ABOUT
I fix what people forget.
Clogged drains. Abandoned dogs. The small stuff no one sees — until it becomes a big problem.
I’m Haram Kim, an 9th grader at Rectory School who builds robots, plays ice hockey, and runs two nonprofits before I can legally drive. But here’s the thing: I didn’t start any of this to pad a résumé. It started with a flood. In 2022, people died in Gangnam because the drains were clogged — with cigarette butts. That felt absurd. So I started cleaning storm drains with a group I founded called GGTO (Guardians of the Globe: The Rabbits). We got funding from Yongsan District to make and distribute cigarette butt collectors. Now I’m bringing the same concept to Connecticut — different debris, same mission. Then came the dogs. In Korea, thousands of shelter dogs are euthanized every year because there aren’t enough adopters. I started Doggy Wings to coordinate flight volunteers who escort rescue dogs to families abroad. I’ve done two transports myself (with my parents, since minors can’t fly solo). Now I’m pushing for policy changes and recruiting adult volunteers to scale it.
What Drives Me
I notice the things people walk past. The drain no one checks. The dog no one claims. The small failure that becomes a disaster. I’m not trying to save the world. I’m just trying to fix what’s in front of me — before it breaks.
Quick Facts
– Hometown: Seoul, Korea
– Current School: Rectory School, Pomfret, CT (9th Grade)
– Instruments: French Horn
– Sports: Ice Hockey, Soccer, Baseball
– Languages: Korean (native), English
What I'm Working On Now
– Expanding GGTO’s drain-cleaning program to U.S. campuses
– Building a volunteer network for Doggy Wings with college students
– Competing in VEX IQ Robotics (2025 CT State Championship: 9th place)
– Practicing French horn and pretending I don’t miss Korean food
