About KACA

The Korean American Communication Association is an organization dedicated to serving the academic and social needs of Korean communication scholars and students in North America.

Our Mission

The Korean American Communication Association is an organization dedicated to serving the academic and social needs of communication scholars and students of the Korean community in North America and around the world. Specifically, KACA aims:

To encourage and facilitate exchange of professional knowledge in various fields of communication.
To encourage and facilitate cooperation among members in exchanging professional information and conducting research in communication, especially focusing on subjects related to Korea, Korean Americans, and Korean diaspora.
To facilitate academic and social exchange of Korean scholars or professionals in North America and around the world.
To facilitate professional cooperation with other associations of Korean scholars or professionals in North America and around the world.
To facilitate social exchange among the members.

KACA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization since 2004.

Our History

You can click each section to explore the general history of KACA, the 40-year special page (archived), and other archived materials, including newsletters!

Serving Korean Communication Scholars in North America: The Story So Far

The Korean American Communication Association started from a handful of Korean American communication scholars in 1978 and has grown into the backbone of communication scholarship activities related to Korea, for promoting research as well as friendships in the academic society among its members and beyond.

Korean American Communication Association (KACA) Milestones

1978

August: Founded under the name "North American Association of Korean Communication Scholars."
Fall: Published the first newsletter, written in Korean.

1979

July: Renamed as the Korean American Communication Association.
August: Created the bylaws of the Korean American Communication Association.

1980s

August 1980: Held the first Korean-American Joint Conference on Communication in Korea in collaboration with the Korean Society for Journalism and Communication Studies (KSJCS).
July 1982: Hosted the second Korean-American Joint Conference on Communication in Athens, Ohio, as an official program of the AEJMC annual convention, in collaboration with KSJCS.
August 1984: Organized the third Korean-American Joint Conference on Communication in Korea.
May 1985: Held the fourth Korean-American Joint Conference on Communication in Hawaii as an official program of the ICA annual convention, in collaboration with KSJCS.
May 1986: Hosted an official KACA program at the ICA annual convention in Chicago.
August 1987: Held the fifth Korean-American Joint Conference on Communication in Yangpyong, Korea, in collaboration with KSJCS.

1990s

May 1995: Hosted an official KACA program at the ICA annual convention in Albuquerque.
May 1996: Held an official KACA program at the ICA annual convention in Chicago.
August 1996: Held a panel session at AEJMC in Anaheim, California, in collaboration with the Chinese Communication Association.
August 1996: Became an official affiliate of KSJCS and held an official session.
November 1996: Became an official affiliate of NCA (formerly Speech Communication Association) and held an official session at the NCA annual convention in San Diego, in collaboration with the Asian-Pacific Caucus.
May 1997: Hosted an official KACA program at the ICA annual convention in Montreal.
August 1997: Held an official program at the AEJMC annual convention in Chicago.
November 1997: Hosted an official program at the NCA annual convention.
July 1998: Held an official program at the ICA annual convention.
August 1998: Hosted an official program at the AEJMC annual convention.
November 1998: Organized two panel sessions at the NCA annual convention in New York.
May 1999: Held an official program at the ICA annual convention in San Francisco.
May 1999: Amended the KACA bylaws.
August 1999: Hosted a panel session at the AEJMC annual convention in Baltimore, in collaboration with the Chinese Communication Association.
November 1999: Held a panel session at the NCA annual convention.

2000s

June 2000: Organized an official program at the ICA annual convention.
August 2000: Held a panel session at the AEJMC annual convention in Phoenix.
November 2000: Hosted a panel session at the NCA annual convention in Seattle.
May 2001: Conducted three panel sessions at the ICA annual convention in Washington, D.C.
August 2001: Held a panel session at the AEJMC annual convention in Washington, D.C.
November 2001: Organized a panel session at the NCA annual convention in Atlanta.
July 2002: Conducted three panel sessions at the ICA annual convention in Seoul, Korea. Recognized as a co-sponsor of the convention in the opening statement and program.
August 2002: Held a panel session at the AEJMC annual convention.
November 2002: Hosted a panel session at the NCA annual convention.
May 2003: Held a panel session at the ICA annual convention in San Diego.
August 2003: Hosted a panel session at the AEJMC annual convention.
November 2003: Organized a panel session at the NCA annual convention.
May 2004: Conducted a panel session at the ICA annual convention in New Orleans.
August 2004: Held a panel session at the AEJMC annual convention.
November 2004: Organized a panel session at the NCA annual convention.
May 2005: Conducted an official program at the ICA annual convention in New York.
August 2005: Hosted a panel session at the AEJMC annual convention in San Antonio.
November 2005: Held a panel session at the NCA annual convention in Boston.
June 2006: Organized an official program at the ICA annual convention in Dresden, Germany.
August 2006: Hosted a panel session at the AEJMC annual convention in San Francisco.
November 2006: Held a panel session at the NCA annual convention in San Antonio.
May 2007: Conducted an official program at the ICA annual convention in San Francisco.
August 2007: Hosted a panel session at the AEJMC annual convention in Washington, D.C.
November 2007: Organized a panel session at the NCA annual convention in Chicago.
May 2008: Conducted panel/paper sessions at the ICA annual convention in Quebec, Canada.
August 2008: Hosted panel/paper sessions at the AEJMC annual convention in Chicago.
November 2008: Organized paper/panel sessions at the NCA annual convention in San Diego.
May 2009: Conducted panel/paper sessions at the ICA annual convention in Chicago.
August 2009: Dr. Nojin Kwak newly elected as the president.
August 2009: Hosted panel/paper sessions at the AEJMC annual convention in Boston.
November 2009: Organized paper/panel sessions at the NCA annual convention in Chicago.

2010s

May 2010: Held panel/paper sessions of the Korean American Communication Association in Singapore at the annual convention of the International Communication Association.
August 2010: Held panel/paper sessions of the Korean American Communication Association in Denver at the annual convention of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.
November 2010: Held paper/panel sessions of the Korean American Communication Association in San Francisco at the annual convention of the National Communication Association.
May 2011: Held panel/paper sessions of the Korean American Communication Association in Boston at the annual convention of the International Communication Association.
August 2011: Dr. Sei-Hill Kim elected as the president of the Korean American Communication Association for a two-year term. Held panel/paper sessions of the Korean American Communication Association in St. Louis at the annual convention of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.
November 2011: Held paper/panel sessions of the Korean American Communication Association in New Orleans at the annual convention of the National Communication Association.
May 2012: Held panel/paper sessions of the Korean American Communication Association in Phoenix at the annual convention of the International Communication Association.
August 2012: Held panel/paper sessions of the Korean American Communication Association in Chicago at the annual convention of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.
November 2012: Held paper/panel sessions of the Korean American Communication Association in Orlando at the annual convention of the National Communication Association.
May 2013: Held panel/paper sessions of the Korean American Communication Association in London at the annual convention of the International Communication Association.
August 2013: Dr. Seok Kang elected as the president of the Korean American Communication Association for a two-year term. Held panel/paper sessions of the Korean American Communication Association in Washington, DC, at the annual convention of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.
November 2013: Held paper/panel sessions of the Korean American Communication Association in Washington, DC, at the annual convention of the National Communication Association.
May 2014: Held panel/paper sessions of the Korean American Communication Association in Seattle at the annual convention of the International Communication Association.
August 2014: Held panel/paper sessions of the Korean American Communication Association in Montreal at the annual convention of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.
November 2014: Held paper/panel sessions of the Korean American Communication Association in Chicago at the annual convention of the National Communication Association.
May 2015: Held panel/paper sessions of the Korean American Communication Association in Puerto Rico at the annual convention of the International Communication Association.
August 2015: Dr. Seung Ahn Nah elected as the president of the Korean American Communication Association for a two-year term. Held panel/paper sessions of the Korean American Communication Association in San Francisco at the annual convention of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.
November 2015: Held paper/panel sessions of the Korean American Communication Association in Las Vegas at the annual convention of the National Communication Association.
May 2016: Held panel/paper sessions of the Korean American Communication Association in Fukuoka, Japan, at the annual convention of the International Communication Association.
August 2016: Held panel/paper sessions of the Korean American Communication Association in Minneapolis at the annual convention of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.
November 2016: Held paper/panel sessions of the Korean American Communication Association in Philadelphia at the annual convention of the National Communication Association.
May 2017: Held paper/panel sessions of the Korean American Communication Association in San Diego at the annual convention of the International Communication Association.
August 2017: Held paper/panel sessions of the Korean American Communication Association in Chicago at the annual convention of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.
September 2017: Dr. Eyun-Jung Ki started a two-year term as the president of the Korean American Communication Association.
November 2017: Held paper/panel sessions of the Korean American Communication Association in Dallas at the annual convention of the National Communication Association.
May 2018: Held paper/panel sessions of the Korean American Communication Association in Prague, Czech Republic, at the annual convention of the International Communication Association.
August 2018: KACA celebrated its 40th anniversary with book announcements, special events, and paper/panel sessions in Washington, DC, at the annual convention of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.
November 2018: Held paper/panel sessions of the Korean American Communication Association in Salt Lake City at the annual convention of the National Communication Association.
May 2019: Held paper/panel sessions of the Korean American Communication Association in Washington, DC, at the annual convention of the International Communication Association.
August 2019: Held paper/panel sessions of the Korean American Communication Association in Toronto, Canada, at the annual convention of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.
September 2019: Dr. Moon J. Lee started a two-year term as the president of the Korean American Communication Association.
November 2019: Held paper/panel sessions of the Korean American Communication Association in Baltimore at the annual convention of the National Communication Association.

2020s:

May 2020: Held a virtual research session of the Korean American Communication Association at the annual convention of the International Communication Association due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
August 2020: Held virtual paper/panel sessions of the Korean American Communication Association at the annual convention of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
November 2020: Held virtual paper/panel sessions of the Korean American Communication Association at the annual convention of the National Communication Association.
May 2021: Held a virtual research session of the Korean American Communication Association at the annual convention of the International Communication Association.
August 2021: Held virtual paper/panel sessions of the Korean American Communication Association at the annual convention of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication due to the continued COVID-19 pandemic.
September 2021: Dr. Jin-Ae Kang was elected as the president of the Korean American Communication Association for a two-year term.
November 2021: Held paper/panel sessions of the Korean American Communication Association in Seattle at the annual convention of the National Communication Association.
May 2022: Held a research session of the Korean American Communication Association in Paris, France, at the annual convention of the International Communication Association.
August 2022: Held the inaugural KACA-Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KFICE) Conference virtually. Conducted paper/panel sessions of the Korean American Communication Association in Detroit at the annual convention of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.
October 2022: Held the second KACA-Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KFICE) Conference virtually.

Serving Korean Communication Scholars in North America for 40 Years

The Korean American Communication Association held its 40th anniversary in 2018. Having started from a handful of Korean American communication scholars in 1978, we have grown into the backbone of communication scholarship activities related to Korea, for promoting research as well as friendships in the academic society among its members and beyond.

Led by the 40th anniversary planning committee (co-chaired by Dr. Hye-ryeon Lee / University of Hawaii at Manoa and Dr. Seungahn Nah / University of Oregon), various commemorative projects took place throughout the year.

Celebrating 40 years of Korean American Communication Scholarship

By Dr Hye-ryeon Lee (published in Asian Communication Research Vol.14 No.2). Comprehensive essay on how KACA began, where we are now, and what our next steps are.

KACA at 40: Special Page (Archived)

Serving Korean Communication Scholars in North America for 40 Years

40-Day Challenge: $40 for 40 Years

In appreciation and celebration of its remarkable 40 years, KACA hosts a special fundraising drive, between April 16 and May 25. Click to view the list of donors.

Events

40th Anniversary Conference & AEJMC KACA Research Sessions (August 6-9, 2018, Washington, D.C.)
Call for Paper: Renewed Role of the Press in Building, Transforming, and Restoring Democracy: Korea and Beyond
Award Ceremony & Reception
Call for Nominations: 40th Anniversary Celebration Awards
Invitation flyer: 40th Anniversary Conference & Gala Reception

Book Projects

At the 40th anniversary conference, two books were unveiled as invaluable assets to Korean American communication scholarship.

Communication, Digital Media, and Popular Culture in Korea: Contemporary Research and Future Prospects, Lexington Books.
- A comprehensive overview of the history of scholarship on Korean media and communication published in the English language. Edited by Dal Yong Jin (Simon Fraser University) and Nojin Kwak (University of Michgan).
Korean Communication, Media, and Culture: An Annotated Bibliography, Lexington Books.
- Annotations of major English books, journal articles, monographs, and dissertations on Korean journalism, communication, culture, and related topics. Edited by Kyu Ho Youm (University of Oregon) and Nojin Kwak (University of Michgan).

Then and Now

Celebrating 40 years of Korean American Communication Scholarship.
- By Dr Hye-ryeon Lee (published in Asian Communication Research Vol.14 No.2). Comprehensive essay on how KACA began, where we are now, and what our next steps are.

This is the “first draft of history” of KACA, ranging from its beginnings to the present. It is a valuable source for exploring how KACA has progressed over the years. Some highlights include:

KACA 30th Anniversary Special Issue (Summer 2008): reflections on KACA by members from various times.
Classifieds (Spring 2000): occasionally, relevant job postings were shared. The Korean Broadcasting Institute was one of those.
Invited essays (January 1987): recognizing the need for mentorship, the newsletter started publishing essays on working in the profession.
Taking shape (Summer 1979): an early example on how KACA focused its mission on sharing news about professional achievements and organizing efforts for academic activities.

Newsletter Archive

The First Bylaws

List of Past Officers