Hopes and cheers for the next 50 years of the Korea Daily took to the skies.
On October 10, hundreds of paper airplanes filled with hope flew over the ballroom at the Audrey Irmas Pavilion in Los Angeles Koreatown during the Korea Daily’s 50th-anniversary event.
The 250 attendees participated in a performance where they each wrote a message of encouragement on a paper airplane and sent it flying.
After the event, the Korea Daily unfolded the hundreds of paper airplanes sent by the participants one by one.
The messages ranged from gratitude to the Korea Daily for its commitment to the Korean American community to support and encouragement as it takes another big step forward to the next 50 years.
Terry Tang, Executive Editor of the LA Times, said, “The Korea Daily is integral to the vitality and culture of Los Angeles,” adding, “Congratulations on 50 years of service to the Korean American community.”
“We wish the new Korea Daily all the best,” said Don Rhee, Chairman of Active USA. Former USC Distinguished Professor Choong Whan Park, who handed a donation to the Korea Daily, wrote a heartwarming message, saying, “Please deliver little happiness to the readers every morning.”
“We look forward to another 50 years as a vibrant media that vividly delivers the voices of Korean Americans across all generations,” said Eunice Song, Executive Director of the Korean American Coalition (KAC).
One guest said, “It’s the first thing I read every morning. You are always doing a good job,” and ”I have been getting good information through the Korea Daily for 40 years of immigration. Thank you.”
Others left suggestions for future development, saying, “I hope you will cover more stories from experts,” and “I hope you will strengthen English content and become a newspaper that mainstream society also seeks out.”
The most common message on the paper airplanes from the guests was a wish for the Pulitzer Prize, the most prestigious award in journalism. This year, the Korea Daily was the first Korean-American newspaper to submit two project articles to the Pulitzer Board.
“I pray that the Korea Daily wins the Pulitzer Prize,” Youngsong Lee, former Chairman of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council wrote. “The Korea Daily will be the first Korean-American media to win the Pulitzer Prize,” another cheered. Some congratulators sent witty and humorous messages. “What’s 50 years, let’s go for 500 years!”
In addition, various messages of encouragement were sent, such as “We will support you to go beyond 50 years and toward the 100th anniversary,” “ I hope you will be the No. 1 media for the second and third generation Korean Americans,” and “I hope you will continue to flourish as the representative media of the Korean American community not only in Los Angeles but also in the United States.”
The Korea Daily has been growing with its readers for the past 50 years. The expectations and wishes of the celebrants on this day were engraved in the hearts of the Korea Daily staff. With that strength, the Korea Daily will walk through the next 50 years.
BY SUAH JANG, HOONSIK WOO [jang.suah@koreadaily.com]
