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Korean
Lobbyists -First Meeting of the Korean American Political Network
From JoongAng
April 10, 2003
By Kim, JongHoon
Korean-Americans had a meeting to initiate professional lobbying
group. The first meeting for initiating the Korean American Political
Network was held on April 10.
It was attended by the 1.5 and the 2nd immigrant-generations who
had previous experience on local elections and other activists of
the 1st generation who participate in many otherKorean organizations,
such as the Korean Association of New York. There were about 20
participants including SukYoung Kim, JoonKu Park, and Terrance Park.
JoonKu Park, currently a vice-president of policy department of
the Korean Association, was elected as a Council director.
Park mentioned, We Korean community is not yet reached the
level of engagement, like American politicians who concern votes
and the funds the most in political activities. He added,
our meeting will formulate a group which discusses how we
can promote our lobbying group beyond parties and seeks ground for
further engagement.
Park also stated, We will help the 1.5 and the 2nd generations
to engage in American politics and will discuss how we can enhance
interests of Korean government and businesses through lobbying and
working with Korean-American elected officials.
In the meeting, they discussed a broad area of activities with
included leadership from Korean community, policy making procedures
and methods for lobbying, activities reaching each local communities,
ways to insure funding of the group, and so on.
They decided to have a regular meeting in every month. In those
meetings, they will prepare more detailed plans and projects for
organizing the group activities.
The meeting was joined by other Korean-Americans: from the 1.5
and 2nd generationsSukYoung Kim, a lawyer who was a candidate
for Council Member in Bergen County, David Jung, a candidate for
Palisade Park City Council, Joon Choi, the president of the KALCA,
an organization for promoting political participation for the 2nd
generationas well as people from the 1st generationIhak
Park, the vice president of Korean Association of New York, KyongRo
Lee, the vice director of the same organization, YoHyun Kim, the
vice-director of the same organization, DongSuk Kim, the director
for Korean American Voters Council of New York and New Jersey, NamPyo
Kim, the owner of Kims Jewelry.
Translated from Korean by JooYeon Lee
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