During a joint consular inspection of the LA and San Francisco Consulates General, members of the South Korean National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, representing both ruling and opposition parties, voiced concerns over the urgent need to improve security in LA’s Koreatown. The committee highlighted the importance of protecting the Korean business district and stressed the need to increase voter turnout among Korean residents in the upcoming November election to enhance the political influence of the Korean-American community.

At the consular inspection held on the morning of the 19th at the LA Consulate General’s 5th-floor meeting room, the delegation, consisting of eight National Assembly members including Chairman Kim Seok-ki (People Power Party), urged the consulate to take a leading role in addressing the worsening security issues in Korean communities in both LA and San Francisco.

The eight lawmakers — Kim Seok-ki, Kim Gi-hyeon, John Linton (all from People Power Party), Wi Seong-rak, Lee Yong-seon, Cho Jung-sik, Cha Ji-ho, and Han Jeong-ae (all from the Democratic Party) — conducted a comprehensive consular inspection of nine missions across the Americas from October 10 to 21. These included the LA Consulate General, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the U.S., the UN Mission, consulates in New York and San Francisco, as well as embassies in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic.

Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Yong-seon emphasized during the session, “Despite the U.S. economy’s 'lone' prosperity, security concerns are hindering the revitalization of Koreatown’s business district and the improvement of residential environments,” calling on the consulate to spearhead efforts to address these challenges. Fellow Democratic Party lawmaker Cho Jung-sik also noted, “During the inspections of diplomatic missions in Central America, we received reports that the missions are actively cooperating with local law enforcement. I urge the consulate to take on the role of coordinator to convey the concerns of the Korean community to the local authorities.”

Additionally, Democratic Party member Han Jeong-ae brought up the case of Yang Yong, a man who was fatally shot by police after his family requested help in transporting him to a mental health facility in May in LA. She remarked, “According to Korean standards, this was a highly inappropriate situation,” and questioned the consulate on how they provided consular assistance during the incident. Kim Seok-ki, the committee chair and former Seoul Metropolitan Police Commissioner, suggested that “consuls general should frequently invite local police chiefs to their residences,” stressing, “It is most effective for consuls general to continuously raise issues and request cooperation from the police chiefs.”

In response, Consul General Kim Young-wan stated, “We have invited the LAPD Chief to the residence two or three times to convey the concerns of the Korean community regarding security. We have also consistently requested the Olympic Division, which oversees Koreatown, to strengthen patrols and protect Korean businesses, as well as to respond promptly to crime reports.” He added, “From the early stages of the Yang Yong incident, we urged the LAPD to conduct a thorough investigation and provided consular assistance to the bereaved family.”

Opposition members of the committee also stressed the importance of increasing voter turnout in the upcoming November election and forming a nationwide organization to boost the Korean community’s political influence.

Democratic Party member Wi Seong-rak suggested, “If the Korean community builds a nationwide organization capable of providing political support, it can significantly enhance its political influence. The Armenian community, with a population of one million, followed the Jewish community’s advice and formed a nationwide organization, which is a useful example for the Korean community to consider.”

Questions regarding overseas elections were also raised. People Power Party member Kim Gi-hyeon noted, “During the Korean National Assembly election this year, the voter registration rate for overseas Koreans in LA was only 3.7%, which is lower than the global average of 6.4%. The consulate general should analyze and report on the reasons for the low level of participation and interest in overseas elections in the LA area, where the largest number of Koreans reside.”



<Sehee Roh>