Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced that she is sending two Korean-American staff delegations to South Korea to attend the 2024 10th Global Korean Politicians Forum.
The event, which brings together ethnic Korean politicians and government officials worldwide, will be held August 20-23 in Seoul, South Korea. No taxpayer dollars will be used for this trip.
The delegation is comprised of Jieun Kim, Deputy Director of Korean Language Communications for the Mayor’s Office, and Su In Lee, Small Business Policy Manager for the Mayor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. Both have a history of serving the Los Angeles community, particularly in supporting the Korean-American community.
“Los Angeles is home to the largest Korean-American community outside of South Korea, and it is important that we maintain and strengthen these important relationships,” said Mayor Bass. ”This delegation will help us accomplish that goal and support Angelinos here in Los Angeles.”
Kim and Lee also serve as the board members of the Korean American Political Aides Association, where they are committed to strengthening connections between the mainstream society and the Korean-American community and fostering future Korean-American leadership through their current positions.
The Global Korean Politicians Forum, hosted by Global Korean Politicians Council and sponsored by the Overseas Koreans Cooperation Center, was first launched in 2007 to promote the rights and interests of the Korean community in their countries of residence and to promote mutual development with their home country.
This year, 100 participants from 14 countries are participating, including the United States, such as Representative Daniel Pae of Oklahoma, and for the first time, aides from various countries, including the officers of the Korean American Political Aides Association of Los Angeles, which was officially established this year, have been invited.
Together with experts in the fields of peace and security, history and heritage, welfare and policy, and education and culture, they will exchange views on challenges and issues facing Korean society, such as the declining birthrate and aging population, understanding the global spread of Korean culture, and embracing cultural diversity.
BY HOONSIK WOO [woo.hoonsik@koreadaily.com]
