Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-40), one of the first Korean American women to serve in Congress, introduced a bipartisan resolution with fellow California Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) to designate January 13, 2024 as Korean American Day.
Rep. Kim has led a similar resolution each year since she’s been in Congress and during her time in the California State Assembly to honor her heritage and the more than 2 million Korean Americans who call the United States home.
“Since the first Korean immigrants arrived to the United States on January 13, 1903, Korean Americans have made their mark from coast to coast and have found success in the classroom, the workforce, and even right here in Congress, to make our nation a better place,” said Rep. Kim. “As one of the first Korean American women to serve in Congress and an immigrant from South Korea, I am grateful for the sacrifices my family made in the aftermath of the Korean War to have a better life here and am proud to recognize the more than 2 million Korean Americans in the U.S. today who share my story. I will continue fighting to pay it forward by protecting the American dream for future generations.”
“Since the arrival of the first Korean immigrants to the United States 121 years ago, the story of Korean Americans has been intertwined with our nation’s social and economic fabric. As the representative for Koreatown in Los Angeles—home to the largest Korean American community in the U.S.—I’m honored to champion this resolution recognizing this community’s immense contributions,” said Rep. Jimmy Gomez. “I am also proud to have helped secure the initial $7 million for the first-ever Korean American National Museum, preserving stories that are foundational to our nation. The story of Korean Americans is integral to the American narrative, and I’m dedicated to ensuring this community receives the recognition and support it deserves.”
88 colleagues including fellow Korean American Reps. Michelle Steel (CA-45), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), and Andy Kim (NJ-03) joined Reps. Kim and Gomez in introducing this resolution.
Read the text of the resolution HERE.
