two minority communities .
Robberies and murders of Korean Americans increased as well . In 1991 , there were 30 Korean American homicides in Los Angeles County . That number would dramatically decrease by 1995 ; there were 8 homicides in LA County that year .
By April 1992 , the trial for the Rodney King beating would grab headlines . The African American community expected justice this time . Instead , not guilty verdicts were given by the jury and the police officers were not convicted . The verdicts became the straw that broke the camel ’ s back as the African American community gathered in protest , demanding justice and equality .
Many valuable lessons were learned from the LA Riots and Korean Americans worked to become more visible in America . Korean Americans began to participate in politics and gained empowerment and voice . They also encouraged generational cooperation within their community and involved their American born children in the effort to gain visibility and voice in the United States . And , most importantly , Korean Americans became proactive members of the multiethnic and multiracial societies they were part of .
The wake-up call was heard by the Korean American community and they began to participate in politics and give back to the communities they were part of . Cultural misunderstandings were explained and the African American community began to understand a little better the Korean Americans that were also a struggling minority class . Korean Americans spent the next decade raising their voices . David Ryu was elected as a city council member in Los Angeles in 2015 . He is the first Korean American and second Asian American to ever be elected to LA City Council .
Hallyu Wave and the Future
From 2000 to current day , the popularity of Korean culture hit the American scene hard . Suddenly , Koreatown became a popular place to eat and hang out as interest in Korean food was spurred by trending K-drama and K-pop music . Korean actors like Steven Yeun and Sandra Oh also helped increase interest in Korean culture .
The Hallyu Wave , as this interest is known , increased awareness of Korean culture and helped Korean Americans become more visible and accepted in mainstream American culture . Today , Korean Americans are an integral part of cities like Los Angeles , New York , and other major metropolitan cities . While there are Koreans in nearly every state in America , Koreans are still concentrated in Los Angeles .
Korean Americans also became more organized and sought better voice and representation . In 2010 , a group of Korean American leaders formed the Council of Korean Americans . CKA works to raise the voice and identity of Korean Americans on a national scale .
Today , Korean American students excel in school and professional fields . While the success and visibility of Korean Americans has increased dramatically since the days of the 1992 LA Riots , this small community of almost 2 million still faces many challenges . Today , there are still a number of undocumented workers and students who face deportation and poverty . The working Korean immigrant class continues to struggle to make ends meet . Meanwhile , the older Korean American generation – senior citizens – also struggle to survive .
Korean Americans also still face the challenge of how to incorporate these marginalized groups
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