On Tuesday, May 2, 2023, the Center for Korea Studies celebrated the University and community contributions of Mr. Ickwhan Lee.
The reception welcomed members from all parts of the local community, UW faculty members, and Mr. Lee’s family. Working with the Burke Museum, our venue for the evening, the event featured a series of historical artifacts from the museum and a selection of items from Mr. Lee’s personal archives. The festivities included a series of speeches honoring Ickwhan’s years of service.
Professor Clark Sorensen opened the event with an initial offering of thanks, contextualizing the deep relationship between Ickwhan, CKS, and the local Korean community. Additional speeches were made by Interim JSIS Director, Dr. Danny Hoffman, Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Seattle, Ms. Eunji Seo, President of the Seattle Washington Korean Association, Ms. Young Brown, President of the Korean-American Historical Society, Mr. Mel Kang, Professor and former JSIS Director, Dr. Anand Yang, and former Chief Economist of the State of Washington, Dr. Chang Mook Sohn.
Ickwhan’s son, Mr. Ben Lee, recited a speech written by his father to commemorate the event, sharing the history of his work within the community, the University, and his dedication to further action for expanding the impact of Korean Studies in the United States.
In Mr. Lee’s words, “Today’s event, in this sense, is not simply for me; rather, I hope that this event is an opportunity to foster future cooperation based on reflections of past achievements.”
Following the speech, Professor Sorensen presented Ickwhan with a plaque commemorating Mr. Lee’s sincerity, generosity, and dedication to Korean Studies. CKS is forever grateful for all of Mr. Lee’s efforts.
Thank you to the event’s attendees. We hope to see all of our community members at future events!
