Melissa Kim

Melissa’s background in the media industry has led her from casting and independent film production to journalism, a start-up web publisher abroad, and international television distribution. Through her previous roles, she has had the opportunity to create and manage content in various forms - from website, social media, and newsletter publishing to video interviews, documentary filmmaking, podcast production, and traditional print media.

Her work as a journalist has featured Asian American artists and filmmakers and Korean entertainment at events like SXSW, Sundance, and the Hawai‘i International Film Festivals for publications including NBC News Asian America, Character Media, and Koreanfilm.org.  She also co-produces a podcast called Kdrama Reports, which features coverage of Korean television and films with news, interviews, and discussions on culture.

While completing her M.A. in Asian Studies at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Melissa’s graduate research focused on Korean Studies and examined South Korea’s independent film movement, the politics of pop culture for Korean cultural exports in China, and the impact of Korean television dramas on the American distribution market.