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A scene from Arirang TV's documentary ``Dream It! - You Are the Next Generation.'' The first episode featured actor James Kyson Lee. The show about successful Korean-Americans airs every Friday at 11: 30 p.m. / Courtesy of Arirang TV |
 By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
Arirang TV is airing the documentary series ``Dream It! - You Are the Next Generation'' every Friday to offer a peek into the lives of successful Americans of Korean descent.
There are currently more than 2.4 million Korean-Americans living in the United States, and they have not only changed their own lives but also the way people see them.
The start of Koreans building their lives in the United States may have been rough, but now many of their descendents, as well as many newer immigrants, have managed to work their way up in various fields.
The documentary is comprised of 13 episodes, each focused on young and passionate Korean-Americans who are living their dreams and inspiring others along the way.
The first and second episodes delved into the lives of actor James Kyson Lee and designers Victoria Hong and Nancy Kang.
Lee, who appeared in NBC's hit drama ``Heroes'' as Ando Masahashi, didn't taste success early as an actor. He first started the show in a small supporting role, but managed to turn his character into one of the main characters in the television series.
The episode on Hong and Kang covered the world of fashion. Hong made a name for herself after appearing as the first contestant of Korean descent on the popular reality show ``Project Runway'' in 2008, and Kang was chosen as an up-and-coming designer by fashion magazine Timeout. Kang later launched her own line, Twolivetree, with fellow designer Geoun Cho.
The third episode, which will be aired this week, will feature U.S. Olympic short track coach Jang Gwon-ok. Many may remember Jang from the Winter Olympics, and the documentary will show how he transformed himself from a successful athlete in Korea to a reliable coach in the U.S.
Next week's episode will focus on the artists Sun K. Kwak and Amy Sol. Kwak, a New York-based installation artist, has had her works displayed at various galleries both in Korea and abroad, including Hyundai Gallery and Rockefeller Plaza. Sol is based in Las Vegas, and deals with an art form called Pop Surreal, where she paints manga-like illustrations on wooden panels. The two artists will detail how they managed to achieve recognition in the United States.
YouTube fans will recognize singer-songwriter David Choi for his distinctive tunes and expressions, and the following week's episode will bring him a bit closer to television viewers. Along with Kim, the series will also introduce Mia Kim ― who released an album thanks to donations from her fans ― and her fun journey as an aspiring singer.
The sixth episode will mix food with success. Roy Choi, the co-owner and chef of the famous ``Kogi BBQ truck'' in Los Angeles, talks about his story of bringing Korean barbeque and kimchi to the American public and his ups and downs as he paved his way to success. The business's popularity has skyrocketed, even being featured in TIME and the Wall Street Journal.
The seventh episode features Jae S. Min, chief designer at Volkswagen Group of America, and his journey at one of the most famous car companies in the world. Min's experience will also offer a sneak preview of what the next generation of cars will look like.
Tune into the eighth episode if you are a tennis fan, as aspiring 14-year-old tennis player Yang Jeong-won will share his insights and discuss his life as a promising young athlete.
Charles Cho is the only Korean-American on the Los Angeles Police Department's SWAT team and he lives his life with pride. Watch Cho as he fights crime in the busy streets of L.A. and learn about the process he went through to become a member of the team.
Justin Chon, the witty character in the hit films ``Twilight'' and ``New Moon,'' will appear in the tenth episode, offering a preview of what he is planning for movie fans this year, while the 11th episode will feature surfer Billy Choi. Winning numerous prizes and awards at surfing competitions, Billy will take viewers back to his childhood when he first started surfing and talk about his determination to become one of the most famous surfers in the world.
The final two episodes will feature noted chef Corey Lee and Dr. Susie Kim. The two Korean-Americans have gone through various hardships, but they both managed to overcome their difficulties to join the top professionals in their respective fields.
``Dream It! - You Are the Next Generation'' airs every Friday at 11:30 p.m. on Arirang TV.
sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr
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yistory@koreatimes.co.kr
