Board of Directors

The idea of starting a 501(c)(4) organization was born around 2015, while Sam Yoon was executive director of the Council of Korean Americans (CKA) and John Lim was CKA’s board chair. In late 2017 KAA was legally formed. Its board of directors and general counsel were all members of CKA. Sam left CKA in early 2018 to become KAA’s executive director.

We knew 2018 would be a pivotal year for the Korean American community. Events in North Korea, upheavals in American politics and society, and the rapid growth of our community lent urgency to starting KAA. The need for Korean Americans in Action will only increase from where we are today.

John Lim, Board Chair

John Lim is co-founder and Managing Partner of LimNexus LLP, a leading minority-owned corporate boutique firm with offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco. As a corporate lawyer since 1982, John has represented a broad array of clients and handled numerous complicated and sophisticated transactions.

A 1982 graduate of University of California, Hastings College of the Law, John has been selected as a “Southern California Super Lawyer” several times. In addition to chairing KAA’s board, John serves on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, including Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles and the UC Hastings Foundation. He and his partners provide scholarships to diverse law students through the LimNexus Foundation.

Grounded in his firm conviction to further equal opportunity and equal access to justice, John actively supports groups and causes that serve the disadvantaged and marginalized.

Leezie Kim, Board Secretary

Leezie Kim recently returned to private practice in Phoenix, Arizona as an attorney after two and a half years living in Washington DC as a White House appointee as Deputy General Counsel at the Department of Homeland Security. Prior to her time in Washington, DC, Leezie served as the General Counsel to Governor Janet Napolitano in Arizona, where Leezie grew up and practiced law for a dozen years. Leezie is remains active in state and federal politics and most recently served on the transition team to the newly elected Phoenix Mayor.

Leezie graduated from the University of Virginia School of law in 1996, where she met her husband, Gary Restaino. He is the criminal chief of the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.

Paul Kim, Board Treasurer

Paul Kim is the Founder and Managing Partner of LaSalle Asset Management, a hedge fund focused on trading derivatives of agricultural commodities based in Chicago. Paul is also the Founder and CEO of Aventis Asset Management, a discretionary diversified commodity fund with offices in Chicago, New York and Shanghai. With his business success, Paul is committed to giving a significant portion of his companies’ profits to charity.

Paul has founded a movie and television production company as well as the Kim Family Foundation along with his three children. The foundation focuses on humanitarian aid and community development projects in North America, Asia and Africa.

As KAA’s board secretary Paul also serves as vice chair of the board of the Council of Korean Americans, the only member to sit on both boards. Paul graduated from Northwestern University with dual degrees in economics and biochemistry.

T. James Min, Board Member

T. James Min II is currently a Partner with the law firm of LimNexus LLP in their Washington DC office where he specializes in international trade law including customs, export control, economic sanctions, CFIUS, corporate internal investigations, free trade agreements, etc. He was formerly the Vice President and Chair of the International Trade Law Practice for the Deutsche Post DHL Group. Prior to DHL, James practiced international trade law in both the private and public sectors, including as a trade adviser to the Bush Administration and adviser to the governments of Russia, Ukraine, Arab League nations, as well as global institutions such as the UN and the World Trade Organization.

James has served on the boards of the Northern Kentucky International Trade Association, the International Air Cargo Association, and a US-based nonprofit organization operating in North Korea since 1997. He obtained his undergraduate, MA, and law degrees at The Johns Hopkins University and The American University. He is a member and legal advisor to the National Committee on North Korea. He is a member of the Federalist Society, National Republican Lawyers Association, the NRA, and other conservative organizations. James resides outside Cincinnati, Ohio.

David L. Kim, Board Member

David L. Kim is the CEO of The IAMBIC Group, a marketing and public affairs firm that develops marketing, CSR and communication strategies for Fortune 500 companies, government agencies and non-profit groups. Prior to rejoining The IAMBIC Group, he was Vice President of Multicultural Markets and Engagement at the AARP, responsible for increasing the awareness, relevance and engagements in the multicultural segments of a 37-million member organization.

David also served as the Chief of Staff at the United States Mint, advising the Director on all domestic and international policy and communications matters. At the conclusion of his appointment, he was awarded the United States Treasury Citation Medal for Exemplary Service from Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr. Previously, he was the Director for Asian Marketing and Community Relations at Anheuser-Busch Companies in St. Louis where he established first-time signature branded lifestyle marketing platforms.  He developed a community outreach network of over 500 Asian non-profit, trade and community organizations. For his work with the community, he was awarded the Presidential Volunteer Service Award.

David serves on several national boards, including the Board of Advisors for the Duke University Libraries, Board of Trustees for the National Osteoporosis Foundation and the Multicultural Marketing Advisory Board for Diageo.