I AM KOREAN AMERICAN

Own Words

What does it mean to be “Korean American”?
What’s the difference between identifying as “Korean” or “American” or anything else?
To develop and identify one’s nationality is something I’ve personally struggled with for years.

Like some other Korean Americans (if I may generalize), I’m a 1.5 generation immigrant, meaning I’ve immigrated here with my parents. I set foot on America when I was ten, which means I’ve been here for almost a decade — half my life here and half my life in Korea.

Although I’ve yet to gain citizenship, I identify myself as a Korean American. I am more politically active than most American-born citizens out there, and also more aware and engaged with society than a lot of people.

I currently attend De Anza College. I work under the Rappaport Foundation with the Social Justice and Change Fellowship as a fellow. I was also a Senator for the college, and currently am mobilizing students to fight against budget cuts to higher education.

I would like to be more engaged with my own ethnic community however, as I’ve mostly avoided Koreans and Korean Americans in general in the past. I believe the Korean American population could definitely use a louder political voice and I would love to be the stepping stone
But first, I need to learn more about my community and who I’d be working with.

Hit me up whenever y’all, let’s be friends!