In Work and Life, NYC Agent Catherine Park Puts Community First

By Grace Cassidy Growing up in Miami, Catherine Park learned from a young age about the importance of being a builder of community. Her Korean-born parents, who had immigrated to the United States in the late 1960s and met in Los Angeles before moving to South Florida, were pillars of the local Korean community. In addition to being active members of Miami’s Korean American Chamber of Commerce and Korean Association, they helped found the Korean American Catholic Church there. “It was important to my parents that we be helpers in our community and to others,” Park said. “I learned by osmosis early on, and I hope the same for my children and that our family’s future generations continue to pay it forward.” That spirit of giving back is a core tenet of her work at Douglas Elliman, where she has been a New York City-based agent for nearly 10 years. Park began her real estate career in 2004 after working in merchandising and public relations, most recently for Tiffany & Co. “I wanted fulfilling work that gave me the flexibility to be the present and involved mother I wanted to be,” she said. As a real estate agent, Park has represented homes throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn, mostly working by referral. Having lived in Manhattan for 30 years, she provides clients with an intimate knowledge of neighborhoods and lifestyles in the boroughs. This first-hand experience has led to a successful resale and new development career, representing a variety of residences at every price point. “One of my strengths is that I truly live, work and play in New York City and have intimate insights about pretty much every different neighborhood,” she said. Along with giving her flexibility for family time, Park’s work as an agent enables her to dedicate much time and energy to various charitable organizations, including the Korean American Community Foundation (KACF) and the Korean American Family Service Center (KAFSC) . In December of 2023, she served as a sponsor for KACF’s inaugural Women’s Luncheon . Catherine Park (center) at KACFi’s inaugural Women’s Luncheon, Dec. 1, 2023, in NYC. Women make up the majority of KACF’s community beneficiaries, and nearly 80 percent of their grantee partner organizations are led by women. The Women’s Luncheon, an extension of KACF’s Giving Summit, celebrated Korean-American women who give back to their communities and featured speakers including Lina Lee , co-founder and executive director of Communities Resist, Julia Riew , a composer-lyricist who sought to create the first Korean Disney princess, and Sarah Paiji Yoo , co-founder of Blueland. Having been involved with KACF’s first Giving Summit, Park “saw the concept for the luncheon being incubated many years ago.” Organized around the theme “Giving Reimagined,” the event sold out in less than a month and drew some 200 attendees. “I am particularly proud and happy to have seen the luncheon come to fruition, and that I got to be a part of it.” For Park, serving real estate clients draws on the same sense of empathy and impulse to help people that inspire her community work. “I have always loved helping people, and being a real estate broker is an extension of that,” she said. “Even after all these years, it really makes me happy to find my client the perfect home —the satisfaction is similar to the high of volunteering. I always get more out of volunteering than I give. It has really grounded me and taught me perspective and gratitude, and I thank my parents for that.”