The LA City Council Redistricting Plan Disappoints
According to the Los Angeles Times, the LA Redistricting Commission voted 16 to 5, approving the redistricting plan. However, some members, such as Jose Cornejo, refers to the process and the proposed district lines themselves as “ugly.” Commissioner David Roberti, former state senator, admits his guilty conscious in rejecting the demands of hundreds of Korean Americans. To find out more, read here.
North Korea Halts Nuclear Program for U.S. Aid
North Korea announced its nuclear weapons tests and uranium enrichment suspension. Although the feelings toward North Korea’s new leader, Kim Jong-Un, is mixed, his agreement to halt its nuclear program in exchange for food aid leaves room for potential negotiations and engagement with the U.S. For more information, click here.
By Steven Lee Myers & Cho Sang-Hun via The New York Times
Rumors of Kim Jong-Un’s Assassination
Weibo, the Chinese micro-blogging service, was flooded with rumors that North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Un, was assassinated this morning in Beijing. Picking up on this news, Kim Jong-Un began to trend on Twitter. However, even now, there is no confirmation of his death. For more information, read here.
New Challenges for Young North Korean Defectors
What comes after escaping? Read about the challenges young N. Korea defectors face after finding freedom in South Korea here.
Naleigh Moon Music Video
Check out the music video Grey’s Anatomy star, Katherine Heigl, made with her husband, singer Josh Kelly, for their Korean daughter.
OC Homicide No. 5
Wrong-way driver faces murder charge of Kyung Namgoong. Read more about Ruben Gurrola’s accusation here.
Do elite universities discriminate against Asian-Americans?
Find out here.
Girls’ Generation U.S. Debut
Girls’ Generation, the leading K-pop group, meets showers of praise after appearing on the two famous talk shows, CBS’ “The Late Show with David Letterman” and ABC’s morning show “Live! with Kelly.” Read more here.
Photo from Hancinema
NetKAL Fellows Weigh in on Kim Jong Il’s Death
Published by University of Southern California’s Center for Asian Pacific Leadership
Overall Summary: Kim Jong Il’s 15-year reign over the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea ended last Saturday with his death, reportedly due to a heart attack. NetKAL fellows, Adrian Hong, managing director of Pegasus Strategies and founding member of Liberty in North Korea (LiNK), and Hannah Song, Executive Director of LiNK, provide their predictions and commentary on the upcoming rule of regime successor, Kim Jong Un.
How to Free North Korea by Adrian Hong of NetKAL III
Published by LiNK in Press Release Distribution
Primary Researcher & Author: Hannah Song, Liberty in North Korea
- Hong states now is the time for the international community to lead a diplomatic offensive seeking global isolation of Pyongyang. A deliberate, joint effort is what is needed to open North Korea, weaken the regime, and lead it to a soft landing to benefit all of its regional neighbors, while helping the North Korean people to rise up and take ownership of their nation. In his publication in Foreign Policy Magazine, Hong shares his certainty that North Korea will fall and articulates the main players and partnerships that will be central to handling the regime shift in a rational, reasonable, and stable manner.
- For full article: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/12/19/how_to_free_north_korea
- Adrian Hong’s FOX News interview: http://video.foxnews.com/v/1336017966001/how-will-kim-jong-ils-death-change-north-korea/
North Korean Voices by Hannah Song of NetKAL IV
Published by LiNK in Press Release Distribution
Primary Researcher & Author: Hannah Song, Liberty in North Korea
- The sudden death of Kim Jong-il has triggered a deluge of early commentary and analysis on what this may mean for North Korea and the region. The North Koreans themselves are of course the people who will be affected most by this development. Under Song’s leadership, LiNK has compiled the voices of the North Korean refugees.
- Full press release at: http://www.prlog.org/11753415-link-north-korean-refugees-on-kim-jong-ils-death-and-the-succession.html
Highlights from: A Community of Contrasts Asian Americans in the United States: 2011
Published by Asian American Center for Advancing Justice
Primary Researcher & Co-Author: Asian Pacific American Legal Center
Co-Author: Asian American Justice Center
Overall Summary: Korean Americans are the fifth largest Asian American ethnic group. Approximately 65% are foreign-born, and 29% of the foreign-born population entered between 2000 and 2010. The majority of legal permanent residents born in South Korea (52%) entered under employment-based preferences, while 48% entered as the immediate relatives of U.S. citizens or under family-sponsored preferences. Approximately 71% of Korean Americans speak a language other than English at home, 41% are limited-English proficient, and 31% live in linguistically isolated households. Over one in five Korean Americans are without health insurance.
Population
- Korean Americans are fifth largest Asian-American ethnic groups after Chinese, Filipino, Indian, and Vietnamese.
- The population growth of Korean-Americans is 39%. The fast growing group Bangladeshi recorded 157%. Pakistani and Sri Lanken followed with 100% and 85%. Chinese and Japanese showed 39% and 14%.
- Percent of population that is mixed race: Korean-Americans ranked 6th with 14%. Japanese were the first with 35%, Indonesian and Thai were also the top group with 26% and 23%.
- Percent of population who are foreign-born among Korean Americans is 65%. This rate is higher than other major groups such as Chinese (61%), Filipino (53%) and Japanese (28%).
Civic Engagement
- About half (54%) of foreign born Korean-Americans have naturalized.
- There are 240,000 legal permanent residents and 140,000 are able to naturalize.
- Percent of population who are foreign-born among Korean-Americans is 65%. This rate is higher than other major groups such as Chinese (61%), Filipino (53%) and Japanese (28%).
Immigration
- 52% of South Korean-born persons obtaining Legal Permanent Resident status in 2010 entered under employment based preferences.
- The undocumented population of Korean-Americans dropped from approximately 240,000 in 2008 to 170,000 in 2010.
Age
- The median age of Korean Americans is 33, making them younger than the overall age of U.S. population (37) and non-Hispanic Whites (41). Over one-quarter of Korean Americans are children under the age of 18.
Language
- Approximately 71% of Korean Americans speak a language other than English at home. This is lower than other Asian American groups such as Bangladeshi (92%), Vietnamese (84%) and Chinese (77%).
- Approximately 41% of Korean-Americans are limited-English proficient (LEP) and experience some difficulty communicating in English. This rate is lower than Vietnamese (51%), but higher than Japanese (18%).
- 31% of Korean-Americans are linguistically isolated; they are the 2nd largest group after Vietnamese (35%).
Education
- 92% of Korean Americans acquired high school diploma and 52% received a Bachelor’s degree (6th). Taiwanese showed the highest rate which had 95% high school degree and 73% college degree. Indonesians and Japanese followed after.
Income & Poverty
- Korean-Americans’ house income is lower than the average total income ($27,100). Korean-Americans earned $26,118, which is lower than the average of other major Asian groups (Taiwanese, Japanese, Chinese).
- Approximately one fifth of Korean-American seniors (age 64+) live in poverty, which is the highest rate among Asian-American groups.
- Roughly 2% of Korean-American households access cash public assistance. This is significantly lower than other groups such as Hmong (13%), Cambodians (8%).
Employment
- Korean-Americans are less likely to be unemployed. Stats indicate that the unemployment rate of Korean-Americans is 6%, lower than the average rate of 8%. Hmong and Cambodians showed the highest unemployment rate with 11% and 8%.
Housing
- Less than half of Korean-Americans own their homes. This rate is lower than other major groups such as Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, and Vietnamese.
Health
- Korean Americans are twice as likely as non-Hispanic Whites to contract hepatitis.
- More than one fifth of Korean-Americans are uninsured, they are 3rd largest group that do not have the health insurance.
You can access the full report here.
