H Mart CEO Kwon Il-Yeon has been inducted into the Asian Hall of Fame (AHF), which honors the achievements of outstanding Asian figures.
The AHF announced its 2025 inductees at the “California Icons Gala” held on May 1 at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown LA, marking Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. This year’s class includes 15 individuals and organizations chosen from a pool of 613 candidates.
The AHF described Kwon, founder of the largest Asian supermarket chain in the United States, as “a true model of the American Dream,” highlighting his success in expanding H Mart from a single store in 1982 into a nationwide chain.
Other notable inductees include Lee Soo-Man, former chairman of SM Entertainment, and Lee So-Yeon, Korea’s first astronaut. After leaving SM in 2023, Lee Soo-Man founded A20 Entertainment in the Chinese market and recently launched a new girl group. His documentary, Lee Soo-Man: K-Pop Emperor, will premiere on Amazon Prime on May 13.
The 2025 class also features:
- Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA
- Fiona Ma, California State Treasurer
- Michelle Kwan, Olympic figure skating medalist and former U.S. ambassador to Belize
- Yao Ming, Basketball Hall of Famer
- Yoshiki, leader of Japanese rock band X Japan
- William Wang, founder of Vizio
- Herb and Bui Simon, co-owners of the Indiana Pacers
- The Shah family, founders of charity MSI International
- Roman Gabriel Jr., legendary NFL quarterback
- The Valbuena family, leaders of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
A standout on the list is Studio Ghibli, the famed Japanese animation studio led by Hayao Miyazaki. Studio Ghibli has seen renewed attention recently as AI tools like ChatGPT popularized transforming photos into “Ghibli style” images.
Founded in 2004, the AHF is dedicated to preserving Asian community heritage. This year marks its 21st induction ceremony. In 2023, Eva Chow, a Korean American businesswoman and trustee of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)—also known for founding premium soju brand Kisoju—was among the honorees.
The AHF also runs programs promoting intergenerational opportunities, including academic scholarships, trauma recovery support, and cultural heritage education.
To qualify for induction, candidates must have at least 25% heritage from one of the 33 Asian countries, including Indigenous and Eskimo ancestry.
The induction ceremony is scheduled for November 1 at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown LA. Tickets are not available to the general public and are reserved for inductees and sponsors.
BY WONHEE CHO [cho.wonhee@koreadaily.com]
