Chang K. Park is the founder and CEO of Universal Remote Control, a New York company that designs and manufactures remote controls for televisions and other household and office appliances. The initial beginnings of his company took place in his sister’s garage in Korea. ^{1 2}

Park is also the founder and sole board member of the left-of-center Chang K. Park Foundation and a member of the national governing body of the left-of-center election administration-policy group Common Cause, a board member of Bread for the World, and board member of the left-of-center Union Theological Seminary. ³

Park immigrated to the United States from South Korea to pursue his higher education and subsequently graduated with two B.S. degrees from Michigan Technological University in engineering and engineering administration and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. ⁴

Background

Chang K. Park is the founder and CEO of Universal Remote Control Inc. (URCI), an Upstate New York company founded in 1991 that initially designed and manufactured home theater remote controls for major television set manufacturers and television cable providers. ^{5 6}

URCI, under Park’s leadership, expanded its product line to include remote controls that could be used with all remote-controlled television brands under Universal Remote branding and has added controls for audio, television, temperature, security, and lighting for both residential and commercial uses. ⁷

A private company, URCI does not release its financial information publicly. Third parties have estimated annual sales of between $10.24 and $91.3 million with 60 to 139 employees. ^{8 9}

Park was born in South Korea and immigrated to the United States by himself as a teenager and pursued higher education as his way forward. He is a graduate of Michigan Technological University with double degrees in engineering and engineering administration and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. ¹⁰

Park’s previous experience included work for an engineering consulting company reviewing mass transit systems, including the Washington Metro and California’s Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), and with J.P. Morgan in international finance. ¹¹

Outside Activities

Park founded the Chang K. Park Foundation in 2008 with the intent of supporting human rights, eliminating poverty and hunger, producing economic equal outcomes, and political reform. Grants to left-wing organizations include left-of-center Inequality Media, led by Robert Reich, Secretary of Labor in the Clinton administration, and left-wing Common Cause Education Fund. ¹²

Park is a member of the board of left-of-center Bread for the World, a Christian organization advocating for the end of hunger in the world. ¹³

He is also a member of the national governing board of left-wing Common Cause an organization that supports vote-by-mail, automatic voter registration, the end of the Senate filibuster, elimination of the Electoral College, and the end of voter ID nationally. ¹⁴

Park is a member of the board of the Union Theological Seminary, a New York-based left-of-center institution of religious education that combines religion and activism for social change for a cadre of 266 students. ¹⁵

Awards

Park was awarded Custom Electronics Design and Installation (CEDIA) Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016 for his outstanding creative, innovative, and visionary long-term contributions to the residential technology industry. ¹⁶

1. “Chang K. Park.” Michigan Technological University. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://www.mtu.edu/ece/department/alumni/academy/chang-park.html.
2. “About Us.” URC Automation, September 17, 2021. https://www.urc-automation.com/about-urc/.
3. “Bread Board Member Chang K. Park Honored by International Association.” Bread for the World, September 12, 2016. https://www.bread.org/blog/bread-board-member-chang-k-park-honored-international-association.
4. “Chang K. Park.” Michigan Technological University. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://www.mtu.edu/ece/department/alumni/academy/chang-park.html.
5. “Universal Remote Control – Crunchbase Company Profile & Funding.” Crunchbase. Accessed February 7, 2022. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/universal-remote-control
6. “About Us.” URC Automation, September 17, 2021. https://www.urc-automation.com/about-urc/.
7. “About Us.” URC Automation, September 17, 2021. https://www.urc-automation.com/about-urc/.
8. “Universal Remote Control, Inc.. Company Profile: Harrison, NY: Competitors, Financials & Contacts – Dun & Bradstreet.” Dun & Bradstreet – Accelerate Growth and Improve Business Performance. Accessed February 7, 2022. https://www.dnb.com/business-directory/company-profiles.universal_remote_control_inc.c191b4e1452580198923d9d21111a814.html.
9. “Universal Remote Control Company Profile: Management and Employees List.” Datanyze. Accessed February 7, 2022. https://www.datanyze.com/companies/universal-remote-control/39993500.
10. “Chang K. Park.” Michigan Technological University. Accessed February 7, 2022. https://www.mtu.edu/ece/department/alumni/academy/chang-park.html.
11. “Chang K. Park.” Michigan Technological University. Accessed February 7, 2022. https://www.mtu.edu/ece/department/alumni/academy/chang-park.html.
12. “Chang K Park Foundation”, Return of Private Foundation, Form 990-PF, 2020,2019,2018,2017, Part XV, Line 3.
13.  “About Us.” Bread for the World, June 23, 2020. https://www.bread.org/about-us.
14. “Chang Park.” Common Cause, May 30, 2019. https://www.commoncause.org/people/chang-park/.
15. “Bread Member Profile: Awakening Compassion toward Hungry People.” Bread for the World, September 12, 2016. https://www.bread.org/story/bread-member-profile-awakening-compassion-toward-hungry-people.
16. Jacobson, Julie. “Who Is Chang K. Park and Why Did Cedia Pick Him for Its Highest Honor?” CEPRO. CE Pro, August 21, 2019. https://www.cepro.com/news/who_is_chang_k-_park_and_why_did_cedia_pick_him_for_its_highest_honor/.