J Choi

Bilingual U.S.-Korea international business development executive with 15+ years of cross-border experience in business development, institutional partnerships, commercial finance, and executive relationship management. Brings more than seven years of firsthand operating experience in South Korea, where he founded and led a business generating over $800K in annual revenue within three years.

FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR - EDUPEOPLE INC. - INCHEON, KR

(2020 - 2026-07)

Founded and led a U.S.-Korea cross-border organization with responsibility for international business development, institutional partnerships, financial management, staffing, program development, and overall operations.

• Built the organization's operating model, client base, and institutional network and grew annual revenue to more than $800K through new business development, client acquisition, and expansion of long-term relationships.
• Originated opportunities and developed relationships with government-linked organizations, universities, public institutions, nonprofits, and private-sector partners across South Korea and the United States, leading initiatives from initial outreach through agreements, implementation, and follow-up.
• Managed staff, budgets, vendors, executive schedules, international visits, presentations, negotiations, and multi-party projects requiring disciplined coordination across U.S. and Korean stakeholders.
• Developed firsthand knowledge of how Korean organizations assess opportunities, establish trust, navigate internal decision-making, negotiate partnerships, and evaluate engagement with U.S. counterparts.

PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT - EDUPEOPLES CORP. - LOS ANGELES, CA

(2013 - 2019)

Provided strategic consulting, international business development, and partnership support to U.S. and South Korean organizations.

• Developed cross-border initiatives from prospect and stakeholder outreach through needs assessment, proposal development, negotiation, coordination, execution, and long-term relationship management.
• Supported Korean organizations seeking U.S. institutional access and partnerships, translating market needs into practical engagement strategies and building multi-year relationships across both countries.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR - BLOOMFIELD COLLEGE - NJ

(2011 - 2013)

Managed international program development, participant recruitment, institutional partnerships, and academic support in a U.S. higher-education environment.

• Developed and coordinated international partnerships involving university leadership, Korean government and education organizations, schools, nonprofit institutions, and overseas partners.
• Prepared proposals, grant materials, contracts, MOUs, reports, presentations, and briefing materials; coordinated staff, instructors, student workers, and institutional stakeholders.

ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT & LOAN OFFICER - HANA FINANCIAL - LOS ANGELES, CA

(2005 - 2010)

Managed commercial client relationships and performed business, financial, credit, and risk analysis across multiple industries.

• Evaluated financial performance, financing needs, cash flow, creditworthiness, collateral, and business risk for commercial clients, providing practical insight into company growth, investment, and expansion decisions.
• Worked directly with business owners and executives in a Korean-American banking environment and managed ongoing commercial relationships requiring confidentiality, responsiveness, and sound judgment.
• Prepared financial analyses, credit assessments, proposals, and executive briefing materials for management and coordinated documentation required for commercial transactions.

PUBLIC RELATIONS INTERN - AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, KOREA

(2002 - 2003)

Supported U.S.–Korea government and business engagement through market research, events, public relations, and bilingual stakeholder communications.

• Conducted market research on Korean trade, business, financial, and industrial developments and supported U.S. member companies seeking strategic relationships in Korea.

B.S. - ECONOMICS - UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE (2005)

BUSINESS LAW COURSE AT UCLA EXTENSION - UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES, CA (2008 - 2008)

M.A. COURSEWORK IN APPLIED LINGUISTICS - APPLIED LINGUISTICS - COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK, NY (2010 - 2012)