Former Irvine Mayor Sukhee Kang seeks City Council seat in District 1

Former Irvine Mayor Sukhee Kang has launched a campaign for the City Council’s District 1 seat in the upcoming November election, marking his return to local politics.

Kang, who previously served as the Western Regional Administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration, announced his candidacy on February 13. He said that after months of consideration, he decided to run “with a renewed sense of purpose.” District 1 covers northern Irvine neighborhoods, including Orchard Hills and Northpark.

In a statement, Kang said he felt the Korean American community in Irvine had lost visibility after no Korean American candidate won a City Council seat in the 2024 election. Therefore, he argued, renewed representation is necessary.

“I felt that the presence of the Korean American community in Irvine was quickly fading from attention,” Kang said. “Based on my years of experience in city government and federal service, I will work to operate Irvine more efficiently.”

He emphasized that his decision followed careful reflection over several months. In addition, he described the campaign as a return to public service at the local level.

Kang previously won election to the Irvine City Council in 2004. He later secured reelection and subsequently served two terms as Irvine’s directly elected mayor. Therefore, he brings both legislative and executive municipal experience to the race.

After his tenure in Irvine, Kang served in the federal government as the Western Regional Administrator for the General Services Administration, overseeing regional operations. However, he has now shifted his focus back to city-level governance.

BY YOONSEO SONG  [song.yoonseo@koreadaily.com]