Pastor Young-Mee is appointed to Hinsdale UMC in July 2019 after six years of service as District Superintendent working with sixty-six churches in DeKalb District. Her previous ministry experience includes eight years as the lead pastor Oak Park First UMC, two years as an associate pastor at Dixon First UMC, and two years of internship at Evanston First UMC.

It was in her early teen years that Pastor Young-Mee heard God’s call the first time. Yet, back then, she did not pay much attention to it. While committed to following Jesus and pursing God’s plan, she did not think that becoming a pastor was necessarily a part of that plan. So, seeking further education and life experience, she went to France and obtained a BA, an MA, and a PhD degrees in Linguistics there. Then, she returned to Korea, her home country, and taught at both undergraduate and graduate levels. After a decade of teaching and taking advantage of her husband’s sabbatical, she came to the United States and went to Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. It was still not with a clear intention to become a pastor, but rather because she had so many questions about life of faith. Even so, her first year of seminary was such a liberating and empowering experience for her (this is when she heard God’s call a second time after some thirty years from the first call!) that she decided to complete the Master of Divinity course and enter ministry. And, here she is, a second career clergywoman deeply in love with God and with God’s church in all its beauty and brokenness!  

Having been in many different places linguistically, culturally, and theologically, Pastor Young-Mee is passionate about meeting people where they are and as they are and bringing them closer to God and to each other, thereby building an authentic community of faith. She is a firm believer in full inclusion of all God’s children and is committed to living out United Methodist call to “Open Hearts, Open Minds, and Open Doors.” Her personal mission statement is to stay open and curious and to live each moment fully, freely, and joyfully, alert to God’s presence and movement within and without.

Pastor Young-Mee is an avid learner who enjoys traveling, hiking, and reading. She is married to Rev. Dr. Sang Hyeon Yoo, and together, they are proud parents of two wonderful adult children, Ihwan and Eunhwan.

Pastor Young-Mee may be reached at youngmee.park@hinsdaleumc.com.