Korean American Day was proclaimed in the state of California Tuesday as a tribute to the first group of Korean immigrants who arrived in the United States on Jan. 13, 1903.
State Senator Stephen Choi (R-Irvine) and the California State Senate introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution 106 Monday to recognize the contributions of the Korean American community.
Los Angeles officials, including Assemblymember Mark González (D-Los Angeles), whose district includes Koreatown, also supported the resolution, saying he’s “committed to ensuring this community receives the support and recognition it deserves.”
“I’m proud to celebrate the rich heritage and lasting impact of Korean Americans in Assembly District 54 and throughout California,” González said.
Southern California has the largest population of the Korean diaspora with more than 250,000 Korean Americans living in the city of LA alone.
“As the only Korean American serving the California State Legislature, this day holds deep personal significance for me,” said Senator Choi. “Korean American Day reminds us of the journey from immigration to opportunity, and it affirms our shared responsibility to ensure that future generations can continue to thrive, contribute, and lead in California.”
Jan. 13, 1903 is widely recognized as the beginning of Korean immigration to the U.S. as the first group of over 100 Korean immigrants arrived in Hawaii to flee Japanese colonial rule in their native homeland.