board of directors
한인민주당위원회 이사진
Esther "Bester" Lim, PRESIDENT
Esther is a 20+ year justice advocate and policy expert who has long fought for equity, compassion, and justice in our legal system. She spent almost a decade working for the ACLU of Southern California monitoring the largest jail system in the country and has monitored one of the oldest prison systems in New York State. She has served three different local electeds with specific expertise and experience advising on policy areas covering public safety, law enforcement accountability, conditions of confinement, child welfare, public social services, health, environmental justice, and governance. She was a distinguished field instructor and educator for USC in management and organizational development. She is also honored to sit on the boards of Just Detention International and Peace Over Violence.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." —Edmund Burke
KENNETH AHN, VICE PRESIDENT
Kenneth Ahn is Vice President of the Korean American Democratic Committee (KADC), where he helps lead efforts to expand civic engagement, political representation, and policy advocacy within the Korean American community.
In this role, Kenneth works to strengthen pathways for Korean Americans to participate in the democratic process — from voter engagement and leadership development to coalition building across diverse communities. He supports initiatives that elevate issues impacting immigrant families, small business owners, working professionals, and the next generation of civic leaders.
Kenneth currently serves as the Deputy Director of International Event Diplomacy in the Mayor’s Office of International Affairs for the City of Los Angeles. In this role, he leads the City’s international engagement strategy tied to major global sporting events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games.
Drawing from his experience in public service and international diplomacy, Kenneth brings a global perspective to local political engagement. He is committed to building bridges between communities, fostering inclusive civic participation, and ensuring that Korean American voices are meaningfully represented in policy conversations at the local, state, and national levels.
Through his leadership at KADC, Kenneth is focused on empowering emerging leaders, strengthening partnerships across communities of color, and advancing policies that promote equity, opportunity, and democratic participation.
Kenneth has served on the board of KADC since 2016 and is the immediate outgoing President (2022-2025). He holds a Master of Social Work degree from the USC School of Social Work and a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from U.C. San Diego.
AMY CHoNG, SECRETARY
Amy Chong is a Senior Policy Associate at Inclusive Action for the City dedicated to advancing equitable economic development through systems-level change. She co-manages the Small Business Anti-Displacement for Equitable Communities coalition advocating for state and local policies strengthening the local economy. She has served in several key public service roles and experiences that strengthened her policy development, communications, and legislative strategy expertise. Amy holds a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Southern California. A proud Coro Fellow in Public Affairs alumna.
elizabeth ahn, controller
Elizabeth Soyeon Ahn, MD, is a consultation-liaison psychiatrist dedicated to serving the public sector and improving equity and efficiency within the healthcare system. Dr. Ahn joined the Korean American Democratic Committee (KADC) to promote civic engagement and to increase political awareness among Korean Americans, physicians, and Christian communities. Through her role, she seeks to empower these communities to advance changes that align with the public's overall well-being.
“The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis." —Dante Alighieri
Lincoln son currie
Lincoln is a Korean American student at the USC Gould School of Law. He is new to the SoCal area and is excited to grow Korean American grassroots politics in the Democratic Party. Lincoln believes in grassroots politics because he believes in the power of ordinary people to create meaningful political change. Lincoln's involvement in Democratic Party politics began in Iowa, where he was born and raised. When he was 15, he began volunteering for Democratic candidates running for state office in Iowa. Outside of school and politics, Lincoln likes reading, writing, sports, working out, and going out with friends.
JASON KELLy
My name is Jason Kelly, and I am the KADC Chair of Civic Engagement and Membership. As a lifetime resident of southern California, I am excited to engage with our community and advocate for their broad interests. It is critical that our members work together to face these troubling times head on.
"People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." —Jürgen Klopp
Justin Lee
Hello, my name is Justin Lee, and I am a proud member of KADC. As a retail associate looking to become more politically active to effect change, I found that this organization perfectly aligns with my views. Creating and fostering a community to better our city and country as an overlooked minority is a lifelong goal. Every movement has a beginning, and this is mine.
“That’s all.” —Miranda Priestly, Editor-in-Chief of Runway
Eric Moon
Eric currently serves as a Field Representative for a U.S. Congressmember and is proud to be part of KADC, a group that fights hard for better representation and rights for the Korean American community and all allies. A graduate of UC Santa Barbara, Eric holds a bachelor's degree in History of Public Policy with a minor in Asian American Studies. In his free time, Eric enjoys watching movies, exploring new restaurants, and spending time with his friends. As an avid photographer, Eric loves capturing anything and everything around him through the lens of his camera.
“Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.” —John Lennon
john yi
John is currently the Statewide Community Engagement Director for a California gubernatorial candidate. Previously, he was the Director of Organizing at Abundant Housing LA and the Executive Director of Los Angeles Walks, where he advocated for more housing and world-class public transit infrastructure. A long-time community organizer in LA's Koreatown, John has fought for key policies such as HLA, Measure A, and Prop 56. He is a former candidate for the California State Assembly and holds a master's degree from Georgetown University and a bachelor's from the University of Michigan. John speaks Korean, Russian, and Spanish, and he lives with his husband, David, and their dog, Wilshire.
Alumni
David Y. Kim
David Y. Kim, Esq. is an attorney who works in the public sector. He ran for U.S. Congress in CA's 34th Congressional District in the 2020, 2022 and 2024 cycles, almost unseating the incumbent in his second run. Outside of work and community organizing, David enjoys writing, meditating, practicing and teaching hot yoga and mindfulness, and finding fun adventures to embark on, with his partner, family and friends. He feels honored to be serving on the KADC Board for a third consecutive year.
"Every man dies; not every man really lives." —William Wallace
eunu kim
Eunu’s work spans architecture, computer science, and music, but it’s all connected by a single belief: that every life has a soul. She considers her involvement with KADC as her way of paying forward the love she’s received. A proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, Eunu is dedicated to shifting perspectives and creating a more inclusive, understanding space for queer individuals within the Korean community.
"Your best work is your expression of yourself." —Frank Gehry