THE KOREA SOCIETY

The Korea Society’s Young Professionals’ Network presents Balancing Ambition and Passion, a conversation featuring experienced professionals from different fields who are also published authors. Speakers will reflect on balancing personal passions on top of pressures from full-time professional careers, as well as the meaningful takeaways they’ve learned about personal growth and creating impact through the writing process.

Many young professionals pursue demanding careers while also nurturing interests beyond the workplace. How do individuals reserve space for these passions while building their professional lives? To find out, join us in-person at The Korea Society on Wednesday, May 6 at 6:00 PM, followed by opportunities for audience discussion and networking with the speakers. Dinner will be provided.

We are joined by Samuel Cho (J.P. Morgan Asset Management), author of Forge Through 40. His memoir tracks the product management framework that has guided his journey through not only executive suites of major financial institutions but through all areas of his professional and personal life. Forge Through 40 is currently available for purchase. The discussion will also feature author Patricia Park (American University), who brings her educational background into writing - her novels entertain while igniting discussions for young professionals on larger themes of identity, culture, belonging, class, and social justice. Her next novel, Ambrosia Lee Drops the Mic, releases on April 28, 2026. The conversation will be moderated by Stephanie Hwang, Development Officer at The Korea Society.

Tickets are available for purchase below, with discounted pricing available for members of The Korea Society.

PURCHASE TICKETS 

*This program is proudly presented in partnership with Asian American Dental Society, which gathers dental healthcare professionals of Asian descent to empower and support the future dental professionals within our communities. They seek to provide a supportive space to share our passion and education for oral health, while advocating for a lifelong commitment to education, mentorship and collaboration.

Become a member or renew your membership today to join our community and stay up-to-date with our organization’s activities. Membership begins at the Individual Level ($50/year).   

Balancing Ambition and Passion

In-Person: Wednesday, May 6, 2026 | 6:00 PM (EDT)

The Korea Society
350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10017

About the Speakers:

Samuel Cho Global Head of Reporting & Information Provision at J.P. Morgan Asset Management; Author of Forge Through 40 In a world where authentic connections and meaningful collaboration shape success, Samuel Cho has dedicated his career to cultivating vibrant communities and relationships to deliver exceptional value. Committed to living by the Golden Rule, Sam strives to empower those around him. Sam is an enterprise operating executive who thrives in high-velocity environments where strategic vision and execution speed are critical.

Patricia Park Professor of Creative Writing at American University; author of Ambrosia Lee Drops the Mic Patricia Park is the author of the award-winning novel, Re Jane, and the YA novels Imposter Syndrome & Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim (an NPR Best Books of 2023 and a Gotham Book Prize finalist), What’s Eating Jackie Oh? (Kirkus Reviews’ Best YA Books of 2024), and the forthcoming Ambrosia Lee Drops the Mic (2026). She is a tenured professor of creative writing at American University, a Fulbright scholar, an Edith Wharton Writer-in-Residence, a Jerome Hill Artist Fellow, and other awards. She has written for The New York Times, New Yorker, Guardian, and others. Patricia was born & raised in Queens, NY.