[HOUSTON — TexasN] The Korean American Association of Houston (KAAH) announced on Monday the launch of the 2026 Texas Korean Youth Leadership Conference (TKYLC), a landmark initiative designed to cultivate leadership and cultural identity among Korean-American students across the Lone Star State.
Scheduled for May 30–31 at the University of Houston–Clear Lake, the two-day summit will convene middle and high school students from major metropolitan hubs, including Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas. The program marks a strategic effort by the Houston Korean community to fill a long-standing void in specialized leadership training tailored to the Korean-American experience in Texas.
A Professional Mentorship Ecosystem
The conference departs from traditional lecture-based formats, favoring an immersive, experiential curriculum. Students will be paired with a diverse cohort of mentors—including prominent attorneys, physicians, and engineers—to bridge the gap between academic aspirations and professional realities.
“Our goal is to create a space where youth can navigate their dual identities while acquiring the soft skills necessary for 21st-century leadership,” said Dr. Sunkyung Chung, a professor of counseling at St. Mary’s University and the program’s director. “By utilizing professional counseling frameworks, we are helping these students identify personal strengths and foster a profound sense of civic duty.”
Beyond the Classroom
To broaden participants’ horizons, the TKYLC will integrate collegiate life experiences with a specialized tour of the NASA facilities nearby, emphasizing Houston’s unique position as a global hub for science and technology.
Community Legacy and Sustainability
For KAAH President Hyung-sun Kim, the conference is a long-overdue investment. “It is the responsibility of the first and 1.5 generations to provide the scaffolding for our youth to ascend as leaders in broader American society,” Kim said. “While other minority communities have robust leadership pipelines, the Korean community in Texas has lacked such a dedicated platform. This conference is the first step in changing that trajectory.”
The initiative is a collaborative venture involving the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Houston and the Bella Music Foundation. To ensure the conference’s impact extends beyond the weekend, organizers plan to establish a permanent ‘TKYLC Committee’ to facilitate ongoing networking and mentorship opportunities for all alumni.
Catherine Wahrmund amiangs0210@gmail.com
