Steven Yeun has been named as the honoree of Gyopo’s 7th annual Chuseok Benefit. The Oscar-nominated actor will be presented with the award on Oct. 5 in Los Angeles. Gyopo organizes free arts and culture programs in Los Angeles. It explores diasporic Korean arts and culture to speak about broader social, political, and historical issues. Past honorees of the Chuseok Benefit include chefs Mina Park and Kwang Uh of “Baroo,” Cathy Park Hong and actor Randall Park.
Yoon Ju Ellie Lee, steering committee chair of Gyopo said, “Steven Yeun’s conviction, creativity, boldnessand care as an actor, producer, Angeleno, and diasporic Korean embody some of the most importantvalues that guide Gyopo’s work. His artistry and thoughtfulness inspire us– the characters and roles he has shaped with his own personhood open up many portals into the complexities of diasporic experience. He has also brought dimensionality to films and television dealing with salient issues around race in America such as ‘Nope,’ ‘Minari’ and ‘Beef.’”
The event will be co-hosted by curator Mia Locks and television producer Samie Kim Falvey, and emceed by podcaster SuChin Pak. All proceeds from the benefit are directed to Gyopo’s year-round free public programming and fund theorganization’s mission of generating progressive, critical, intersectional, and intergenerational discoursesand community alliances among diasporic Korean cultural producers and art professionals. The annual benefit takes place in early October, which marks the Korean harvest moon holiday Chuseok. It heralds the beginning of autumn and is a time of coming together to celebrate abundance, express gratitude, and strengthen bonds of solidarity.
Yeun is also known for his roles in “Mickey 17” and “Beef.” As previously announced, the actor joined the cast of Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies’ “The Legend of Aang: The Last Avatar.”