John Paik (SongYin), a Korean-American male, grew up in San Francisco, CA, and Seoul/Daejon in the Republic of Korea. (South Korea) John pursued in the fields of advertisement and international studies before being called as a minister.

He is ordained as a Presbyterian minister in the PCUSA. During his theological studies, John was called into chaplaincy and clinical pastoral education following his wife’s illness and discovering his son’s disability. He has served Korean-American congregations as an English Ministry director/educator and worked as a chaplain intern/resident at Northside hospital, staff chaplain at Agape Hospice and as an ACPE Certified Educator Candidate (CEC) at the VA Healthcare System in Atlanta, GA, CPE Center of California in Fresno, CA, CHRIS180 in Atlanta, GA and currently continuing his CEC training as the Supervisor of Clinical Pastoral Education at Northside Hospital Gwinnett, Lawrenceville, GA.

John is a veteran who served in the ROK Air Force, was a barber for two years during his service, married to Shinae Kim and a father of their son, Kevin. The newest family member is a two-year-old Golden Retriever, May.

Education

Union Theological Seminary, New York, NY
DMin in Spiritual Care Education and Leadership 2023

Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, GA
ThM 2018 in Pastoral Care & Counselling and MDiv 2015

University of Denver, Denver, CO – Josef Korbel School of International Studies
MA 2011 International Studies

Hannam University, Deajon, South Korea
BA 2008 Politics, Communication, and International Studies