About KPA

About KPA

The idea of forming an organization for Korean-American (KA) prosecutors was discussed in mid-1990’s between Mark Kim, Deputy District Attorney, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office[1] and Jerry Baik, Deputy City Attorney, Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office. However, there were only a handful of KA prosecutors in the Los Angeles area. In early 2009, the idea was revisited by a group of KA prosecutors led by Jerry Baik. An exploration committee was formed including KA prosecutors from the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office; Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office; U.S. Attorney’s Office, California-Central District; and Mr. Kyung Hwan Cha, Republic of Korea, Supreme Prosecutor’s Office (SPO), Prosecution Service Division, assigned as legal attaché for the Consulate General for the Republic of Korea in Los Angeles.

During a dinner meeting in Koreatown, Los Angeles, the exploration committee decided to formally establish the framework for the Korean Prosecutors Association (KPA). Jerry Baik was selected as its first President followed by Ann H. Park, Deputy District Attorney, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office[2], as its first Vice-President. Thereafter, a formal Board of Directors were selected and two additional Executive Officers were selected, William “Billy” Shin, Deputy Attorney General, California Attorney General’s Office, as Secretary and Joon Kim, Deputy City Prosecutor, Pasadena City Attorney’s Office, as Treasurer. In addition, the Board of Directors included members from the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office: Robert Cha and Wonkoo Chang; Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office: Susan Jung[3], Eileen Kim, and Paul Kim; U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California: Jayne Kim and Dorthy Kim[4].

KPA’s mission statement: A global non-profit organization of public prosecutors of Korean descent formed for the purpose of networking, information sharing, mentoring, and serving the community by providing information and education on matters concerning the public and public safety.

On August 28, 2010, KPA held its Inaugural Dinner Reception hosted by the Hon. Jae-Soo Kim, Korean Consul General in Los Angeles, California. Over 100 guests attended to lend their support for the formation of KPA, an organization representing over 70 KA prosecutors in the County of Los Angeles. A number of key dignitaries were also present, including but not limited to: Hon. John Chiang, California State Controller; Hon. André Birotte, Jr., U.S. Attorney, Central District of California; Hon. Carmen A. Trutanich, Los Angeles City Attorney; Hon. Mark Kim, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge; Hon. Tammy Ryu-Chung, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge; Hon. Lisa Chung, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge; Hon. Carlos Chung, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge; California Asian Peace Officers Association; Society of Korean American Law Enforcement; Mario Trujillo, President of the Latino Prosecutor’s Association; and Prosecutor Woo Jung Shim[5], SPO, Prosecution Service Division and assigned as legal attaché for Consulate General for Republic of Korea in Los Angeles. Mr. Kyung Whan Cha was recalled before his term ended and was replaced by Mr. Shim. This reception was reported by major Korean news outlets around the country.

In January 2011, two new board members joined KPA: Beong-Soo Kim, Chief of Major Frauds Section, U.S. Attorney’s Office-Central District of California; and Irene Lee, Deputy District Attorney, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office[6].

 [1] Mark Kim was appointed as Municipal Court Judge for the Los Angeles County in December 1998 and later elevated to Superior Court in 2000 after the courts were unified into the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

[2] Ann H. Park was elected in June 2014 as a Superior Court Judge for the Los Angeles County.

[3] Susan Jung was elected and sworn in January 2017 as a Superior Court Judge for the Los Angeles County.

[4] Dorthy Kim was appointed as a Superior Court Judge for Los Angeles County in December 2013. In 2018, Judge Kim was appointed as an Associate Justice for the California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District.

[5] Woo Jung Shim was appointed as the Prosecutor General for the Republic of Korea in November 2024.

[6] Irene Lee is the current interim President of the Korean Prosecutors Association as of May 2024.

Founding Members