Chloe Kim’s parents, Boran and Jong Jin Kim, are a major part of the Olympic star’s historic career. Chloe has often pointed to her family’s Korean roots as one of the reasons the snowboarder is proud to compete on the global stage.
Prior to the Olympics, Chloe posted a lengthy heartfelt message about her parents’ journey to the United States from South Korea. Chloe was born in Long Beach, Calif., and grew up in Torrance, Calif.
“My parents left South Korea in search of a better future for their family,” Chloe noted in a February 6, 2026, Instagram post. “They left behind everything they knew so that my sisters and I could have the chance to one day live the American dream. Their sacrifice is one I will never take for granted.
“So when I stand at the top of the halfpipe, competing on the biggest stage in sport, I do so with immense pride. I am representing my country but I am also representing those who took a leap of faith, who came to this beautiful nation carrying hopes, dreams, and courage,” Chloe continued.
“I am proud of my heritage. I am proud of my journey. And I am proud to represent a country that is strongest when it embraces diversity, dignity, and hope. GO TEAM USA!! ❤️🤍💙”
Here’s what you need to know about the Kim family.
Chloe Kim’s Dad Jong Jin Kim Came to the United States From South Korea With $800
Chloe’s parents’ journey is a story of inspiration, beginning with her dad Jong Jin. The snowboarder’s father immigrated to Los Angeles with just $800, calling the United States a “dream country” during a 2018 interview with ESPN’s Alyssa Roenigk.
“Before the Olympics became Chloe Kim’s goal, her father came to the U.S. with his own hopes,” Roenigk wrote in a February 6, 2018, feature titled, “Snowboard phenom Chloe Kim has a lot riding on the Winter Olympics.” “In 1982, 26-year-old Jong Jin Kim arrived at LAX, on the only direct flight to the States he could afford, in search of opportunity. ‘It was a dream country,’ he says, ‘a totally different world.’
“With $800 and an English-Korean dictionary, Jong purchased a 1970 Nova, bought a carton of Kent cigarettes and paid $150 for a one-week stay at a hotel,” Roenigk added.
“… He landed jobs as a dishwasher at a burger joint and a cashier at a liquor store, where he practiced English with customers. After a few years, he enrolled in college and eventually earned a degree in manufacturing engineering technology.”
Jong Jin met Chloe’s mom Boran in Switzerland before the couple moved to the United States.
Chloe Kim on Immigration Debate in the United States: ‘We Need to Lead With Love & Compassion’
Chloe has used her platform to encourage Americans to unite and expressed support for American freeskier Hunter Hess amid recent backlash. The snowboarder also has a unique perspective as the daughter of immigrants.
“My parents being immigrants from Korea, this one definitely hits pretty close to home,” Chloe explained, per the Associated Press. “I’m really proud to represent the United States.
“The U.S. has given my family and I so much opportunity, but I also think that we are allowed to voice our opinions of what’s going that we need to lead with love and compassion.”
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