Ahead of the December 7 election to choose the Korean-American community leader of Los Angeles Koreatown, the Korean American Federation of Los Angeles (KAFLA) has unveiled a detailed plan for the upcoming election. The election will be centered on mail-in voting to increase voter participation. At least 20,000 and up to 40,000 Koreans are expected to participate in the upcoming election.
On October 22, KAFLA’s election committee held a press conference to announce the detailed plans. According to the committee, the race began on October 23 by distributing candidate registration documents. Those who seek to run for KAFLA’s president will have until October 25 to obtain the registration documents at KAFLA’s office.
The deadline to file for candidacy is November 6, and afterward, the election committee will hold a press conference to announce the candidates and to hear from them. “The candidate press conference is an opportunity to introduce the candidates and call for a fair election,” said Yongho Kim, chair of the KAFLA’s election committee.
Candidate qualifications
Candidates must be U.S. permanent residents or citizens. Candidates must be Korean Americans who have lived in Los Angeles County for the past 10 years as of the filing deadline. They must have served on the board of the KAFLA for at least two years in the last 10 years or have served as an executive (chair of board, vice chair of board, president, or vice president) of a state-registered nonprofit organization for at least three years in the last seven years.
Election Costs
Candidates must pay a $50,000 filing fee and $80,000 in campaign expenses. Prospective candidates may also raise funds. Candidates may raise funds from the moment they receive their candidate filing materials during the filing period until three days before the filing deadline. Campaign contributions can only be made by check or online transfer (Venmo, Zelle, PayPal), and each household (including individuals and businesses) can donate up to $1,500.
How to register to vote
Korean Americans who are 18 years of age or older who lives in Los Angeles County, regardless of status, can register to vote for the organization’s next president. Voter registration begins November 28 and runs through December 2. Voters must have a driver’s license or identification card issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or an identification card issued by the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea. If you recently moved to LA County and have not changed your address yet, you can provide a utility bill as proof of residency. You can register to vote by sending a copy of your ID to KAFLA’s election committee (email, text, or fax), visit online at kafla.info, or register in person at KAFLA’s office at 981 S Western Avenue, Ste 100.
How to vote by mail
Starting November 15, the election committee will mail vote-by-mail ballots to registered voters. Voters will receive voting instructions, a ballot, and a return envelope. Voters who do not receive their mail-in ballot in time will be able to drop it off at an in-person polling place located at KAFLA’s office on December 7. Voters can also vote at an in-person polling location.
“This is our first attempt since 2020 when we introduced mail-in voting, but we’ve been preparing every year,” said Jeff Lee, executive director of KAFLA. “Our partner, Sungwon Printing, is a well-known company that is expert at mail-in voting,” he added. KAFLA said they expect to send out about 40,000 mail-in votes and receive at least 20,000 back.
With only a few days left until the race begins, the election is still being mapped out with rumored candidates Steve Kang, executive vice president of KAFLA, and Robert Ahn, a board member of KAFLA, looking likely to run.
“I heard they’ve been considering it for a very long time,” said an official of KAFLA, adding, “We need people who know the system like Kang and Ahn to run the organization efficiently.”
BY KYEONGJUN KIM, HOONSIK WOO [woo.hoonsik@koreadaily.com]
