JAE-HA KIM

Chicago, IL USA
http://www.jaehakim.com
20 Years Experience

Professional Experience

I'm a syndicated columnist for the Chicago Tribune newspaper group & a New York Times bestselling author. My Rolling Stone article on BTS explored how the chart-topping Korean group has won over fans by speaking out on equality and mental health. I specialize in celebrity interviews, family travel, K-Pop and K-Dramas. A veteran journalist, I work with a pro photographer for my travelogues to turn in copy that's ready to run. CONTACT ME: jae@jaehakim.com

Expertise

Writer 20 YearsReporter 15 YearsBook Author 15 Years

Specialty

Travel 15 YearsEntertainment 20 YearsOther, Specify 17 Years

Industries

Magazine - Large Consumer/National magazines 15 YearsBook Publishing Consumer 15 YearsNewspaper - Local/Regional 15 Years

Media Client List (# assignments last 2 yrs)

  • Chicago Tribune (10+)
  • Los Angeles Times (3-5)
  • Tribune Content Agency (10+)
  • Rolling Stone (10+)

Awards

Two-time Peter Lisagor award winner for excellence in journalism. New York Times bestseller.

Associations

Asian American Journalists Association.

Other Work History

My writing appears in Rolling Stone, Hollywood Reporter and Entertainment Weekly, as well as newspapers such as the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and New York Daily News. I have appeared as a pop culture resource on NBC's “Today,” A&E's "Biography" and E! Entertainment's news specials. As a K-Pop expert, I have been interviewed for outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, Associated Press and (the British glossy) Grazia.

Foreign Language Skills

Conversational Korean.

Work Permits & Visas

I have a valid U.S. passport.

References

Please e-mail me for references.

K-POP

BTS: The World's Most Famous Boy Band
(Chicago Tribune 5/30/2017)
BTS leader RM chats with Jae-Ha Kim about winning a Billboard Music Award and how "Friends" helped him master the English language. Jae-Ha Kim profiles the K-Pop star in the Chicago Tribune.
Tiffany Young Steps Into the Solo Spotlight
(Rolling Stone 6/28/2018)
After opting not to renew her contract with SM Entertainment, Girls' Generation's Tiffany Young moved back to L.A. to launch a solo career. Young talked to Rolling Stone's Jae-Ha Kim about why she made the move and what her song "Over My Skin" represents.
How BTS Are Breaking K-Pop's Biggest Taboos
(Rolling Stone 5/29/2018)
The chart-topping Korean group has spoken out on LGBTQ rights, mental health and more, which distinguishes them from many of their peers. My essay ran in Rolling Stone (and was translated for Rolling Stone Japan).
Monsta X: Doing It For the Monbebes
(Los Angeles Times 7/3/2018)
I.M is used to traveling around the world with his group Monsta X and says he’s excited about returning to the United States, where he spent part of his childhood. “I’m sad we won’t get to play in Boston. But I’m happy we will get to see so many of our American fans.” Jae-Ha Kim profiles the rapper for the Los Angeles Times.

TRAVEL ESSAYS

Family bonds locked in time at Seoul tower
(Los Angeles Times 9/29/2017)
The main characters in television's K-dramas often demonstrate their love by attaching personalized padlocks on a fence on the tower's observation deck. It's a trend well-established in cities such as Paris and Prague, but the tradition has taken on an added dimension in Seoul. The fence has become a popular spot for adoptees and their parents to leave padlocks honoring the day they became a family.
Baby goes to the Bahamas
(New York Post 1/1/2017)
Like most new parents, I had been stressed at the prospect of my first long-distance trip with a toddler. I don't think it's cute when he cries or screams in public; I want him to pipe down just as much as you do, trust me.
Beyond Barbecue and Kimchi
(Orlando Sentinel 6/10/2026)
When I was young, I went through a phase where I hated Korean food. My mother would make fresh, home-cooked meals. And instead of realizing what a treat that was, I would ask why we couldn't just eat TV dinners like all my friends. But these days, there's no cuisine I enjoy more than Korean. And if someone else is willing to cook it for me, all the better! So when my family and I traveled to South Korea in the fall, eating well was a top priority.

ISSUES

Your being white doesn’t make your adopted children white by osmosis
(jaehakim.com 9/23/2017)
Not too long ago, I fell down and ripped the top layer of skin off my knee. As the wound started to heal, the scab, too, started to fall off. But enough of it was still dangling from my knee to be uncomfortable. To many people who don't want to hear about white privilege, I am that scab. My experiences, words and I are annoying reminders that life isn’t always what you want it to be.
Sorry, Sorry
(jaehakim.com 9/29/2017)
• At 4, I wondered what a chink bitch was. • At 5, I came home from kindergarten singing, “Chink-a-chink-a Chinaman, sitting on a fence.” • At 6, I watched in horror as a blond boy called my father a motherfucking gook.
Jeremy Lin Matters to Kyle
(Chicago Tribune 2/15/2012)
After being undrafted and waived by not one, but two, NBA teams last year–Jeremy Lin has become the sport’s latest sensation. And Asian Americans are loving it. Each time Lin shows off his skills on the basketball court or does an on-air interview where—surprise!–he has no accent, he helps Asian Americans get one step closer to being accepted as “real” Americans.