Maryland nominates first Korean-American secretary

Jimmy Rhee

By Park Jin-hai

Jimmy Rhee, 58, has been proposed as Secretary of the Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs in the U.S. state of Maryland.

Rhee’s appointment still requires confirmation by the state Senate, but if confirmed, he will be the first Korean-American to hold the position.

The office is in charge of connecting small businesses as well as those owned by minorities and women to state contracts and procurement opportunities.

“Without help and sacrifice of the first generation immigrants, I would not have had this opportunity. I will work hard to make minority- and women-owned businesses get a fair chance in the government procurement market,” he said.

Republican Gov.-elect Larry Hogan, who takes office Jan. 21, named Rhee as a cabinet member nominee.

Rhee, whose Korean first name is Hyung-mo, immigrated to America in 1971 and attended the University of Maryland before completing an M.B.A. at Johns Hopkins University and graduating from the law school at Georgetown University.

He headed a government consulting firm, GTSC, as CEO and was appointed assistant secretary of commerce and trade by Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell in 2010.

He is also a son of grandmaster Jhoon Rhee, widely known as the “Father of American Taekwondo” who introduced the martial art to the United States.