Federal Way celebrates Korean American Day

Published 3:41 pm Friday, February 5, 2016

More than 300 voices were silenced as Korean-American drummers, dressed in purple, took the stage.

The free dinner guests were finishing was just a small treat compared to what came next – choreographed dance, elaborate, colorful costumes, orchestrated songs, solos, choral singing, public speakers and a video presentation of Koreans in Washington state.

The ninth annual Korean American Day event was no small celebration.

Held at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center’s banquet hall on Jan. 13, public officials and community leaders from throughout Puget Sound came together to honor Jan. 13, 1903, a day meant to pay tribute to the arrival of the first Korean immigrants to the United States.

In 2007, then-Gov. Christine Gregoire signed Senate Bill 5166 into law, declaring Jan. 13 Korean American Day and, since then, it’s been celebrated throughout the state. The bill was initiated by Sen. Paul Shin and passed by the Washington State Senate in a unanimous vote.

Organized by the Washington State Korean American Day Celebration Foundation, the dinner in Federal Way was the second part of an all-day celebration that began in Olympia.

“It’s fitting that we have the ninth annual Korean American Day celebration in Federal Way,” said Lt. Gov. Brad Owen, a keynote speaker at the event. “It’s a city that is home to so many thousands of Korean citizens and citizens of Korean descent.”

Former Federal Way Mayor Michael Park said Federal Way has a large population of Korean-Americans.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, Federal Way’s Korean population was projected to be about 4,760 in 2014. Federal Way’s current population hovers at around 90,000.

But whatever the statistics, Korean-Americans have made a huge impact in Federal Way and throughout the state of Washington.

Park, who will celebrate his 40th anniversary since coming to the United States from Wongu, South Korea, in 1976, has been a force in the Korean-American community.

Park was appointed to the City Council in 1995 and would go on to become deputy mayor and eventually mayor in 1998.

“I was the first Korean-American mayor in the state of Washington,” he said. “It was quite an honor. I believe, truly, America is the land of opportunity, so I say that the American dream is still becoming true.”

Park said that when he arrived in Los Angeles in 1976, he never would have dreamed that he’d make it to where he is today.

After serving two terms as mayor, he left city government in 2011 and founded the Korean School of Federal Way. The school, which teaches Korean language and culture, initially had 80 students enrolled and now serves almost 200 (60 of whom are not of Korean descent).

Korean American Day not only recognizes the cultural and economic influence Koreans have had in Washington, but also Korean War veterans.

“Many Washingtonians have sacrificed to provide the freedom South Korea enjoys today,” said Kim Jun Bae, Board Chair of the Washington State Korean American Day Celebration. “We appreciate your sacrifices, love and standing for our freedom. We could not be where we are today without your care for peace in the world.”

Park said Korean American Day is important because it marks the day that more than 100 Koreans landed in Pearl Harbor.

“We are continuously celebrating that day,” Park said, noting that Korean-Americans are not an isolated group of people and have always tried to become part of the community. “We have a very strong presence, one of the most Korean-American-concentrated in the United States.”

Owen, whose two sons are from Korea, said the turnout at the event was an indication of the “strength, influence and respect” that the Korean community is held in by Washingtonians.

“We have a lot to celebrate, not only here in Federal Way but throughout the great state of Washington,” he said. “The state that is known far and wide as being a very diverse, very welcoming state. We are so fortunate in this nation, but also in this state, that we open our doors from people around the world, we don’t close our doors to people from around the world.”

Federal Way Police Chief Andy Hwang said he was honored to join the celebration.

“Korean-Americans have played a pivotal role in improving and contributing to all aspects of American life, and they add to the richness and diversity of our great state,” he said. “I am proud to be part of a thriving and vibrant Korean-American community, and it has been an honor for me to serve as a law enforcement officer for more than 28 years.”

For more information about the Washington State Korean American Celebration Foundation, visit www.facebook.com/KoreanDay2016.