Issue 30: Serving the Komerican Elderly with James Juhn
Caring for first-generation Komericans at the first "Silver Town" in the U.S.
Hello KP! Summer always seems to be a time of transition and growth, whether we’re ready for it or not! In my own life, the care of an elderly relative became a front and center issue this summer, and I cannot help but express my gratitude and enthusiasm for a place and person who has helped us navigate a new normal. Can’t wait for you to check out what James is doing!
With cultural norms and desires shifting for Koreans in the homeland and Komericans here, we’re fortunate to find Eben Silver Town in my own backyard - a beautiful senior living facility that my relative describes as “paradise.” And you know a big factor in that is the most delicious and healthy Korean meals they offer! We all deserve the kind of care and peace of mind that is important to us.
Flavor of the Week: KP Q&A with James Juhn
James is a commercial real estate developer and leader in construction management who has built everything from a boutique hotel in New York City to his latest project, a new senior living facility centering the Komerican elderly here in the U.S. After six years of project and construction management of Eben Silver Town, James is the executive director overseeing operations at this unique 119-unit community outside of Atlanta – to ensure that this stunning physical property is met with the mindful care of an aging population and the spirit of Komerican values and community. Through Eben, James hopes to bring a truly unique offering for multi-generational Komerican families and invites people from all backgrounds to join. Learn more about James and Eben Silver Town in this video and online at ebenst.com.
Introduce yourself more personally in 2-3 sentences.
My name is James Juhn. I am the executive director at Eben Silver Town. We've been working on bringing this Korean-focused senior living facility for the past six to seven years, and we're excited to provide services to the Korean-American Komerican community, as well as to the community at large of Northeast Atlanta.
Where are you from?
I live in Johns Creek right now.
No, where are you REALLY from? Haha!
I am ethnically Korean, but native New Yorker, born and raised in New York City. We moved down here about six years ago for this project. We really didn't envision ourselves living in Atlanta for the long term, we thought we're gonna go back to New York [after this project]. But after living here for a few years, we decided this was a great place to raise our family and to live, and we really don't see how we would live anywhere else in the United States at this point in time.
What’s your sign?
I'm a Sagittarius.
How would you describe yourself in five words?
Oooh, this is hard. Peculiar. Principled. Loyal. Reasonable. I can’t get the last one!
What do you love about being Komerican?
So being Komerican can be very difficult… You could feel kind of insulted when you go to Korea and they don't see you as someone that's Korean, and when you're in America, they don't see you as an American person. And so it can be seen in a poor light. But at the same time that gives us benefits in that we kind of get the best of both worlds. We get to be immersed in both cultures. We we get to identify with other people that are part of this diaspora of being a second-generation “something-American” in the United States, which is very comforting. And it's kind of an exclusive club, in a way, because when we meet other Korean-Americans Komerican, or any other type of second generation American, we can relate to the upbringing that we had.
And of course, what are your favorite Korean foods?
Kalbi, doenjang jigae, Korean ice creams, yogurt too. Like simple stuff. Korean candies were really good growing up, I don't know what they're like now. Kimchi, kejang, kalguksu, naeng myun, so much! There’s so much! All of it is good.
What was your childhood like and what has it taught you?
Childhood was very diverse growing up in New York City. I lived in Queens, so it was a little bit safer than other parts of New York growing up in the 80s and 90s. We had a lot of Asians, we had a lot of Hispanics, we had a lot of whites at the time. We had a lot of blacks as well. We didn't realize that at the time, but it was very nice growing up in that type of environment. I think childhood taught me that people are generally all the same. They all strive for the same things. They all want the same things. Generally speaking, most people want what's good or want to do good in this world. So if you can try to see that in other people, then maybe you can be that person yourself.
Can you share something exciting that you’re working on now?
We're trying to expand and grow the vision we have for Eben through what we offer in activities and community.. So that's been exciting.
On a personal level, just trying to get my kids to be less screen-focused and more focused on other things. So my older kid does Taekwondo and my younger kid does ice hockey. We just want them to be persistent and try hard in what they're doing and learn to give it their best. Working with them has been fun.
What do people underestimate about you?
A lot of people think I am not serious and dumb, because I don't take many things very seriously. I try not to be overly serious about things. And so when people look at me, they think that I'm not going to do the work, or I won't be able to do this or that… But when I do have to do something, when I do work, then obviously I'll rise to the challenge and just do it. But I try not to take things so seriously, because at the end of the day it’s not really that serious.
Share your proudest moment in the past year.
When we opened Eben Silver Town. It was a really big accomplishment for us personally. I might get a little religious or spiritual here, but it wasn't really something that we did. And so thinking that God brought us to this point where we could have this made was a very proud moment. That we were used by God to build this place.
What was your hardest moment in the past year?
Under initial outside management, seeing Eben being operated in a certain way that was not meeting our vision and waiting to see if it could be turned around by other people before we decided to take over daily operations.
We’ve all been hurt in some form or fashion. What are you healing from?
Every day, I'm healing from my wife's playful words about my stinky breath and my inability to keep things clean. So whatever playful jokes that are thrown my way by my wife.
How do you love yourself?
I love myself by letting myself realize that God loves me for who I am. And if he can love me for who I am, then who am I to hate myself for the way I am.
How do you love others?
Similarly speaking, if God loves others then I should try to love them the same way he loves them. It's not always easy, but that's the goal – to just try to love with a deeper love.
What five things can you not live without?
Internet. Phone or some sort of screen. My family. Pizza. Michigan football.
What’s your favorite dance song?
It's been so long since I've danced. Oh! “Apple bottom jeans, boots with the fur” I forgot the name of the song though.
What’s your favorite kind of pie?
Apple pie.
This Q&A took place in person and was recorded, transcribed, and edited for clarity.
Crispy Crust: A Hint of Han - Subversive Poetry that Soothes
Han
it’s strange how things that happened
generations ago
still live in my body today
course through my nerves and veins
throughout my whole family, an entire nation
tiny fires
ready to combust at any moment
the messiness of a life
built upon resentment
my unexplained desire to right the wrongs of life
fight injustice
run from repression and oppression
birth a new story for myself
turn life’s traumas into goldLove, Sarah
Sweet & Salty: The tastiest treats satisfying all the senses
Have you been eating too much naeng myun this summer like I have? There is nothing more refreshing than a cold bowl of mul naeng myun in the summer, right? While we’re scattered all over Komerica, I really must give a shout out to my local ATL spot Sambong NaengMyun, where they make the buckwheat nooodles fresh to order with the chewiness I prefer in this North Korean delicacy. Add the homemade ox bone broth and dongchimi, and I can easily justify the the 35-minute drive up to Duluth for a bowl.
What’s your go-to naeng-myun spot wherever you are? Please share it with us!