare future leaders. the U.S. foundation is working on ways to make clinical nurses, especially Nurse Practitioner/Doctor of Nursing Practice successful. Of course this is because we believe that nursing succeeds when research, education, and clinical practice are balanced.

The foundation’s sister institutions in Korea and the United States developed through a contextual reorganization to grow into international nusring NGOs. The sacrificial leadership role of the president and the directors, who developed and conducted programs with unwavering strength for 20 years, in addition to their countless hours, talents, and financial support, have been the support that has made the foundation exist to this day.

Several donors who supported the foundation with special donations were also contributors to its foundation in times of need. The chairman of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Corporation and the chairman of the Gochon Foundation, who supported the training of nursing leaders in the United States in the early days, helped to support the GKNF.

Scholarship support for members, including an ongoing Dr. Susie Kim’s fellowship for supporting doctoral thesis, a mentoring fund in memory of former President Kang Deok-hee, and the Mi-ja Kim Research Grant were launched, providing $100,000 each to U.S. and Korean foundations for 10 years (total $200,000). In addition, we are actively supporting research by Korean nursing scholars by providing a total of $100,000 through the 3-Kim (Kim Mo-im, Kim Mi-ja, and Kim Eui-sook) research grant to Korean foundations.

In particular, COVID-19 research funding (from the Kim Mo-moi, Kim Mi-ja donations), which have helped research nursing activities in the COVID-19 era, became a highlight of the foundation’s existence in the pandemic era.

Financial support is emerging as the most urgent and important issue in order to keep the foundation’s active participation. In order to secure the foundation’s financial base in celebration of its 20th anniversary, the established Adivsory Council from 2022 has been campaigning for funds with a goal of $500,000 in the U.S. and Korea. Recently, in 2022 and 2023, advisor Chae Jeong-ja donated $200,000, director Park Joo-bong contributed $100,000, and Kim Mi-ja also pledged $100,000. In particular, commissioner Chae Jeong-ja made the event shine by donating $15,000 for the 20th anniversary lunch party on October 7th. The members of the advisory group (Korea: Kim Eui-sook, Oh Gasil, Cho Gap-chul, USA: Kunsook Bernstein, Chae Jeong-ja, Park Joo-bong, Lee Hae-ok, and Kim Mi-ja) are passionate about creating the foundation’s economic base by sponsoring $1,000 each year as committee fees. I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to the advisory committee members.

It has now been 20 years of rewarding and meaningful work watching the foundation grow, and I would like to express my deep gratitude by remembering the many donors of the past, the directors, employees, and members of have devotedly led the foundation. Thanks to this, the foundation has grown significantly, and in the future, we will do our best to achieve the vision of fostering international leadership of Korean nurses. We applaud the energetic activation of the foundation by the trusty junior leadership team, directors, and office staff for their energetic work. I wish them continued success, and express my gratitude and anticipation again.

Chairperson, Mi-ja Kim