The Korean American Grassroots Conference held its inaugural Korean American Night on Tuesday at LG’s Washington office, drawing lawmakers and community leaders who pointed to four Korean American members of Congress and about 90 Korean American congressional staffers as evidence of the community’s growing political influence. The event, organized by the nonpartisan civic group, underscored both the progress Korean Americans have made in U.S. politics and the disagreements within the community over the direction of bilateral relations.
Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ), the son of immigrants who said he entered Congress about 20 years ago as a graduate fellow with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, recalled that he often felt he did not belong because he lacked political connections. “I wish I had been connected to an organization like KAGC at the time,” Kim said. He emphasized investing in the next generation through fellowship and internship programs such as those KAGC operates.
Kim said politics is one of the ways people shape the future in which they and their children will live. “I sincerely believe the next 10 years will be the most dynamic decade yet for Korean Americans and Asian Americans in politics and government,” he said.
Rep. Young Kim (R-CA), chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific, credited KAGC’s programs with helping establish a pipeline for future Korean American leaders. She noted that South Korea is the United States’ eighth-largest trading partner and cited Seoul’s $350 billion investment commitment under a bilateral trade agreement. Kim said she would continue seeking passage of the Partner with Korea Act, legislation that would establish up to 15,000 E-4 work visas for highly skilled South Korean professionals.
On immigration enforcement, Young Kim said President Donald Trump wants legal immigrants to receive the first opportunity to pursue the American Dream.
The lawmakers offered sharply different assessments of Michelle Steel, the U.S. ambassador-designate to South Korea who was confirmed by the Senate last Wednesday in a 55-39 vote. Young Kim described Steel as “the right person at the right time” for the bilateral relationship, saying Steel understands both countries and has extensive knowledge of the alliance, North Korea policy and North Korean human rights. “I have a lot of faith in her and a lot of optimism,” Young Kim said.
Sen. Andy Kim, however, accused Steel of using racially based attacks against Asian American political candidates, including military veterans, and called on her to apologize. Kim said Steel had portrayed some Asian American candidates who served in the U.S. military as sympathetic to communism. Most Democratic senators opposed Steel’s nomination.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) said Korean Americans should seek greater representation in elected office, the federal judiciary and the legislative branch. “I did not come here simply to praise you,” Booker said. “I came here to challenge you.”
Booker praised Andy Kim for helping clean the U.S. Capitol after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack. “When others were focused on their own safety, he went out into the Capitol and began cleaning it himself,” Booker said. “He showed that power does not necessarily come from physical stature. It can come from humility and reverence.”
Booker said the United States has reached a generational turning point that requires a renewal of democracy and urged Korean Americans to take a leading role. “My hope is that for our democracy to survive and thrive, we urgently need more Koreans to enter the political realm and the leadership realm in American politics,” he said.
Dongsuk Kim, founder and president of KAGC, said the organization focuses on protecting Korean American interests and strengthening relations between the United States and South Korea. “Maintaining a consistently bipartisan position is essential to keeping the U.S.-South Korea relationship strong and protecting Korean American political influence,” he said.
KAGC began in the Korean American community in New York before establishing a presence in Washington. For more than a decade, it has operated programs connecting Korean American communities across the country with members of Congress.
Hwang Sangyeon, head of LG’s Washington office, described KAGC as a bridge that helps Korean Americans find their voices, build relationships and participate in civic life. “The U.S.-South Korea alliance is more important than ever,” Hwang said. “It now extends beyond security to technology, innovation, investment, democracy, culture and shared values.” He added, “I sincerely believe someone in this room could become the next Andy Kim or the next Young Kim.”
Wonseok Song, KAGC’s founder and executive director, said it was difficult to find Korean American staff members on Capitol Hill 15 years ago. “Today, about 90 are working throughout Congress,” Song said. “We will continue serving as a bridge between the Korean American community and the American political system.”