OUR TEAM
US HEADQUARTERS
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM
Hannah Song
President / CEO
Hannah joined LiNK in 2006 as Deputy Director, managing day-to-day operations and coordinating overseas programs including underground shelters, fact-finding missions and refugee resettlement. At the end of 2008 she became President and Chief Executive Officer, managing the organization from their headquarters office in Southern California. Along with her exceptional staff, together they work to redefine public perception on North Korea, provide protection and direct assistance to North Korean refugees, and create strategies to empower the North Korean people to accelerate change inside the country.
Prior to joining LiNK, Hannah worked in advertising at OgilvyOne and Mindshare focusing on digital media and emerging technologies. In 2009, she was selected to be a NetKAL fellow at the University of Southern California’s School of Social Work.
Justin Wheeler
Vice President
Justin is Vice President of LiNK and oversees all global awareness and grassroots efforts. His vision is to shift public perception on North Korea away from the politics and onto the people. Through innovative campaigns and programs, he hopes to engage people around the world and offer direct and meaningful ways to impact this issue.
Justin brings incredible passion to the team and utilizes his prior experience in grassroots campaigns and student mobilization from his time working at Invisible Children, a non-profit organization that documents stories about war-affected children in east Africa.
INTERNAL OPERATIONS
Amiee Kim
Recruitment Manager / HR
Amiee is a Southern Californian native and UCLA graduate in International Development. She put her degree to use working in public health in Ghana and in Washington, DC until LiNK brought her back to her hometown of Torrance, CA. She now works to sustain LiNK’s dynamic work culture and dreams up new ways to recruit other talented, bright, and tenacious individuals to this important cause.
Andrew Quan
Donor Relations Manager
A Los Angeles native, Andrew first learned of the North Korea crisis through attending a documentary screening hosted by the LiNK UCLA Rescue Team. He felt undeniably compelled to act. Shortly after graduating with a BA in Sociology he toured with LiNK as a nomad. Now he enjoys the opportunity to foster relationships with LiNK’s donors, connecting them with LiNK’s work and communicating the impact they are making. He also creates and implements strategies to expand LiNK’s donor base and empower more people with an opportunity to support this crucial work.
MOVEMENT
Sarah Palmer
Rescue Team Coordinator
Sarah was born and raised in Dallas, TX and graduated from the University of San Diego with a degree in International Relations. She has experience as a former Rescue Team leader, chapter intern and Northeast Nomad. Sarah now serves as a liaison between LiNK and Rescue Teams worldwide. She equips LiNK’s grassroots teams with fundraising ideas, guidance, and resources that help them reach their goals of rescuing North Korean refugees and shifting public perception on North Korea in their local communities.
Chelsea Quinn
Tour Manager
Chelsea joined the staff in May of 2011 after previously touring as a Nomad. She holds a bachelors degree in Psychology from the University of South Florida. Simply put, Chelsea does all things related to tours… from training Nomads to ensuring all routes are booked successfully, she helps to grow the program by implementing new outreach strategies and building relationships with contacts all over North America. Chelsea also builds and maintains LiNK’s tour contact database and oversees all financial reporting from tours.
Susie DiLauria
Regional Manager
Susie is LiNK’s resident New Yorker and UW Badger. Her spirit for adventure and passion for justice led her to the Nomadship in the fall of 2011. In her current position as Regional Manager, Susie works to ensure that Nomads are prepared and inspired to be great representatives of LiNK and the North Korea crisis while on tour. Susie manages the Southeast, Northeast and Heartland regions.
Colby Carter
Regional Manager
Colby was raised in Southern California, and received her undergraduate degree in the social sciences from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Upon graduation, she pioneered the Pacific Northwest route as a Nomad for LiNK and now works as a Regional Manager, equipping, guiding and supporting Nomads through their time on the road. Colby manages the CalWest and Pacific Northwest regions.
CREATIVE
Tony Sasso
Creative Director
Tony Sasso comes from Florida and lives in a world of ideas, colors and shapes. As creative director, Tony oversees all print and web projects, and also works with each department to innovate and keep the ideas flowing! Since joining the team, Tony has helped to re-brand and lead the organization’s efforts in visually redefining North Korea.
Nick Leonard
Graphic Designer
Nick graduated with his BFA in graphic design at Andrews University. Upon graduating he wanted to better the world with what he learned in design. He found his way over to LiNK and started off as a Northeast nomad, later joining staff and using his incredible talent to work on LiNK’s web and print design.
US RESETTLEMENT
Lina Kim
US Resettlement Manager
Lina joined LiNK with years of experience in the non-profit sector, specializing in program development and helping individuals facing great challenges in life. As US Resettlement Manager, Lina is dedicated to developing LiNK’s U.S. Resettlement Assistance Program, and empowering North Korean refugees resettling in America with information, resources and services.
SOUTH KOREA OFFICE
RESEARCH & STRATEGY
Sokeel Park
Director of Research & Strategy
Sokeel joined LiNK after a nomadic wander through London, Seoul and New York, including stints working in the South Korean Government, the United Nations, and diplomatic consultancy, Independent Diplomat. His desire to work for the North Korean people brought him to LiNK, where he now leads all research and strategy work – keeping staff informed on developments in North Korea, liaising with media and external groups, and developing LiNK’s strategy and approach towards the issue.
ROK RESETTLEMENT
Young Bae
ROK Resettlement Manager
Young is originally from South Korea, however, was raised both in Britain and South Korea. She studied music at Yonsei University, finished her MA in Cultural Management at City University, London, and then returned to Korea to work as an Assistant Artistic Director with Setnet School, an alternative school for North Koreans. Young joined LiNK in 2012 with the hope to support and empower North Korean refugees living in South Korea.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
PROTECTION OFFICERS
LiNK Protection Officers are among many of the unsung heroes working in the underground today, often working in difficult conditions and challenging environments. Faced with atypical duties and demanding responsibilities, they provide protection, assistance, education, and hope to the North Koreans they serve. Because of security reasons and the extra-legal nature of LiNK’s operations on the ground, we do not reveal the identities of our Protection Officers.
