The 123rd anniversary of Korean American Day is being marked with commemorative events across the United States, alongside renewed attention from local, state, and federal lawmakers through related resolutions and ceremonies.
Korean American Day was established to commemorate the first official arrival of Korean immigrants in Hawaii on January 13, 1903. The day honors the dedication and contributions of early immigrants. The US Congress officially designated January 13, 2005, as Korean American Day, and since then, commemorations and legislative actions have continued annually nationwide.
In LA, a 123rd Korean American Day commemoration ceremony is being held on the 12th at the Oxford Palace Hotel in Koreatown. Byung-man Lee, president of Korean American Foundation, said LA was the first location where a Korean American Day resolution was passed in 2003, ahead of the federal designation, adding that the day holds particular significance locally. During the ceremony, John Lee, an LA City Council member representing the 12th District, is scheduled to read a Korean American Day resolution that will be submitted to the LA City Council the following day.
On Korean American Day itself, the 13th, Korean American Federation of Los Angeles (KAFLA) will host a 123rd anniversary flag-raising ceremony at its community center. Together with patriotic organizations including Korean National Association Memorial Foundation and Heritage of Korean Independence Southwest Chapter, the group plans to replace both the American flag and the South Korean flag with new ones. Heather Hutt, an LA City Council member representing the 10th District, is expected to attend.
Commemorative events are also continuing on the East Coast. League of Korean Americans of MD will hold a Korean American Day proclamation ceremony and flag-raising event on the 13th together with the Howard County Council in Maryland. Association President Young-ran Jang said the flag-raising ceremony is being held for the fourth time this year, noting that last year the South Korean flag flew for one week at the Howard County government building. She described the event as a meaningful moment reflecting the growth of the local Korean American community.
In Washington, DC, political recognition is also continuing. A Korean American Day ceremony held on the 8th at a US Congress building was attended by Korean American members of Congress, including Andy Kim, Young Kim, Marilyn Strickland, and Dave Min, as well as other lawmakers known for their support of Korea-related issues.
Among them, Young Kim plans to introduce a Korean American Day resolution in the US House of Representatives on the 13th together with Jimmy Gomez, whose district includes LA Koreatown. Gomez is submitting the resolution for the eighth consecutive year, continuing his engagement with the Korean American community. On the same day, he is also scheduled to hold a roundtable discussion with the Congressional Korean American Staff Association (CKASA), focusing on leadership, career paths, and strengthening Korean American political participation.
At the state level, Suk-ho Choi, a California State Senator representing the 37th District, is scheduled to read a resolution on the 12th during a California State Senate floor session officially proclaiming the 13th as Korean American Day. Choi said the resolution honors Korean immigration history and the contributions of early immigrants, while formally recognizing the cultural, economic, and social impact of the Korean American community in California.
BY KYEONGJUN KIM [kim.kyeongjun1@koreadaily.com]
