About Us
OUR MISSION
Empowering Young Korea Americans through late Chairman's Philosophy
"Live honestly and work diligently; nourishing credibility. People and money will follow you naturally.
Credibility is the bloodline of life."
Jae Doo Ryu
Sue Ryu, President
Sue Ryu was born in Seoul, South Korea, the fourth daughter and fifth child of Bong-Hwang Ryu and the late Chairman Jae Doo Ryu, founder of the Ryu Family Foundation (RFF). She has been serving the Foundation since her father's passing and currently serves as its President.
She holds a Master of Science in Computer Science from New York University and is a computer scientist, organization designer, and business agility strategist at Aha Autonomy, LLC.
Since assuming the leadership of the Foundation, Ms. Ryu has been dedicated to carrying forward the vision and philosophy of her late father. She believes that the principles by which Chairman Jae Doo Ryu lived—honesty, hard work, perseverance, and above all, credibility—were the true foundation of the successful life he built and the enduring legacy he left behind.
Under her leadership, the Foundation's mission extends beyond recognizing achievement through awards and educational programs. Its greater purpose is to inspire young Korean Americans to embrace these timeless values, develop strong character, and become leaders who make meaningful contributions to their communities. Ms. Ryu believes that these principles are the true measure of a successful life and the most enduring legacy the Foundation can pass on to future generations.
Kwang S James Kim, Director
James Kim is a business executive and respected community leader with extensive experience in both the private and nonprofit sectors. He served as the 38th President of the Korean American Association of Greater New York (KAAGNY), one of the largest and oldest Korean American organizations in the United States, where he provided leadership on initiatives supporting the Korean American community.
Mr. Kim currently serves as President of Hi3, Inc., a consulting company, and as Chairperson of the Korean American Heritage Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting Korean American history and cultural heritage.
Throughout his career, Mr. Kim has demonstrated a strong commitment to community service, organizational leadership, and the preservation of Korean American heritage. His leadership experience and dedication to public service make him a valuable addition to the Board of Directors of the Ryu Family Foundation.
Sungja Chang, Director
Sungja Chang is a longtime supporter of the Ryu Family Foundation and has served the Foundation alongside her late husband, Rev. Chang, for more than a decade. Their unwavering commitment, generosity, and dedication have helped advance the Foundation's mission and preserve the legacy of its founder.
Rev. Chang faithfully served as Pastor of the Korean Methodist Church & Institute in New York City from 2005 to 2012. Prior to his ministry in New York, he served congregations in Seoul, South Korea, as well as in Madison, Wisconsin, and New Jersey. Throughout their years of ministry, Mrs. Chang was an active partner in supporting their church communities and charitable endeavors.
Mrs. Chang continues this legacy of service through her commitment to the Ryu Family Foundation. Her faith, compassion, and longstanding dedication to the Korean American community make her a valued member of the Foundation's Board of Directors.
Daniel Suh, Director
Daniel is one of the late chairman's many grandchildren and has been a lifelong recipient of Jae Doo and Bong Hwang Ryu's wisdom and support. He received his B.S. in Biology from Pepperdine University and is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Georgia studying the ecology and evolution of infectious diseases. As a board member, Daniel helps to organize the selection committee and application review process for the SeolBong scholarship.
FOUNDATION BACKGROUND
Jaedoo Ryu, founder and late Chairman of Pro Line Manufacturing Company, founded the Ryu (유) Family Foundation in December of 1994, using a significant portion of his personal fortune. From its inception, the foundation's mission was to provide scholarships to hard-working disadvantaged Korean-Americans. The late Chairman Ryu had a lifelong vision to give back to the Korean-American community by helping Korean-Americans to fulfill their dreams through higher education.
The late Chairman Ryu had four primary motives for establishing this foundation. They are:
1) The late Chairman Ryu wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father who built a school in Youngduk (영덕) County of North Kyungsang Province(경상북도) in South Korea. His father taught all the children in the Ryu family and the other children in the village as well. He also provided financial assistance to students who wanted to pursue higher education.
2) When the late Chairman Ryu was a student in Japan during the last few years of World War II, he endured economic hardship and had to work to pay off educational and his personal expenses. The late Chairman never forgot how challenging those times were for him, and one of his lifelong goals was to help young students to overcome their own economic hardships.
3) The late Chairman Ryu saw that many Korean immigrant parents had strong desires to have their children attend prestigious colleges, but struggled to provide the financial support to make that possible for them. He witnessed that many students had to defer their pursuit of study due to financial difficulties.
4) The late Chairman Ryu believed that attaining higher education was of utmost importance to Korean immigrants who lived in a country where racial equality is as of yet an ideal rather than a reality. He believed that higher education provides young Korean Americans with the advanced knowledge and technical skills to succeed in society even when they may have a disadvantage financially or socially.
The late Chairman Ryu founded the Ryu Family Foundation with the vision of supporting and inspiring Korean-American students in their pursuit of higher education. Following his passing, we remain committed to growing and expanding the Foundation while staying true to his motives and objectives. Our mission is to empower people through his philosophy - "Live honestly, work diligently; nourishing credibility. People and money will follow you naturally. Credibility is the bloodline of life."