“Challenge and growth are the two keywords.”
The incoming 48th presidency of the Korean American Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles (KACCLA) announced its future mission.
KACCLA has recently elected a new team of leaders, including the new President Dong Wan Chong, Senior Vice President Brad Lee, Vice President Daniel Park, and Christine Ko. The 48th leadership will lead the organization starting next month.
One of the initiatives slated by the new team of leaders is to establish a development committee. The purpose of the committee will be to help solve the challenges that Korean-American businesses are facing. KACCLA hopes to function as a ‘bridge’ when businesses ask for help in cooperating with government agencies to resolve diverse problems and concerns.
The new leadership emphasized the importance of resolving the current security issues at businesses in Los Angeles, stating that it will be a crucial factor in revitalizing Los Angeles Koreatown during this time of economic downturn.
“Many business owners are pointing out the current security risks in Koreatown,” Chong said, adding, “We plan to improve security in the neighborhood so that business owners can run their businesses with a peaceful mind.”
“Some businesses report that homeless people near the stores often turn away customers,” he added. “The KACCLA will strengthen communication with the LAPD and the city departments to ensure such issues are properly addressed.”
KACCLA’s 48th presidency was also initially formed to accomplish this goal. Brad Lee, an attorney with strong connections in the mainstream community, will serve as Senior Vice President to help lead the organization’s initiatives. Vice President Daniel Park, a professor at Fullerton College Music Department, will focus on projects related to external affairs like cultural and business-related exchanges with South Korea, and Vice President Christine Ko will be in charge of the organization’s finances.
On top of the new operation plans, KACCLA will continue its social contributions, such as scholarships, and will carry on the ongoing project by the former presidency to promote Koreatown restaurant businesses and to create a smartphone application featuring a Koreatown food map.
Chong also expressed his intention to collaborate with fellow Korean American organizations, believing that working with other local organizations is the key to better speak for the community, such as the Korean American Federation of LA (KAFLA), the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council LA Chapter, and the Los Angeles World-OKTA (OKTA LA).
“It’s important that we (organizations) come together to accomplish our goal of ‘challenge and growth’,” he said. “But first, on July 23, the leaders of these organizations will join me at the 48th presidential inauguration to discuss collaborations in the future.”
BY WONHEE CHO, HOONSIK WOO [cho.wonhee@koreadaily.com]
