From War Refugee to Biochemist to … Tap Dancer! Meet Helen Kim
Helen Kim, PhD, is the President of the AL Asian Cultures Foundation, a retired associate professor at UAB, a cancer survivor, and took up tap dancing at age 70. Get to know this formidable FACE of Birmingham! Image: Helen Kim
After her family endured a harrowing journey to the United States at the start of the Korean War, Helen Kim, PhD, worked hard to assimilate into American life. After retiring from a successful career as both a biochemist and an associate professor at UAB, she now serves as the President of the Alabama Asian Cultures Foundation (AACF), and was named an Alabama Top 50 over 50 for her work honoring and celebrating Asian-Alabamians. Helen’s remarkable life story is one of determination and grit. Get ready to be inspired!
Your family fled South Korea at the onset of the Korean War when you were just a little girl. Can you share what you remember from that time?
My family’s story of coming to the U.S. sounds like a Netflix series, and in truth, I don’t remember all of it — but it was pretty harrowing. I was just a toddler when my mom, baby brother, and I rode facedown on top of a freight train to escape the communist forces overtaking Seoul during the Korean War. We left with nothing but the clothes on our backs.
Meanwhile, my father was in the States as an exchange grad student. When he heard that Seoul had been overtaken, he rushed home and, by some miracle, found us staying with acquaintances in Pusan. Keep in mind, this was long before the internet and smartphones. The next thing we knew, we were in Alexandria, Virginia, I was enrolled in an American school, and the rest is history.
On top of all of that, you also battled late-stage stomach cancer. How has that experience shaped you?
Yes, I almost died from late-stage stomach cancer before a combination of surgery and chemotherapy jerked me back from the edge. Surviving that changed me; I left my first husband of 19 years — something I doubt I would have done before the cancer. I remarried a fellow scientist, Stephen Barnes. We’ve been married 30 years. After retiring, I became immersed in leading the nonprofit Alabama Asian Cultures Foundation.
Can you tell us about the Alabama Asian Cultures Foundation and how you first got involved?
The AACF was founded by Bob Davis in 2005. I got involved in 2010 when I attended their annual festival, and saw all these Chinese silk scarves lying on the merchandise table, not selling. I took one out of the plastic packaging, noticed how exquisite it was, and showed it to another shopper. In one hour, I had sold 15 scarves! I eventually accepted an invitation to join the board, and I have not looked back.
In my 12 years as president, I’ve figured out that my strength is bringing people together and making things happen. However, I don’t have a fundraising bone in my body, and I know the time is coming to give the reins to a young, fresh mind.
What initiatives is the AACF currently working on?
Our mission is to build an Asian cultural education center, preferably with an adjacent Chinese garden. In the meantime, we raise interest by hosting festivals that celebrate Asian cultures.
Recently, we have successfully collaborated with other organizations, notably the Birmingham Museum of Art, to host Asian heritage festivals. But we want to get back to hosting our own annual festivals, in part to generate revenue for the cultural center, but also to give us the freedom to showcase Birmingham’s fabulous Asian vendors and restaurants.
Our motto is ‘unity in diversity.’ We believe there is peace of mind in people from different backgrounds and cultures coming together and engaging in common activities like eating, gardening, basket weaving, or dancing. Through our events, we strive to broaden our sense of community beyond close family and friends.
What can we expect from the AACF’s role in the upcoming FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour?
We were invited by Coca-Cola and the Birmingham Legion professional soccer team to recruit Asian artists and vendors for a mini-international festival at Protective Stadium on May 7, 2026, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., to promote the upcoming World Cup.
As the tour name implies, the World Cup Trophy will be on display. It promises to be an exciting afternoon for the whole family. It falls on a weekday, but how many chances do you get to see a kaleidoscope of Asian artistry and merchandise for free?!
You also recently participated in the ROAR Korean storytelling competition in NYC. How did it go?
I was one of six finalists at the 2026 ROAR Story Slam hosted by Korean American Story in New York City. I incorporated some of my dramatic family background into my story and was surprised by how many people offered positive feedback, especially older Korean Americans, who said my story really resonated with them. I didn’t make the podium, but I wouldn’t have traded the experience for anything.
What is one thing people are surprised to learn about you?
I’m a tap dancer! I started at age 70, taking classes with the Alabama Ballet. I just survived my third recital.
What do you like to do in your free time?
Play with baby seeds and dirt, and watch Netflix with my husband. Aside from that, my greatest pleasure in life is my grandchildren, Henry (9) and Ramona (6).
Before they came along, I thought a lot about what my legacy might be as both a scientist and as the leader of a nonprofit. But material accomplishments pale compared with the unpredictable delight I derive from my grandchildren. People ask me how I stay so young. They’re the reason!
Who or what is inspiring you right now?
Local ballerinas who do triple pirouettes like it’s nothing.
What is your best piece of advice?
Don’t just go with the flow. Make your own waves.
Lightning Round!
Last delicious local meal? Dolsot Bibimbap at Seoul Restaurant
Favorite place to vacation? This is dangerous territory. My favorite vacation partner is my husband, but while I love the beach, he burns just thinking about the word “sun.” So we go to the beach and enjoy the beach and surf from dusk on. We both love seafood and waking up to the surf.
Your go-to gift to give? Korean Asian pear with a slice of my Korean fruitcake, which I’ve managed to master, following my mom’s recipe.
Book(s) on your bedside table? Always a Sudoku book, usually a Food & Wine magazine with favorite recipes dog-eared, and maybe a Rosalind Pilcher novel. My project this year is re-learning Korean and reading Ben Howe’s My Korean Deli in Korean.
Three things you can’t live without? Bulgogi Kimchi Fried Rice, a spade and handfuls of seeds, and beautiful yarn from fabulous places around the world. I like to stare at it and dream about what I’m going to knit when I grow up.
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Katie Leigh Matthews
A Birmingham native, Katie is a lifelong waterfall chaser and is passionate about the outdoors. She also loves connecting with remarkable women in the Birmingham community and bringing their stories to life. Katie has been writing professionally for over six years; you can find more of her work at Moms.com and Islands.com.