Mayor Karen Bass has appointed Jieun Kim as Deputy Director of Korean Language Communications just one year after taking office. The mayor’s office announced on January 3 that Jieun Kim, a former Field Representative for the City Council’s 12th District, has been hired for the role. This position is designed to enhance the city’s communication with the Korean American community.
The Korea Daily has reported on the need for a Korean-American staff member in charge of communications with the public and media since the beginning of the mayor’s administration, considering the significant Korean-American population in Los Angeles. However, this need has not been met until now. Last summer, the mayor’s assignment of Korean-American media communications to a high school intern sparked controversy.
Following the publication of the article, the mayor’s office initiated a comprehensive recruitment drive to hire a Korean-speaking communications officer. The search targeted Korean Americans in political circles and the party, culminating in Kim’s appointment after four months.
The public affairs team felt that Kim was well-suited for the job due to her experience in a city councilmember’s office and at Korean-American media companies. Kim, who majored in journalism and Chinese at Chung-Ang University, moved to the U.S. in 2010. She has worked for the Korea Times Los Angeles, KBS America, and as a Field Representative for the 12th District Council.
“Hiring a Korean language communications director means that the Mayor’s Office will communicate more closely with the Korean-American community,” said Kim. “I will do my best to ensure that the Mayor and the Mayor’s Office have more frequent opportunities to engage with the Korean-American community.”
Meanwhile, the Mayor’s Communications Office team, led by the Deputy Mayor of Communications, now totals 11 staffers, including specialists in Spanish and Korean for foreign language communications.
BY BRIAN CHOI, JUNHAN PARK [ichoi@koreadaily.com]
