The New York Korean Film Festival was created by Korean Film Forum and Subway Cinema in 2001. In 2002, the Korean Film Forum took over full responsibility for the New York Korean Film Festival, while Subway Cinema focused on the creation of the New York Asian Film Festival.
The Korean Film Forum was constructed by seven Korean students, five from New York University and two from Columbia University. The original members were KWON Jae-Hyun, SHIM Bo-Seon, OK Hye-Ryung, CHOI Jee-Won, CHUNG Jae-Yup, JEONG Min-Ah, and NOH Kwang-Woo.
As members left to further their studies and careers, newcomers of various backgrounds filled their positions. From 2002 to 2004, the following people joined the organization: CHOE BoYun, YANG Ji-Hyun, PARK Sueyoung, CHO Yoon-Jeong, SONG Ki-Won, Albert Lee, Mike Cho, CHOI Sung-Oh, LEE Su-Kil, KIM Min-Hyang, KIM Hye-Won, and CHOI JEONG-Hee.
From 2004 to 2005, the New York Korean Film Festival was run by Media Bank, a group that evolved out of the Korean Film Forum.
Beginning in 2006, Korea Society took over responsibility for the festival.
The festival screens about 15 movies, chosen both for their box office success, and for their appropriateness to each year's chosen theme. Screenings are held in both Manhattan and Brooklyn.