Formed in the wake of the 2016 presidential election, GYOPO was impelled to develop a more vital sense of agency, progress, and connection amongst individuals of the Korean diaspora within and beyond Los Angeles. Since its founding, GYOPO has worked with a range of nonprofit art spaces, cultural institutions, schools, and other venues to organize artist talks, lectures, symposia, and performances by contemporary artists, architects, professors, curators, filmmakers, actors, writers, and other cultural producers, both emerging and internationally renowned. Through diverse programming, GYOPO aims to strike a balance between creating dedicated spaces for “gyopos” (a term in the Korean language that refers to persons of Korean descent who live outside of Korea), and providing free public forums for lively, intergenerational, intersectional, and cross-cultural discussions.

GYOPO offers free, year-round programming for the public that fall under categories such as: critical discourse, artist talks, curator lectures, exhibition walkthroughs, symposiums, traditional focus, film screenings, panel discussions, and workshops. Additionally, GYOPO hosts social events for gyopos and the wider community such as the annual Chuseok fundraiser, GYOPO edition launch, welcome receptions, cultivation gatherings, and volunteer retreats.