KAWiki - Korean American Wiki - Recently Updated Pages

KA Organizations

JXC — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:29:21 CDT

Alliance of Scholars Concerned about Korea (ASCK) is dedicated to the promotion of mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of Korea, both North and South. We realize that this is a critical moment in US-Korean relations. Our organization is committed to promoting a US policy toward Korea that is informed, humane, and in everyone's mutual interest.. For more information, go to (http://asck.org/).

Nodutdol for Korean Community Development (노둣돌) is a non-profit, non-partisan, community advocacy organization. Establishe d in 1999, Nodutdol seeks to unite and empower the Korean American community through grassroots organizing and community development programs. Nodutdol seeks to bridge divisions created by war, nation, gender, sexual orientation, language, class, and generation among Koreans and to empower our community to address the injustices we and other people of color face here and abroad. Nodutdol works in collaboration with other progressive organizations locally, nationally and internationally as part of a larger movement for peace and social change. For more information, go to (http://nodutdol.org/).

Korean American Coalition (KAC) (한미연합회) is a non-profit, non-partisan, community advocacy organization. Established in 1983, its mission is to facilitate the Korean American community's participation in civic, legislative, and community affairs, encouraging the community to contribute to and become an integral part of American society.

Find a chapter near you:

Atlanta Chapter http://www.kacatl.org/
Chicago Chapter http://www.kac-chicago.org/
Colorado Chapter http://www.kacco.org/
Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter http://www.kacdfw.org/
Los Angeles Chapter http://www.kacla.org/
San Francisco Chapter http://www.kacsf.org/
Washington Chapter http://www.kacwashington.org/
Washington DC Chapter http://www.kacdc.org/

Han-in-hoi (한인회) Almost every city with a sizeable Korean American population has its own Korean American organization called, "han-in-hoi" (한인회). "Han-in" (한인) means Korean people, and "hoi" (회) means association or society. Often the president of this organization is considered the leader of the respective Korean American community, but the function and the effectiveness of the organization are varied from city to city. It is usually considered a first generation organization, and the leaders tend to be Korean speaking.

In Los Angeles, it's called Korean Federation of Los Angeles. (http://www.koreanfed.org/)

In New York City, it's called The Korean American Association of Greater New York. (http://www.nykorean.org/)

Korean American Community Foundation (KACF) (http://www.kacfny.org/) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that raises funds and distribute these funds to social service organizations serving the Korean American community and beyond.

Korea Society (http://www.koreasociety.org/) is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) organization with individual and corporate members that is dedicated solely to the promotion of greater awareness, understanding and cooperation between the people of the United States and Korea.

Korean Cultural Service NY (뉴욕한국문화원) (http://www.koreanculture.org/) Inaugurated in 1979 under the authority of the Korean Consulate General in New York, the Korean Cultural Service works to broaden understanding of Korea and Korea-U.S. relations through cultural and academic activities. The Cultural Service sponsors and hosts many different types of activities, including art exhibits, film screenings, traditional Korean music and dance events, Korean food festivals, lectures, youth activities, and sporting events. The Cultural Service also provides information on Korea - U.S. relations and assists exchange programs between the two countries.

Korean American Family Service Center (KAFSC) (http://www.kafsc.org) serves families in the New York City metro area with programs to prevent and end violence in the home and in partner relationships. We provide counseling, advocacy, education, and programs to strengthen communication and parenting skills, increase economic self-sufficiency, and promote the positive development of children and youth. 24 Hour Hotline: (718) 460-3800 .

Korea.net (http://www.korea.net) is the official website of the Republic of Korea .

Overseas Koreans Foundation (OKF) (http://www.okf.or.kr/eng/) OKF, an affiliate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, was founded in October of 1997 in accordance with the laws designed specifically for foundations intended for overseas Koreans, is soley committed to providing support to Koreans all around the world.

Network of Korean American Leaders (NetKAL) (http://www.netkal.org ) In association with the Center for Asian-Pacific Leadership at the USC School of Social Work, the Network of Korean American Leaders (NetKAL) Fellowship Program promotes community leadership among successful second generation Korean-Americans. With the assistance of some of USC’s leading educators, the NetKAL program provides fellows the networks and resources to communicate effectively, build coalitions and lead transformation at all levels of American society. Fellows gain a solid foundation in today’s most progressive leadership values and practices as well as opportunities to examine the multi-faceted role of a Korean-American leader.

Korean American Grocers Association (http://www.kagro.org/)The National KAGRO has 22,000 members, and it is considered the largest Korean American trade organization. Although the Korean Americans make up under one percent of the U.S. population, they make up 11% of retail grocery outlets in the U.S.

Korean American Scholarship Foundation (KASF) (http://www.kasf.org/) is an organization helping to meet the financial needs of Korean American students seeking higher education. Over $2M in total endowment and 1,400+ students awarded.

Young Koreans United of USA (YKU) (http://www.ykuusa.org) is a national organization founded in 1984 and has five chapters throughout major U.S. cities. YKU works to promote peace, human rights and social justice in Korea and the United States through education, grassroots organizing and advocacy. YKU activities are supported by individual members and supporters.

yKAN - Young Korean American Network (http://www.ykan.org/) is a non-profit organization started in New York City striving for the advancement of all Korean-Americans in the mainstream of American society. Our mission is to elevate Korean-American professionals by fostering educational programs, community service, and networking opportunities.

Koreatown Youth & Community Center (KYCC) (http://www.kyccla.org/) serves the evolving needs of the Korean American population in the greater Los Angeles Area as well as the multi-ethnic Koreatown community. KYCC's programs and services are directed toward recently immigrated, economically disadvantaged youth and families, and to promote community socio-economic empowerment.

Korean American Museum (http://www.kamuseum.org/) The Korean American community has established the Korean American Museum to interpret and preserve its history, culture, and achievements; to examine and discuss issues currently facing the community; and to explore new and innovative ways to communicate the Korean American experience to other American communities. The Museum is dedicated not only to increasing our understanding of the Korean American experience, but also to fostering creative approaches to advancing Korean American culture.

Korean American Historical Society (http://www.kahs.org) is nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the collective memory of Korean Americans through collecting, maintaining, and transmitting the heritage and achievements of Koreans living in the United States and abroad.

Arirang (http://www.arirangeducation.com ) is an interactive classroom on the Korean American Experience. It is administered by the Center for Korean Studies at the University of Hawaii.

Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance (http://www.kiwa.org/) KIWA’s mission is to empower Koreatown’s low-wage immigrant workers for dignity and respect in the workplace and community, and to work together with other communities to realize a vision of a just Los Angeles that works for everyone.

Sejong Society of Washington DC (http://www.sejongsocietydc.org) is a non-partisan, all-volunteer, and 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization that is dedicated to helping young professionals learn more about Korea and U.S. policy towards the Korean Peninsula. Our goal is to inspire the next generation, regardless of political and career affiliations, to become Korea and Northeast Asia specialists.

Current Events

nickbosco — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 05:23:52 CDT

LPGA's English-only policy is unsportsmanlike and un-American

By Michael Walker Jr.
Senior Editor, GOLF Magazine
Published: August 26, 2008

If anyone thinks professional sports are anything more than televised entertainment, check out the LPGA's new rule that requires its players to speak English.

According to Golfweek Magazine, the tour has announced that "all players who have been on tour for two years must pass an oral evaluation of their English skills." The policy takes effect immediately but the measurement period starts at the end of 2009; those who fail will be suspended from the Tour.

The world of sport is supposed to be a true meritocracy. You should be measured by your skill, not your personality or parents or linguistic prowess. If Seve Ballesteros was subject to a rule like this one, he never would have won the 1980 Masters. The LPGA wants to hold its members to a different standard, one that makes proficiency in English and the ability to entertain pro-am sponsors as important as proficiency with a 7-iron.

Hilary Lunke, president of the Player Executive Committee, said as much in the Golfweek story. "The bottom line is, we don't have a job if we don't entertain. In my mind, that's as big a part of the job as shooting under par."

The LPGA made the announcement last week in a mandatory meeting of South Korean players at the Safeway Classic in Portland, Ore. (Seven of the LPGA's Top 20 players are Korean and half are from East Asia; 45 of the LPGA's 121 international players are from South Korea.) According to the article, many Korean players approve of the policy (at least publicly), but that doesn't make it any less sinister.

Angela Park, interviewed in the story, appears to be under the impression that the LPGA officials could impose quotas on Korean golfers if they wanted to. "The LPGA could come out and say they only want 10 Koreans, but they're not," Park said to Golfweek. "A lot of Korean players think they are being targeted, but it's just because there are so many of them."

Even those in favor of the concept should be troubled by the fact that the LPGA won't have a standard testing procedure. Players would be targeted for evaluation based on staff observations, according to Golfweek, and those "who already demonstrate English proficiency will not be approached."
I had to read this paragraph three times to make sure it wasn't a satire from The Onion, or a secret police manual from the Eastern Bloc. Not only are they requiring a language evaluation for their golfers, but they're also making that evaluation subjective and arbitrary!

Professional athletes generally learn English because it is in their financial interest to do so, but those who don't should not be penalized. In addition to Ballesteros at the Masters, an English-only policy would have denied golf fans the great 1980 U.S. Open battle between Jack Nicklaus and Japan's Isao Aoki. Today's fans would not get to see Argentina's Andres Romero, one of the game's brightest young stars. The list could go on and on.

If entertainment is the LPGA's main concern, here are a few more suggestions for new tour policies:

• Make all the players pass an English proficiency test. That way the entire Tour will fit into two foursomes.
• Make it mandatory that all players learn to juggle, play guitar and do magic tricks. Now that'll be entertaining!
• Force the American players to quit losing so much.
• Make all pro-am participants learn Korean.

Oh, and one more thing to chew on, LPGA: This is America. We embrace diversity, we don't punish it. But on the plus side, you've finally gotten your tour into the news. Too bad it's for being reprehensible and unsportsmanlike.

Asian Political Leadership Fund

fwoodruff — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:02:02 CDT

Asians and Pacific Islanders are among the fastest growing of all the minorities in the US, and yet, in politics, Asians continue to be significantly under-represented. As we begin the next chapter of our country’s history, Asians will need political leaders who will not only be included in the American story, but will also have a hand in writing it.

The Asian Political Leadership Fund has two major missions:

We support Asian Americans seeking elected and appointed office at all levels of government, and provide for training and development of future candidates for office.
We conduct outreach to educate the Asian-American community on candidates and issues that affect our community and work to promote greater civic involvement.

We welcome support from all who share our ideals, values, and ultimate goal of creating a stronger community and a more prosperous nation. Your financial support will help build a well-informed Asian-American community that fully participates in our democracy. The Asian Political Leadership Fund is a federally-designated 527 fund whose sole purpose is to promote political leadership from within the Asian-American community. Our goal in creating this fund was to provide an outlet for what we see as a growing base of supporters who share a common vision — to see more Asian Americans take up the challenge of political leadership. The Asian Political Leadership Fund is not the only effort underway in this arena. Our intention is not to compete with these or other efforts to promote an Asian-American political agenda. Our hope is rather that this fund will create synergies and partnerships that will expand the base of support needed to assist promising Asian leaders in their development. Though the Fund is created under my name, I will work with a group of partners and advisers, each of whom brings years of experience, unique expertise, and dynamic networks to our common cause. - Sam Yoon

Free Trade Agreement (FTA)

JXC — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:38:39 CDT

The U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (also known as KORUS FTA) is a trade agreement between the United States and the Republic of Korea. Negotiations were announced on February 2, 2006 and were concluded on April 1, 2007. The successful completion of the agreement was announced on April 2, 2007 and the treaty was signed on June 30, 2007, [1]. It has been reported that this agreement would be the second largest trade agreement ever for the United States, after the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Korean Americans for Fair Trade (KAFT) is a national coalition of Korean-Americans who call for trade policies that promote equitable and sustainable development of working people and the environment. KAFT was formed in 2006 due to concerns with the non-transparent negotiations process and dangerous provisions proposed in the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KorUS FTA). Our coalition works closely with farmers, labor advocates, public health experts, and other civil rights organizations in the United States and South Korea. KAFT promotes a fair trade model that supports the following principles:
Mutual benefit, respect for democratic rights and progress towards equality;
Democratic participation, transparency and accountability during the trade negotiations process;
Strengthened labor and environmental standards;
Protection of vulnerable populations.
We are not convinced that the KorUS FTA will be beneficial to ordinary American workers and farmers. In the United States, unfettered free trade has been directly responsible for massive loss of jobs and erosion of hard-won benefits and rights for workers and the middle class. Nowhere has this been more apparent today than with the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). For more info, go to KAFT.org.

Office of the United States Trade Representative: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is an agency of over 200 people, a highly committed group of professionals who have decades of specialized experience in trade issues and regions of the world. They negotiate directly with foreign governments to create trade agreements, resolve disputes and participate in global trade policy organizations. They also meet with governments, business groups, legislators and public interest groups to gather input on trade issues and explain the president’s trade policy positions. The agency was founded in 1962 and has offices in Washington, Geneva and Brussels. The official information on the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement can be found at USTR.GOV: Korea-US FTA and the final the Final Text of the Korea-US FTA can be found at USTR.GOV: Korea-US FTA Final Text.

National Association of Manufacturers: The NAM’s mission is to advocate on behalf of its members to enhance the competitiveness of manufacturers by shaping a legislative and regulatory environment conducive to U.S. economic growth and to increase understanding among policymakers, the media and the general public about the vital role of manufacturing in America’s economic and national security for today and in the future: NAM Korea FTA.

U.S. - Korea FTA Business Coalition: The U.S. - Korea FTA Business Coaltion is a broad-based group of U.S. companies, industry organizations, trade associations, and state and local chambers of commerce that strongly support the approval by Congress of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The U.S.-Korea Business Council serves as the Coalition's secretariat: http://www.uskoreafta.org/ .

bilaterals.org: a collective effort to share information and stimulate cooperation against bilateral trade and investment agreements that are opening countries to the deepest forms of penetration by transnational corporations: info regarding anti-FTA.

Health Care Resources

JXC — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:28:48 CDT

Our Turn Is Now is an online resource established by a group of Korean-American professionals in connection with the Network of Korean American Leaders (NetKAL) Fellowship Program and in partnership with the Korean American Community Foundation (KACF) to help address the needs of the elderly Korean-American community by raising awareness of key issues and motivating our peers to plan now for our parents’ futures. For more information, go to Our Turn Is Now.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (www.hhs.gov): Improving the health, safety and well-being of America

Medicare.gov www.medicare.gov: The official U.S. Government site for people with Medicare

WebMD (www.webmd.com): Provides valuable health information, tools for managing your health, and support to those who seek information.

CMS ( http://www.cms.hhs.gov ): Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Health Care

JXC — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:07:09 CDT

Unlike other minority groups, currently little information is available regarding the health needs of Korean Americans. Few survey studies regarding health related issues have been conducted targeting Korean-Americans. A survey done of Los Angeles-area Korean American residents in 2000 demonstrated the following trends 1) the senior population is rapidly growing; 2) respondents clearly preferred Korean speaking physicians as their primary care physicians; and 3) only about one-half of the respondents had health insurance as insurance coverage positively correlated with family income, immigration duration and education level.

For more information on how you can help older Korean Americans, go to OurTurnIsNow.com.

Health Issues facing the elderly Korean Americans.
Given the relative lack of overall data, not surprisingly there relatively little information is available with regard to health status and health care of Korean American elders in the US. The known studies involving Korean American elders have identified the following health care issues.

Diabetes Mellitus Type II. In a San Jose, California, study of 50 senior center participants and senior apartment dwellers aged 65 to 82, all of whom were born in Korea, 36% reported a history of diabetes, which is approximately four times the rate of older Americans as a whole.

Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease. In the San Jose study, 36% reported having high blood pressure. 32% said they did not know their cholesterol levels.

Hepatitis B Virus. In a 1994 study of close to 7,000 Korean Americans in communities in the Northeast U.S., 5.2% of the females and 7.4% of the males over age 40 were found to be carriers of Hepatitis B Virus. Of the carriers, 42% were found to have chronic hepatitis.

Nutritional Status. A 1993 study of nutritional status of residents of senior housing in Chicago found that the nutritional quality of the Korean American elders' diets was poorer than Chinese and Japanese Americans. This was due to the large percentage of Korean elders with low intake of calories, calcium, vitamins A and C and riboflavin. The study also showed that 25% of the 60 older Korean women in the study also consumed less than 67% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance for protein.

Mental Health Issues in the Korean American Community.
The Virginia Tech Massacre highlighted the need to focus on emotional and mental health issues in the Korean American community. In 2007, Korean Americans' perception and understanding of mental health and illness were surveyed during four monthly mental health seminars in New York City. In all, 86 Korean immigrants attended the seminars and 34 completed the survey. The seminar participants were primarily financially stable Korean women who were married, educated, and had lived in America more than 10 years. All seminar leaders were Korean immigrants. Most of the participants acknowledged the need for mental health services but did not seek professional help and coped with the stressors of immigrant life by endurance, patience, and religion. Feedback from seminar leaders noted the need for tailored mental health program for Koreans. Findings also support an understanding of the Korean immigrants' mental health issues as complex, chronic, and serious.

According to the 2000 US Census data, about one-third of the Korean American community is comprised of children and adolescents. Overall findings appear to indicate that Asian American adolescents tend to have higher levels of emotional difficulties than most other adolescents and Asian American adolescents tend to underutilize mental health services when compared to other ethnic groups. A 1984 study of Asian American adult populations noted that Koreans exhibited the highest depression scores when compared with those of Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino Americans. Unfortunately, whether this finding can be generalized to Korean American children and adolescents is unknown at this time due to lack of research.

For information regarding Health Care and appropriate resources, please go to Health Care Resources page.

Did you know? Of over 6.7 Million registered bone marrow donors in August 2007, only only approximately 455,000 were Asian Americans, of which approximately 60,000 are Korean Americans. There are less opportunity for an Asian American with Leukemia to find a match due to the lack of registered donors. Learn the facts and find out how you can get involved to potentially save a life! For more information, please go to Asian American Donor Program page.

Notable KAs

JXC — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:46:50 CDT

John Choe

John Choe has extensive government and nonprofit experience, currently serving in the New York City Council as Chief of Staff to Council Member Liu, and previously with the Corporation for Supportive Housing, the New York City Department of Finance, and the Rent Guidelines Board. John is also a longtime community activist who is currently President of the Mitchell-Linden Civic Association, serves on the Board of Directors of the Democratic Organization of Flushing, moderates New York City's Asian Community Online Network, and attends the Flushing Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. John earned his BA in History from Binghamton University as a New York State Regents Scholar and his Masters in Public Policy (MPP) at the University of Chicago as a Woodrow Wilson National Fellow in Public Affairs & International Relations. Mr. Choe has been recognized for his public service by New York Newsday, the Overseas Koreans Foundation, and the Fund for the City of New York as a recipient of the Union Square Award as well as fellowships from the Network of Korean American Leaders, the Coro New York Leadership Center, Columbia University, and the Open Society Institute. For more information, go to John's Facebook page.

KA Politics

n4admnes — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:29:27 CDT

Korean Americans in Elected Office

City-level Offices

Jun Choi: Mayor, Edison Township (NJ)
http://www.junchoi.com/

Sam Yoon: Boston (MA) City Council

http://www.samyoon.com/

Steven Choi: Irvine (CA) City Council
http://www.ci.irvine.ca.us/council/bios/dr_steven_choi.asp

Sukee Kang: Irvine (CA) City Council
http://www.ci.irvine.ca.us/council/bios/sukhee_kang.asp

Jennifer Kim: Austin (TX) City Council
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/council/kim.htm

Joseph Cho: Cerritos (CA) City Council
http://www.ci.cerritos.ca.us/citygov/bios-cho.html

Philip Choi (no photo available): Leonia Borough (NJ) Council
http://www.leonianj.gov/index.php

Jason Kim (no photo available): Palisades Park Borough (NJ) Council

State-level Offices

Paull Shin: State Senator, Washington
http://www.senatedemocrats.wa.gov/shin.htm

Michelle Park Steel: Board Member, California Board of Equalization 3rd District
http://www.boe.ca.gov/members/msteel/index.html

Hoon-Yung Hopgood: State Representative, Michigan 22nd House District
http://022.housedems.com/

Candidates 2008:

Please go to Candidates 2008 to learn more... Get Involved! Please get informed and vote!

Asian American Donor Program

n4admnes — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:38:04 CDT

The Asian American Donor Program (AADP) - a community non-profit (501c3) organization geared towards saving lives. We are an official recruitment group of the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) specializing in conducting outreach and donor drives in the Asian, Pacific Islander and Multi-racial communities.

Project Michelle - 26-year old Michelle Maykin was originally diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a cancer of the blood, on February 27, 2007. After undergoing 5 rounds of chemotherapy, Michelle reached a state of remission and slowly began to reclaim her life. She also dedicated herself to helping others by creating Project Michelle, a campaign focused on recruiting people to become potential bone marrow donors. She is still in need of a donor...

MINORITY REGISTRANT STATISTICS - As of August 2007

Race	Donors Registered	% of Total	Number of Transplants
Black or African American	511,622	9.4%	819
Asian American	455,494	8.5%	496
South Asian	105,796	2.0%	25
Filipino (Philipino)	37,336	0.7%	53
Japanese	31,513	0.6%	112
Korean	59,778	1.1%	47
Chinese	70,843	1.4%	50
Other Southeast Asian	32,941	0.6%	44
Vietnamese	8,161	0.2%	8
Unspec. Asian/Pacific Islander	96,612	1.6%	157
Multiple Asian/Pacific Islander	12,514	0.2%	-
Caucasian	4,933,848	67.3%	13,388
Hispanic	391,128	7.1%	765
National Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander	78,792	1.4%	18
American Indian/Alaska Native	8,731	0.2%	77
Other	26,475	0.4%	208
Multiple Race	177,678	3.4%	-
Declines	36,419	0.7%	265
Unknown	125,763	1.7%	708
TOTAL	6,745,950	100%	16,744

Education

n4admnes — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:55:32 CDT

Accessibility to College:

Do you know anyone who is qualified for college but had to work or go city/state college?

There are almost half a million low and mid-income students who are qualified to go to college but can't affod to go and are left behind every year. This is an issue that affects all minority groups, and it's an issue that's critical to sustaining our global competitive edge in the future.

Here's a report provided by the federal government that attempts to alleviate this systematic problem: http://www.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/acsfa/earlyoftenreport.pdf

Candidates 2008

n4admnes — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:50:23 CDT

Be informed about US politics, the key Federal, state, and local level races to watch in 2008, and use the links to learn more about the candidates' positions on key issues affecting our community.

Presidential Election 2008

The United States Presidential Election of 2008 is scheduled for November 4th, 2008.

The presumptive nominees are:

Senator Barack Obama, Democrat
http://www.barackobama.com

Senator John McCain, Republican
http://www.johnmccain.com/

Koreans Americans Running for Office in 2008

City Election 2008

Mayoral Race for Irvine, CA

Sukhee Kang, currently Mayor Pro Tem and a member of the Irvine City Council, is running for Mayor for the city of Irvine, California. Irvine has a population of 200,000 residents and is approximately 30 percent Asian/Asian-American. The election is on November 4th, 2008.

Councilman Sukhee Kang, Democrat
http://www.sukheekangformayor.com/index.htm

Irvine City Council

Steven Choi is running for re-election to the Irvine City Council. He has served one-term and is seeking his second. Irvine has a population of 200,000 residents and is approximately 30 percent Asian/Asian-American. The election is on November 4th, 2008.

Councilman Steven Choi, Republican
http://www.stevenchoi.org/

Congressional Election 2008

North Carolina

Augustus Cho was a Republican candidate in the for the 4th Congressional District of North Carolina. On May 6th, 2008 he was defeated by BJ Lawson in the Republican primary.

Augustus Cho

John McCain

n4admnes — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:49:31 CDT

There is no abstract available for this page revision.

Barack Obama

n4admnes — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:48:11 CDT

There is no abstract available for this page revision.

KA Issues/Causes

n4admnes — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 22:37:10 CDT

There are various issues that impact our Korean American society. To be aware and informed about them is the first and foremost step towards empowerment to start making a difference.

Immigration

Health Care

Education

North Korean Human Rights

Comfort Women

L.A. Riots (Sa-i-Gu)

Korea - U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA)

L.A. Riots (Sa-i-Gu)

n4admnes — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 22:32:00 CDT

"Sa-i-Gu." The events of April 29 placed the Korean American community squarely at the center of national debates over race, class, culture, and community. The Los Angeles riots of 1992 were sparked on April 29, 1992 after a jury acquitted Los Angeles Police Department officers accused in the beating of Rodney King, and African American. The day the riots erupted is known in the Korean American community as "sa-i-gu" which translates to April 29, derived from a Korean tradition where major events are known by their date.

Even today, the Korean American community continues to recover from the burning of Los Angeles in the aftermath of the 1992 Rodney King verdict. Many Korean American markets and businesses were located in those areas of Los Angeles’ inner city - South Central and Koreatown - where much of the destruction occurred. As a result, Koreans suffered a disproportionate share of the total property damage. Some 2,000 Korean-owned businesses were completely destroyed in the riots and an estimated $400 million dollars of damage was done. Frustration continues as many of the Korean businesses lost did not reopen. The Korean businesses that are open continue to be vulnerable to high rates of crime, violence, and interethnic tension.

For most of the riots, there was little police and fire protection available. Many Koreans were left to defend their property on their own as 911 calls went unanswered. It is well documented that the police did little to protect the businesses that were being looted and instead focused on securing predominantly white upper middle class neighborhoods nearby. The absence of police protection is a reminder that Korean Americans are not yet considered a part of mainstream society in moments of crisis.

There was also resentment about the slanted portrayal of Korean American store owners as gun-toting vigilantes by the news media. In addition, television news stations focused on running stories on Soon Ja Du, the Korean American shop keeper who shot and killed fifteen year-old African American Latasha Harlins in the previous year going as far as broadcasting the actual shooting during the riots. Save for an appearance by attorney Angela Oh on ABC’s Nightline, no Korean American was shown discussing the events or included in roundtables on racism or economic injustice.

The legacy of the riots still lingers. Despite the blinding media focus brought to bear during the riots, the Korean American community has nonetheless remained largely silent and effectively invisible. Shopkeepers who were victimized were conveniently ignored by the political system and demands for accountability from mainstream institutions went unheeded. Many promises were made by politicians to invest in South Central LA. These have never come to pass.

The Los Angeles riots of 1992, also known as the Rodney King riots, [and to the Korean American community as "Sa-i-Gu"] were sparked on April 29, 1992 by the jury acquittal of four police officers accused in the videotaped beating of black motorist Rodney King. The beating occured after the Police and King engaged in a high-speed chase through part of Los Angeles. Thousands of people in the Los Angeles area rioted over the six days following the verdict. Widespread looting, assault, arson, and murder occurred, and property damages totaled one billion dollars. It is believed that many of the crimes were gang-motivated or perpetrated. In all, 53 people died during the riots.[1]

North Korean Human Rights

n4admnes — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 22:31:19 CDT

North Korean Human Rights Movement: Liberty in North Korea (LiNK) www.linkglobal.org is a leading non-profit organization working on North Korean human rights, LiNK speaks up for the North Korean people all over the world, whether they are suffering in concentration camps within the nation, or toiling away in factories and sweatshops in Eastern Europe. Their rights are of the utmost priority.

Comfort Women

n4admnes — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 22:30:25 CDT

Comfort Women: The euphemism "comfort women" (ianfu) was coined by imperial Japan to refer to young females of various ethnic and national backgrounds and social circumstances who were forced to offer sexual services to the Japanese troops before and during the Second World War. Some were minors sold into brothels; others were deceptively recruited by middlemen; still others were forcibly abducted. Estimates of the number of comfort women range between 50,000 and 200,000. It is believed that most were Korean. This is the primary source for the most up to date information on the Comfort Women: http://online.sfsu.edu/~soh/cw-links.htm.

KA/APA Media & Entertainment

n4admnes — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 22:01:36 CDT

Korean Americans & Asian Pacific Americans in Entertainment

New York Korean American Film Festival (http://www.koreanfilmfestival.org/) is an annual program of The Korea Society.

DC APA Film Festival (http://www.apafilm.org/) Asian Pacific American (APA) Film, a nonprofit corporation, explores the cross-cultural interface of East and West through art and education. The DC Asian Pacific American (APA) Film Festival is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization.

ImaginAsian Entertainment, Inc. (http://www.iaei.tv/v2/about.php) is a multimedia entertainment company that provides and promotes quality Asian-inspired programming. ImaginAsian brings the diverse cultures of the Asian American community to audiences nationwide. All of ImaginAsian’s programming is English-accessible, providing several platforms for the best Asian and Asian American media content to reach anyone who believes in diversity and culture.

ImaginAsian TV (http://www.iatv.tv/) iaTV is Americas 1st 24/7 television network devoted to Asian Pop Culture.

Kollaboration (http://www.kollaboration.org/) is an Asian Pacific Islander American/Canadian (APIA/C) organization and Movement that was founded in 2000 by Executive Director Paul “PK” Kim. Under the umbrella of ProKreation Productions - a cutting edge, pioneering production company promoting entertainment in the Asian American community - Kollaboration became officially incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in January of 2006.

Project Sunlight 2008 Short Film Contest ( Project Sunlight Info) is an incubation project for filmmakers of all levels to shed light on the untold stories of the Korean American Diaspora. It is an invaluable opportunity for you to advance your film career to the next level, gain recognition and receive national exposure in the filmmaking industry.

KoreAm Journal (http://www.koreamjournal.com/) Established in 1990, KoreAm Journal is a rapidly growing monthly magazine that highlights the news, stories and issues of Korean Americans nationwide. KoreAm Journal's mission is to provide depth and insight into the evolving Korean American experience.

Audrey Magazine (http://www.audreymagazine.com/) Audrey is the premier bimonthly English-language magazine highlighting the stories that interest Asian American women nationwide. Each issue is packed with glossy photos, as well as entertaining and informative articles on the latest fashion and beauty trends, celebrity news, health, dining, home décor, relationships and more. Audrey launched in March 2003 in response to the growing demand for a high-quality publication that serves Asian American women.

The Asian American Writer's Workshop (http://www.aaww.org/) is a national not-for-profit arts organization devoted to the creating, publishing, developing and disseminating of creative writing by Asian Americans.

Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) (http://www.aaja.org/) Founded in 1981, the Asian American Journalists Association is a non-profit professional and educational organization with more than 2,000 members today. AAJA serves Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders by encouraging young people to consider journalism as a career, developing managers in the media industry, and promoting fair and accurate news coverage.

Korean American Information Hub

n4admnes — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 19:16:45 CDT

Immigration

n4admnes — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 17:49:43 CDT

Visa Waiver Program Memorandum of Understanding, April 18, 2008: U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff signed today a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Yu Myung-hwan. The security enhancements outlined in the agreement puts Korea on the path toward visa-free travel to the U.S., and potential designation as a VWP member as early as later this year.