The Center for Korean Studies is pleased to announce the establishment of the ‘Timothy I. and Miriam K. Wee Memorial Endowment’ thanks to a generous donation from Steven and Sylvia Wee. The purpose of this Fund is to support the initiatives and activities of the Center for Korean Studies (“Center”) at the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Arts, Languages, & Letters. Funds may be used for, but not limited to, major research, educational, and outreach initiatives of the Center, basic institutional needs of the Center, ongoing Center faculty activities, and other needs as determined by the Center Director.

Dr. Timothy Insun Wee was a prominent community member in Hawaii. He was born in Ewa to parents who immigrated from Korea to Hawaii over a century ago. After graduating from McKinley High School, he left the islands to attend university and graduated from Northwestern University School of Medicine. In 1935, he returned to the islands and set up his medical practice in Wahiawa. In 1937, he married Miriam Kang, a librarian at the Library of Hawaii.

Dr. Wee was a member of the American Medical Association, Hawaii Medical Association, the Chamber of Commerce, the Korean Community Council, and a commissioner of the Hawaii Housing Authority. He participated in the 1966 US Army Friendship Mission to Korea. Dr. and Mrs. Wee were active in many community organizations, including the Wahiawa Lions Club (charter member) Wahiawa Lioness and the Wahiawa Hospital Association/Auxiliary. They supported the Korean-American community through memberships in the Tae Guk Club, the Korean American Club, and the Korean University Club and were early supporters of the Center for Korean Studies.

We are deeply grateful to the Wee family for choosing the Center for Korean Studies for this Endowment.