Board of Directors

President and Artistic Director

Mrs. Hyun Suk Heo is the President and Co-Founder of Han Narea, a nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing traditional Korean arts throughout Houston and Texas.

She holds a Master’s degree in Special Education from Hiroshima University and pursued doctoral studies as a PhD candidate. After relocating to Australia, Mrs. Heo worked as a special needs educator, achieving significant improvements in learning outcomes for high-need students.

After moving to the United States, she revived her lifelong dedication to traditional Korean dance, training under Master Kim Myeoseon with a focus on Seung-Mu, a Korean Intangible Cultural Heritage. She also mastered traditional Nongak and serves as President of the Houston Farmer Dance Group.

Co-founding Han Narea with her husband, Mrs. Heo combines artistic excellence with her background in special education to lead inclusive programs for all ages. Under her leadership, Han Narea has expanded performances at Korean Festival Houston (K-Fest), delivered cultural programs in local schools, and supported Korean adoptees and their families.

Vice President

Mr. Jinmoo Heo is the Vice President of Han Narea, bringing extensive expertise in sport management, community event organization, and health promotion to the organization.

He holds a Doctoral degree in Public Health from the School of Public Health at Indiana University. Mr. Heo currently serves as a Professor in the Department of Sport Industry Studies at Yonsei University. Prior to this appointment, he held tenured Associate Professor positions at Texas A&M University in the Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences, and at Indiana University–Indianapolis in the Department of Tourism, Conventions and Event Management.

Mr. Heo serves as Vice President and Competition Committee Chair of the Korea Pickleball Association (대한피클볼협회 부회장, 경기위원장) and as Referee Advisor for the Asia Federation of Pickleball. He is also a USA Pickleball Association Referee and a Professional Pickleball Registry Certified Coach. His research focuses on exploring how sport and leisure improve health and well-being across the lifespan.

Based in South Korea, Mr. Heo serves as Han Narea's liaison for communications and partnerships in Korea, leveraging his academic network and event management experience to strengthen the organization's connection to Korean cultural communities abroad. His expertise in organizing nonprofit community events — including the Brazos Valley Senior Games, College Station Kite Festival, Texas A&M Pickleball Tournament, and Korea Pickleball Festival — further supports Han Narea's cultural programming and outreach.

Secretary and Treasurer

Mr. Chi Vinh Ly is the Secretary, Treasurer, and Co-Founder of Han Narea, bringing extensive corporate leadership, scientific expertise, and project management experience to the organization.

He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Physics and completed his PhD in Geoscience at Hiroshima University. After returning to Australia, Mr. Ly worked across the minerals and mining sector, including research collaborations with CSIRO Australia.

He later transitioned into senior corporate roles, serving as Mineralogy Manager at ALS Metallurgy before relocating to Houston as Operations Manager for CGG. In this role, he oversaw complex well-site projects and ensured the safe deployment and return of field teams.

Mr. Ly currently serves as Product Manager at Bruker BNA, where he leads a global software development team. At Han Narea, he applies his corporate, financial, and project management expertise to support organizational governance, partner collaboration, and the successful execution of cultural programs and performances.