Dr. Ki-Yeol Jang, a prominent figure in Los Angeles’ Korean American community and the city’s first-generation Korean dentist, died February 5 at 4:20 a.m. He was 88.
Jang was the son of Sonia Seok (1917–1997), a real estate magnate and advocate for Korean-language signage in Los Angeles, who was widely known as the “Patriotic Grandmother.”
A leader in the Korean American professional and business community, Jang served as president of the Korean American Dental Association and the Korean American Chamber of Commerce of Southern California.
He played a key role in the development of Koreatown during the 1970s and 1980s, serving as chairman of the Koreatown Development Association from 1976 to 1977 and as vice chairman of the Seoul Olympic Support Committee in 1987. In 1977, he became the first Korean American to serve as an examiner for California’s dental licensing board, a position he held for 15 years.
A funeral service will be held at 9:30 a.m. on February 25 at Church of the Hills in Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills.
Jang is survived by his wife, Hee-Soo Jang; sons Andrew and Michael; daughter Lisa; and eight grandchildren.
BY YOONJAE JUNG [jung.yoonjae@koreadaily.com]
