Washington: U.S. lawmakers expressed hope Thursday for Korean Americans to play a crucial role in strengthening the alliance with South Korea and continuously contribute to American society, as they attended an event at the Capitol in Washington to celebrate Korean American Day.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Korean American lawmakers, including Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) and Rep. Young Kim (R-CA), and other members of Congress joined the annual event, five days ahead of the special day that marks the arrival of the first Korean immigrants to the United States on Jan. 13, 1903. In 2005, both the House of Representatives and the Senate passed resolutions to commemorate the day. The celebration takes place annually, with the attendance of Korean American lawmakers, students, and entrepreneurs, as well as their supporters.
Sen. Kim, the first Korean American member of the Senate, noted that the next decade will be significant for Korean and Asian Americans, highlighting their advances in American politics and other sectors. He emphasized that being Korean American does not diminish his American identity, expressing pride in his heritage.
Rep. Kim, who chairs the subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific affairs under the House Foreign Affairs Committee, focused on strengthening the Seoul-Washington alliance and enhancing people-to-people ties. She emphasized the importance of Korean Americans in enriching American diversity and upholding shared values.
Rep. Ed Case (D-HI) also participated, underscoring Korean Americans' critical role in advancing the U.S.-South Korea relationship, which he deemed one of the most important partnerships for the U.S. globally. He urged the Korean American community to maintain and advocate for this relationship through educational and cultural exchanges.
The event was attended by dozens of U.S.-based university students of Korean descent, organized by the Korean American Grassroots Conference. It included a performance by the New Jersey Children's Choir, featuring the Korean folk song "Arirang" and "Golden" from the original soundtrack of Netflix's animated film "KPop Demon Hunters."