A Korean American-owned clinic located in the Garment District of Downtown Los Angeles has emerged as a favorite among the Latino community.
The clinic, one of four in the alley, attracts customers from near and far. The manager, who chose to remain anonymous, revealed to the LA Times that 90% of their clients are Hispanic, with many being tourists visiting based on recommendations.
Employee Joy Kim often engages with customers in Spanish, greeting them with “Hola! Masaje” as they traverse the bustling Garment District.
Having been operational for three years, Kim’s clinic presents an inviting atmosphere with several beds organized neatly, all visible behind a clear awning. The walls of the clinic are adorned with comprehensible descriptions of ailments treatable through acupuncture, such as headaches, and back and knee pains.
The clinic offers a 30-minute cupping session for $40 and acupuncture treatments at $60. Despite its modest appearance, the clinic enjoys immense popularity, becoming a word-of-mouth sensation among business owners, employees, and shoppers. Clients value not only the therapeutic benefits of herbal medicine offered here but also appreciate the spiritual significance attributed to the treatments.
Laura Aguilera, a regular at the clinic, shared, “My husband, who has a physically demanding job involving lifting heavy boxes, often suffers from shoulder pains. Here, for $60, he finds relief through cupping and acupuncture treatments.”
“I discovered acupuncture online as a means to aid pregnancy, which motivated me to seek an acupuncturist,” she added. “Joy doesn’t just offer treatments; she also prays for us, an act that we are deeply grateful for.”
The LA Times notes that Kim’s clinic symbolizes the convergence of Latin and Korean cultures. Kim’s effective communication, thanks to her proficiency in Spanish coupled with her cultural and religious empathy, contributes significantly to her rapport with customers.
Kim elaborated, “Many Korean American families find solace in the church. Given that a majority of Latinos in the city identify as Christian, it fosters common ground.”
Echoing similar sentiments, Edward Chang, a professor of ethnic studies at UC Riverside, remarked, “Relations between Korean and Latin American immigrants are multifaceted. Sharing common spaces and ideologies, they embody a symbiotic coexistence marked by shared worker-employer relationships and a unified immigrant ideology.”
BY YEJIN KIM, JUNHAN PARK [kim.yejin3@koreadaily.com]
