The economic and social struggles of the poor in Koreatown, Los Angeles, are influenced by several factors, as highlighted by the candidates David Kim and John Yi in the Korea Daily’s podcast “All Rise.”
David Kim, a candidate running for U.S. Congress in California’s 34th Congressional District, and John Yi, running for California State Assembly District 54, appeared on the podcast to criticize California’s economy, housing, homelessness, and immigration policies.
“Wealthy Korean Americans move out of Koreatown when they reach a certain level of financial security,” said Yi, adding, “I feel that there are many more impoverished people who are left behind in Koreatown.”
He noted that many elderly Korean Americans are living in senior apartments without air conditioning. As an alternative, Yi argued that the government should subsidize rents to prevent tenants from falling into homelessness.
Kim likened the current retirement savings plan to a “three-legged stool.” He stated, “At the federal level, the government has completely abandoned its people. The first leg of the retirement savings plan is your savings from your job, the second leg is your investments, and the last leg is your pension, but right now all you have is a stool with all the legs missing.”
Both candidates agreed that for first-generation immigrants, owning a home was a solid investment and something achievable, but now homeownership is out of reach. Kim argued that “a single economic bill will never pass,” and that “we need to take a step back and fix the corrupt social system first.”
“My father didn’t speak English and wasn’t educated in the U.S.,” Yi said, “but he accumulated more wealth than me, who has perfect English and a Ph.D.,” he added.
Attorney Sidney Sohn brought his daughter to the studio with him. “I often discuss political and social issues with my daughter,” Sohn said, “but the younger generation is not interested in politics and society.” Sohn then asked the candidates how to engage young people in politics. The rest of the podcast is available at the Korea Daily’s YouTube channel.
BY JOONHO CHOI, HOONSIK WOO [choi.joonho1@koreadaily.com]
