About Me

I'm not sure why you want to know about me.
But for whatever reason, I'm flattered you are curious. 

Beginning....

I was born in Korea in 1968.  My parents and I came to the U.S. in 1970 so my father could do his MBA in finance.  My birth name was Ki-Kang (기강).  But my friends in kindergarten called me "King Kong."  So, my mother started calling me "Kenny" and she made everyone else do so as well. 

Growing up....

I grew up in California, Missouri, Kansas, and then mostly Michigan.  My folks still live there.  And yes, I am a Detroit Lions fan.  So, feel sorry for me. 

I also, without knowing it at the time, learned and thought about corporate governance at a very young age.  My father used to take me to Kmart and told me he owned the store.  It seemed so weird to me.  A regular guy like my dad can be a part-owner of a major, national, department store chain?  How can this work?  It actually doesn't work that well (see my corporate governance page).  A little side note: For sentimental reasons, Kmart stock was the very first one I purchased when I opened my online trading account many years ago.  The stock subsequently went to zero some years later when Kmart declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. 

I was sworn in as a U.S. citizen in 1985, in the world's largest swearing-in ceremony of U.S. citizens ever.  Really.  It's in the Guinness Book of World Records.  I was sworn in by Ronald Reagan.

College....

You can visit my education page if you want to learn more about my educational background.

Hobbies....

I like to read.  Fiction, magazines, and newspapers.  I'm a health nut and a news junkie.  I watch CNN every morning, and I check the CNN website several times during the day.  As for fiction, Haruki Murakami is currently my favorite author.  His stuff is a pure pleasure to read.  For example, "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle" and "Kafka on the Shore."  Wow. 

I'm also physically active.  I try to work out regularly.  I also like playing all kinds of sports, but gave up golf not too long ago.

Wine used to be a major hobby.  I say "used to" because it's such an expensive hobby to maintain. 

I used to trade pretty actively too.  But the 1997 crash, then the internet bubble burst, followed by all the corporate scandals, and now the subprime crisis, have all left me with a bad taste for investing.  So, I cashed out my online trading account some years ago. 

I like traveling, but I wish there was a way to do it without the actual traveling part.