Late Dr. Luke I. Kim , the first president of AKAP

The Association of Korean-American Psychiatrists was formally established in 1979 under the leadership of Luke I. Kim, M.D., Ph.D., although groups of Korean-American psychiatrists had long maintained close relationships through APA, the Child Psychiatry Academy meetings and medical school alumni associations. A survey of the APA membership directory in 1991 identified 315 Korean-American psychiatrists who were APA members. These members are Korean-speaking psychiatrists all of whom, with a few exceptions, graduated from medical schools in Korea before coming to the United States for postgraduate residencies. There is a growing number of young Korean-American psychiatrists who are 1.5 and second generation U.S. medical school graduates and may not be fluent in the Korean language. There are also unaccounted for, non-APA member Korean­ American psychiatrists, perhaps numbering in the many hundreds.

Dr. Tai Yoo , the immediate past president

In the first ten years, the AKAP has been mainly a social organization holding an annual dinner party (for social fellowship) during the APA annual meetings. Beginning in 1990, under the leadership of David Rue, M.D. and others, the AKAP become activated in many respects. A newsletter started to comment on a wide range of topics and news items under the editorship of Chang H. Lee, M.D. The AKAP bestowed an award and provides travel fund for the APA convention to a resident selected by the Korean Neuropsychiatric Association who writes the best scientific paper among psychiatric residents in training in Korea. In 1991, the AKAP had a day-long symposium entitled, "From Jeong to Justice: The Journey of the Koreans in America" during the APA annual meeting in New Orleans. It become an annual event, continuing with "Psychotherapy: East and West" in 1992 and "Mental Health of Korean-Americans toward 2000: Social and Transcultural Perspectives" in 1993. "LA Riots: Koreans' Experiences" was a very well­attended panel discussion during the third AKAP symposium in San Francisco. In 1994, the theme was "Mental Health in a Changing World - Aging and Substance Abuse". The annual symposia have drawn 60 to 100 attendees each year.

Dr. Jaesu Han , the president of AKAP

Over the years, there has been active exchange of ideas between Korean­American psychiatrists and psychiatrists in Korea, China and even Russia. Many psychiatrists in Korea have attended the AKAP and APA meetings over the years. The Neuropsychiatric Association of Korea and the AKAP have held joint scientific symposia. Each year, a Korean-Chinese psychiatrist is also invited to the AKAP annual meeting. The AKAP has been represented by its presidents and other members in the Scientific Meeting of Korean Psychiatrists in the Asian-Pacific Region held in Yanbien, China in the 1990’s. As a result of active communication through the AKAP among Korean psychiatrists practicing in different parts of the world, the first World Congress of Korean psychiatrists was held in Seoul, Korea in October, 1993. Presenters from the AKAP, China, Russia, Japan and Korea discussed Koreans' mental health issues in these respective countries. The APA president at that time, John Mcintyre, M.D., delivered the keynote address.

In more recent years, the AKAP has redoubled the goal of drawing more 1.5 and second-generation psychiatrists to the AKAP. These newer members bring with them a different experience in growing up in and training in psychiatry in the United States. However, what all generations share is the bond of the Korean identity and culture that has an influence on how our patients see us and how we practice medicine.