Several Koreatown assisted living facilities in Los Angeles have been sued for allegedly refusing non-Korean residents. The companies insist they comply with anti-discrimination laws, attributing the controversy to misunderstandings about cultural features like serving Korean cuisine and having a predominantly Korean-speaking community.
On February 9, LA County residents Lydia Mojica Behrens and Zenaida Mojica, alongside the Fair Housing Federation of Southern California, a housing advocacy nonprofit, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against three Koreatown assisted living operators.
The defendants, ‘A Better Tomorrow Care Corp’, ‘S.M. Healthcare Inc.’, and ‘Spark Family Operations LLC’, operate Koreatown’s Garden Silver Town, Mugunghwa Silvertown, and Sunny Hills Assistant Living, respectively, according to the court filings.
The accused facilities predominantly serve Korean residents, offer Korean food, and have workers speaking mainly Korean. The plaintiffs claim these facilities discriminated by refusing non-Korean applicants, violating the Fair Employment and Housing Act through racial, color, and national origin discrimination.
Koreatown’s assisted living communities are perplexed by the allegations, denying any refusal of non-Korean residents. “It’s nonsensical to suggest we’d refuse non-Koreans; as private entities, we have no reason for denying potential residents,” a Mugunghwa Silvertown spokesperson told the Korea Daily.
“Knowing that some seniors struggle with new environments, we clarify upfront about serving Korean food, the presence of Korean-speaking residents, and Korean-only speaking staff,” it added.
Also, the facilities suggest miscommunication might arise if a non-English-speaking staff member answers calls in the receptionist’s absence. “This could lead to misunderstandings, as some staff, including caregivers, only speak Korean. Their inability to communicate in English doesn’t reflect our policies but highlights a potential barrier we must address,” it explained.
“All employees are trained on anti-discrimination policies before starting. During inquiries, we mention our services such as Korean-speaking caregivers and serving Korean food daily and ask if this is acceptable. If they say yes, we always welcome anyone coming to our assisted living facility,” Garden Silver Town said.
BY HOONSIK WOO [woo.hoonsik@koreadaily.com]
