Our mission is to increase awareness in these students by having them directly experience Korea’s cultural heritage and its compelling status as an advanced, high-tech democracy. This first-hand engagement will reinforce the participants’ identity as Korean-Americans by allowing them to better understand, appreciate, and proud of their cultural heritage.

Ultimately, we believe that this program fosters tomorrow’s culturally aware and passionate leaders in the Korean-American community—ones who can powerfully represent the often overlooked aspirations and needs of our community. We want Korean-American youth to never lose sight of their roots, even as they claim their rightful place as Americans.

Although a number of organizations in America offer similar educational trips to Korea, few have lasted as long as KAYAC. For eighteen years, KAYAC has organized and executed the Motherland Excursion Program with consistency and dedication. Each year, we continue to improve on the program while receiving positive feedback and increasing post-trip engagement from both students and parents.