📅 Upcoming Events & Programs
Be part of KCI’s 50th anniversary year through our cultural events, classes, and community gatherings.
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Honoring the Root: Photo Exhibition
October – November 2025 | Korean Center, 1362 Post St, San Francisco
A moving exhibition tracing Korean immigration and the growth of the Korean American community in the Bay Area. -
Korean Language Program – Fall 2025 Semester
Registration open for all levels. Join the Bay Area’s leading Korean language program. -
Teen Summit “Leading with Creativity: Navigating Challenges Through Arts”
November 15, 2025 | Asian Art Museum
Empowering the next generation of Korean American leaders through mentorship and cultural pride. -
Kimchi Making Workshop
December 4, 2025 | KQED
A hands-on cultural experience sharing the art of kimchi and the flavors of Korea.
🔔 Stay Connected
Sign up once and stay updated on KCI — from 50th anniversary celebrations to cultural workshops, programs, and volunteer opportunities.
(Your signup will also connect you with the 50 Years Forward Campaign and future KCI announcements.)
Be Part of the Legacy
Your support ensures KCI can celebrate our past while building the next 50 years of Korean culture, education, and community.
- With gratitude, gifts of $100 and above will be honored on KCI’s Donor Wall, a lasting tribute at our Center.
- Supporters giving $250 and above will be warmly invited to an exclusive private opening night of the exhibition, including a docent-led tour, cultural performance, and reception.
Korean Center, Inc. (KCI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your donation is secure and tax-deductible. Every dollar helps protect KCI and uplift the next generation of Korean American leaders.
In celebration of KCI’s 50th Anniversary
On July 30, 1975, Korean Center, Inc. was officially incorporated in San Francisco. What started as the Multi-Services Center for Koreans has become a vibrant home for Korean culture, education, and community connection—open to all. 50 years later, KCI continues to serve thousands every year with Korean language programs, Chuseok festival, youth development programs, and hands-on cultural workshops.
Your contribution today will ensure that KCI remains a safe, thriving hub for cultural exploration and community connection. Together, we can preserve Korean heritage, empower youth, and continue to make KCI a cornerstone of the Bay Area for the next 50 years and beyond.
How Your Support Will Make a Difference
Your donation will help us secure KCI’s future and ensure that our cultural home remains safe, welcoming, and vibrant for the next generation. Every contribution directly supports these urgent priorities:
1. Expanding Cultural & Youth Initiatives:
- Host community-wide celebrations like Seollal and the Chuseok Festival, plus hands-on workshops like kimchi-making, bojagi, and calligraphy
- Support our Teen Summit and mentorship initiatives, connecting young leaders with role models in creative and professional fields
- Offer fair stipends for instructors and artists who keep Korean culture alive and accessible
- Provide program materials for classes and workshops (textbooks, learning tools, and leadership resources)
2. Sustaining Our Small but Mighty Team
- Support the two full-time staff who manage year-round programming, fundraising, and community partnerships
- Cover essential operational costs so KCI can focus on growth and impact, not just survival
3. Security Upgrades:
- Reinforce vulnerable entry gates; and upgrade alarms and security cameras
- Replace assets lost to recent break-ins and theft
(A safe KCI means uninterrupted programs and peace of mind for everyone who gathers here.)
While we are deeply grateful for your support, we want to emphasize that the primary purpose of your donation is to help us continue our work, and any tokens of appreciation are provided as a gesture of thanks for your contribution.
KCI Today: A Look at 2024 and Beyond
In 2024, KCI continued to flourish, reaching new heights with our programs and community initiatives. Here’s a look at some of the year’s highlights:
- Korean Language Program: With over 547 students enrolled and 67 classes offered, we saw a 43.2% increase in enrollment. Our partnership with the King Sejong Institute has helped elevate the program’s impact, providing high-quality instruction and expanding opportunities for learners of all levels.
- Youth Programs: We relaunched our Youth Korean Language Program(YKLP) and Teen Summit, empowering young learners and future leaders. The Teen Summit held in partnership with the Asian Art Museum, brought together young leaders for a day of cultural pride and leadership development.
- Cultural Events: We hosted 10 diverse cultural events and workshops, including Seollal(Lunar New Year) Celebration, Hangul Day Calligraphy Celebration, Bojagi, Minhwa, Kimchi making, and Floral Arrangement workshops, fostering cultural understanding, and offering hands-on experiences.
- Chuseok Festival: Our annual Chuseok Festival attracted over 15,000 attendees, featuring 30 food vendors, 11 makers, 11 nonprofit organizations, 8 performers, and over 150 volunteers, highlighting the richness of Korean culture and fostering connections within the community.
These accomplishments represent just a fraction of what KCI has achieved in 2024, thanks to the support of our donors, volunteers, and community members!
KCI Before: Foundations of Growth and Community
For 50 years, Korean Center, Inc. (KCI) has been a cornerstone of the San Francisco Bay Area community, a place where people come together to learn, connect, and celebrate Korean culture. But our story didn’t start in a large building with cultural events. It started in 1974, when a group of dedicated community leaders saw the urgent need to support the newly arrived Korean immigrants, and founded the Korean Advisory Council (KAC) to support the integration of Korean immigrants into American society.
The need for support quickly expanded, and in 1975 the organization was formally incorporated as the Multi-Service Center for Koreans (MSCA). The MSCK’s mission was focused on providing essential immigrant support services, including language training, job placement, and cultural guidance. These early efforts paved the way for the robust programs KCI offers today, from youth education to cultural workshops and community festivals, including our Annual Bay Area Chuseok Festival.
By 1984, after years of serving the community, KCI achieved a major milestone—the purchase of our own building—a space that allowed us to grow our programs and better serve the increasing number of community members who relied on us. This was a pivotal moment in KCI’s history, providing a permanent home where our community could gather, learn, and celebrate together.
In 1989, as the Korean community continued to grow, KCI rebranded itself to reflect its expanding mission: serving not only the Korean community but also all those interested in Korean culture. This shift marked a new era for KCI, where we began offering programs that foster cross-cultural understanding and bridging diverse communities.
ONLINE DONOR WALL
Lisa Boren
Andrew Wallacker
Jaeheon Yi
Michael Kaiser