Media

November 2, 2022 Atlanta - Portrait of Sunny K. Park, founder of General Building Maintenance, at his office in the building on Presidential Parkway, where he was hired for his first maintenance contract, on Wednesday, November 2, 2022. Sunny is 80-years-old and has lived a life of wanting to serve others. He came to the U.S. from Korea in the 1970s and later started a maintenance company to employ 12 people who needed work. He recently sold the company which is now in 23 cities with more than 3,000 employees. He still has an office in the building on Presidential Parkway where he was hired for his first maintenance contract. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

도심 3에이커 규모 구상... 3500만불 모금 목표 "기업 많지만 100만명 이상 소액 모금 바람직"

A newly formed foundation is working to build what could become the world's largest U.N. Korean War memorial — a permanent tribute to the 22 nations that answered the call in 1950.

박선근 회장은 “한국전 참전용사들은 누군가의 아들이자 가족이었다”며 “그들의 희생을 기리는 일은 국가적 책무″라고 강조했다. [사진 한미우호협회]

Sunny K. Park, President, American Korean Friendship Society Good evening! I would like to express my gratitude to ICAS and Dr. Kim for granting me the opportunity to offer remarks about tonight's honoree. General Scaparrotti's distinguished military career is widely recognized for its exceptional achievements. I first met General Scaparrotti in Korea at his change of command ceremony; an event officiated by General Dempsey. At the time, I attended as a guest of General Thurman, the outgoing commander, while General Scaparrotti assumed leadership of US Forces in Korea. In subsequent years, specifically from 2022 to 2024, I had the privilege of working alongside General Scaparrotti during his tenure as Chairman of the Korea Defense Veterans Association (KDVA), where I serve on the Advisory Board. Upon taking on this role, General Scaparrotti promptly initiated a conference call with me to gain comprehensive insight into KDVA’s operations. Our conversation lasted over an hour and encompassed both the organization's history and strategic direction. As you can tell, I was one of about 2 dozen leaders of KDVA. I found General Scaparrotti’s genuine commitment to effective leadership and organizational excellence particularly noteworthy. I wish to highlight several personal anecdotes shared by his Korean colleagues. Throughout his nearly forty-year service, he demonstrated unwavering respect for fallen soldiers by displaying their photographs in his office and providing continued support to their families. Notably, in 2015, following an incident in which two Korean Army sergeants were injured by a landmine, General Scaparrotti was the first to visit them in the hospital, encouraging their recovery. Under General Scaparrotti's leadership, KDVA has flourished, further reinforcing the US-Korea alliance. His exemplary leadership and selfless dedication have significantly enhanced the strength and vitality of this crucial partnership. It is my honor to congratulate General Mike Scaparrotti on receiving this year’s ICAS Liberty Award—a recognition that is truly well deserved.

The Ellis Island Honors Society honors the importance of immigration to America’s prosperity and celebrates the contributions immigrants and their progeny have made to our nation. In 1986, Ellis Island Honors Society founded the Ellis Island Medals of Honor to commemorate the indefatigable spirit of those who immigrated to the United States during the Ellis Island era.  The Medal is presented annually to those who have shown an outstanding commitment to serving our nation either professionally, culturally or civically, among other criteria.

김영삼 전 대통령의 서거 소식을 들으니 그분이 미국의 한인들에게 당부한 말씀이 새삼 생각난다. 그분과는 백악관 만찬에서 잠시 만난 게 전부지만 미국 한인들의 장래를 걱정하며 과감하게 대화를 이끌던 모습이 생생하다. 그는 한국 정가를 기웃거리던 한인의 일부가 줄기차게 제기한 '교민청' 설치 요청에 확실하게 결론을 냈다. "이민 갔으면 그곳에서 뿌리내리고 잘살아라. 모국에 기대 걸어봐야 '국물'도 없다." '고국 발전에 기여하고 싶다'는 일부 한인의 희망에 대해서도 "'미꾸라지'급인 현재의 한인 사회로는 용도 미달이니 '잉어'급 정도로 커진 다음에 보자"고 했다. 그는 한인들과 만날 때마다 "현지에서 뿌리내리고 충실한 미국 국민으로 살아가라"고 당부했다. 재미 한인의 '응석'을 단호하게 거절하며 이민자로서 긍지를 갖고 살라고 주문하는 그에게 실질적 지도자라는 인상을 받았다. 지금 미국 한인 사회에서는 한국 국회의원 선거를 위한 선거인 명부 등록 캠페인이 벌어지고 있다. 머지않아 각 정당의 입후보자들이 나타나 한인회와 향우회 등을 동원해 득표 활동을 벌일 것이다. 그러면 이른바 '한인 사회 지도자'들도 덩달아 활동할 것이다. 지금 미국은 내년 대선 캠페인이 한창인데 많은 이의 관심이 이곳 생활과 직접 관련 없는 한국 총선에 가있는 듯하다. 많은 한인이 볼 때 한인 사회에서의 한국 선거운동은 우리 이민자들이 미국에 뿌리내리고 사는 데 오히려 장애가 되고 있다. 우리들이 가진 몇 표를 얻기 위해 동포 사회를 한국에서처럼 동과 서, 그리고 남과 북 출신 그룹으로 분열시키는 한국 정치인들의 염치없는 행태를 서거한 김영삼 대통령이 보았으면 무어라고 할까 궁금하다. 이민 온 우리 같은 사람들이 우선시해야 할 일은 현지 정착과 동화이다. 고국이 잘되길 바라는 마음이야 누구나 같지만, 이민을 했으면 이민자답게 그 나라 국민으로서 성숙한 모습을 보여야 한다. 우리 한인 사회의 진정한 발전을 걱정하는 한국의 정치 집단은 없다고 본다. 함량 미달 '지도자'들이 대표하는 오합지졸 한인 사회를 자신의 이익을 위해 이용하려는 자들만 있을 뿐이다. 후세를 위해 다시 한 번 결심하자. 올바른 소속감을 갖지 못하면 어디서건 쓸모없는 집단으로 남는다. 우리가 애지중지 키우고, 빚내서 공부시키는 아들 딸에게도 악영향을 준다. 출처: https://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2015/12/15/2015121503961.html

박 회장, 대학 졸업식에서 축하 연설

Join us this Friday to welcome Atlanta Rotarian Sunny K. Park, Chief Executive Janitor of General Building Maintenance, President of Global Sun Investments and a member of Georgia Banking Company Board. You can join in person at Le Meridien or via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86202979419 Sunny is a 2000 USO Patriot Award recipient and one of Most Influential Atlantans by JAMES Magazine and Atlanta Business Chronicle in multiple years. He is an Executive in Residence of Georgia State University, lecturing regularly. Mr. Park immigrated to the United States in 1974 with no money. Today, as an indicator of his business acumen, he has successfully achieved his goal of paying $1 million in income tax annually. A native of South Korea, served as Commissioner of the White House Advisory Commission and Vice Chairman of Georgia Ports Authority. Mr. Park serves or served multiple nonprofit boards; National Guard’s Youth Foundation that supports programs for high school dropouts; USO Georgia; National Center for Civil and Human Rights; Carter Center Board of Councilors; Atlanta Symphony Orchestra; Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation Board; Atlanta Rotary Club Board; Emeritus board member of Berry College and Junior Achievements Georgia; Serves Sandy Springs City for City Charter Review Board and Development Authority; National Museum of Patriotism Board; Georgia Public Policy Foundation; Shepherd Center Hospital; Emory University Board of Visitors; Savannah College of Art & Design; Korea Defense Veterans Association Board. He is 2004 and 2008 Presidential Elector from Georgia. He served as president of the National Korean American Federation (1991); Chairman of the 1992 Overseas Korean Conference in Berlin, Germany; In 1996, he founded the American Korean Friendship Society to strengthen unique relationship between the two nations; To encourage fellow immigrants to become active in community affairs, Mr. Park founded the Good Neighboring Foundation; With his own program “If Sunny Can, I Can,” he mentors high school dropouts at Youth Challenge Programs. He presented the commencement speeches to Class 2006 of Kennesaw State University, Class 2007 of Berry College, Rome, Georgia and 2018 of Belhaven University, Jackson, Mississippi. Sunny is laureate of Atlanta Business Hall of Fame; inducted to KATUSA Hall of Fame in Korea. He is decorated with People’s Merit by South Korean President; Volunteer Service Award by the President of the U. S.; Americanism Medal by Daughters of American Revolution; Patrick Henry Trophy by National Guards Association; Small Business Person of the Year by Atlanta Chamber of Commerce; Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Youth Foundation 2007; VanLandingham Commitment to Economic Education Award by Georgia State University; 2018 Liberty Award by Institution of Corian American Studies; 2020 Freedom Award from Georgia Public Policy Foundation. He studied at Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis. He received honorary doctorate from Belhaven University. Sunny Park attends the Church of The Apostle, Atlanta, GA. source: https://www.griffinrotary.org/story/6444