by REERA YOO | @reeraboo
editor@charactermedia.com
The California State Assembly unanimously passed a resolution to recognize Jan. 13 as Korean American Day on Monday after Assemblywoman Young Kim introduced the resolution earlier last month.
Kim’s bill, the Assembly Concurrent Resolution 3, was co-authored by 69 members of the Assembly. According to a press release, the resolution was also presented to several board members and officers of the Korean American Foundation.
“As a Korean American, I am proud of our heritage and strong values of family, faith, and hard work that have been handed to us by previous generations,” said Kim. “It is my honor to ensure that the State Assembly recognizes Korean American Day, where we can honor the past, celebrate the present, and dream of a better future for all.”
Today commemorates the 112th year of Korean immigration to the U.S. The first group of Korean immigrants arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii on Jan. 13, 1903. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, over 1.7 million Korean Americans currently reside in the U.S., with California having the highest population of Korean Americans in the nation. Korean American Day honors the sacrifices and contributions Korean Americans have made over the last century.
Last month, New York City officially declared Jan. 13 as Korean American Day after Councilman Peter Koo, who represents District 20 in Queens, proposed the designation to the city’s legislation.
Kim is the first Korean American Republican woman to be elected to the California State Assembly and the first Asian American to represent the 65th District in Sacramento, which encompasses parts of northern Orange County.
