Although some South Koreans support for Kim, others are troubled she won as a Republican when the party is accused of divisive politics and intoleranceThe last Korean American to serve in Congress was Jay Kim, who became the first Korean American to do so in 1992
A week ago, hardly anyone in South Korea had heard the name Young Kim. But after she made history by becoming the first Korean-American woman voted into Congress, taking over Southern California’s 39th district from long-serving Congressman Ed Royce, she became a fixture in South Korean media.
South Koreans and Korean Americans are divided on whether a victory for Kim, who ran as a Republican, is a good thing. But they all agree her win is a sign of progress for Asian-American voices in US politics.
Born in 1962 as Kim Young-OK in Incheon, South Korea, Kim left the country in 1975 with her family, living in Guam before settling in Southern California. Kim studied business administration at the University of Southern California, where she was known as an outspoken and popular student. She began her political career working for Royce, spanning 21 years as community liaison and director of Asian affairs.
From January, Kim will serve as representative of California’s 39th district, encompassing Los Angeles, Orange County and San Bernardino, a region known for its large population of Korean and other Asian Americans.
Although some South Koreans support for Kim, others are troubled she won as a Republican when the party is accused of divisive politics and intolerance towards immigrants. Until winning the election, Kim was all but unknown on the Korean peninsula outside political circles. Her profile is now expanding on Naver, the country’s top search portal, and in major conservative newspapers like the Chosun.
“I think Koreans are always interested in things that raise our status in the world,” said Joseph Yi, a professor of political science at Hanyang University in Seoul and a graduate of UC Berkeley and University of Chicago.
While earning his degrees in the US and living in California, Yi knew Kim and her political views well, and insisted the Republican Party should embrace her.
“For the Republican Party to have a future, they need to include more people like Young Kim,” he said.
Others are less enthusiastic about seeing a Korean American take up the banner of the Republican Party, especially after her narrow victory – Kim won with 51.3 per cent of the vote – means the seat could very well have gone to a Democrat.
