ABOUT US
Connect. Collaborate. Grow Together.
ABOUT UKF
The United Korean Federation (UKF) is a premier professional network connecting professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders across the globe. Founded with the vision of creating a thriving ecosystem for collaboration and growth, UKF serves as a bridge between talent, opportunity, and impact.
Through our platform, members gain access to exclusive networking events, professional development resources, mentorship opportunities, and a vibrant community of like-minded individuals committed to excellence and mutual support. We believe in the power of connection and the transformative impact of bringing talented people together.
OUR MISSION
We are dedicated to empowering professionals worldwide through meaningful connections, collaborative opportunities, and shared success.
Community
Building strong connections within the Korean professional diaspora
Innovation
Fostering entrepreneurship and technological advancement
Collaboration
Enabling partnerships and knowledge sharing across industries
Global Impact
Creating positive change through international collaboration
UKF plays a vital role in connecting professionals globally, creating pathways for knowledge exchange, business development, and cultural preservation.
Together, we are building a stronger, more connected future for our community.
TEAM
The leaders behind the mission
Saeju Jeong
Co-Chair
Co-Founder & Executive Chairman, Noom
Kiha Lee
Co-Chair
Partner, Sazze Partners
Sanghan Shawn Baek
UKF Executive Director
KOOM Director
Yurica Ovaerenu
Tech Director
CEO, Adler Inc.
BOARD & ADVISORS
Our extended board members and advisors.
Chang CK Kim
Strategy Director
Co-Founder & CEO, Saywise Founder, Tapas Media
Sunghoon Kim
UKF Korea Representative
Managing Partner, MISSION Law Firm
Sang-yup Sung
Advisor
CEO, Intellian Technologies
Junhee Cho
Advisor
Chairman, KOSA
Join Us for the Next Leap of UKF
The Global Community for Korean Founders
Dear esteemed UKF members and prospective members,
We are Kiha Lee and Saeju Jeong, Co-Chairs who founded and operate United Korean Founders (UKF).
The journey of entrepreneurship is always challenging, but for Korean founders on the global stage, the hurdles of cultural differences, language barriers, and lack of networking make the endeavor even more arduous. UKF is a 100% organic gathering born to overcome these difficulties together, where founders share knowledge, and investors and companies who support their challenges unite to grow side-by-side.
This spark of hope began in 2018 at Kiha Lee's home, where founders and investors gathered every weekend to exchange information and offer mutual support, showcasing organic growth. This spontaneous thirst and ambition naturally led to meaningful events like '82Startup' in the West and the 'Startup Forum & KOOM Festival' in New York. With the devoted help of countless volunteers, we have driven the growth of the Korean founder ecosystem. Watching our community grow each year has given us confidence in our dreams, and the path to making those dreams a reality has become clearer.
Now, UKF is taking the step to become a non-profit organization so that this pure community can continue its sustained growth and serve as a powerful foundation to support the success of the next generation. Beyond the efforts of our numerous volunteers, it is crucial to recruit talented personnel and establish a stable foundation of sponsorship to systematically operate our ongoing annual, monthly events, and global startup support programs.
United Korean Founders, the global community representing Korea—just as our name implies, we will stand firmly as an organization 'United' to help the Korean founder community. We earnestly ask for your support through association membership and available methods of giving. Your warm support will be the core driving force that allows our community to leap forward in ways not seen before, establishing us as a reliable community that supports the success of the next generation of Korean founders.
We sincerely support all your dreams, and we are with you.
Sincerely,
Kiha Lee & Saeju Jeong, Co-Chairs of UKF