On April 28, 1992, Los Angeles was on the brink of chaos. Long-simmering tensions and anger erupted the next day, on April 29, engulfing Koreatown in violence.
No Memorial Events Mark the 33rd Anniversary
The anniversary of the April 29 LA riots, often referred to simply as “4·29,” is increasingly being forgotten. The calm atmosphere leading up to the 33rd anniversary underscores this shift.
In previous years, various events commemorating 4·29 were held across the Korean American community and throughout Los Angeles. This year, however, not even small gatherings have been announced.
The City of Los Angeles plans to issue only a brief statement this year. LA Mayor Karen Bass also released a simple statement last year without organizing any commemorative events.
Kim Ji-Eun, press deputy for the Mayor’s Office, stated, “We need to verify the reasons for not holding an event, but it appears that busy city affairs, such as wildfire recovery efforts, played a role.”
The Korean American Federation of Los Angeles (President Robert Ahn) has also planned no special programs beyond a joint statement with some local politicians.
Jeff Lee, secretary-general of the Federation, explained, “We had a lot on our schedule, including preparations for the South Korean early presidential election and wildfire recovery,” adding, “We tried to organize a joint memorial event with the Black community, but it fell through due to circumstances on their side.”
Broader Korean American Community Participation Declines
Other Korean American organizations, including the Koreatown Youth and Community Center (KYCC), also have no 4·29-related events planned this year. This contrasts sharply with earlier times when political leaders and groups actively associated themselves with the significance of the LA riots.
Even Korean American churches, which once regularly engaged with Black churches through joint worship services and seminars following 4·29, no longer maintain such exchanges.
Pastor Song Jung-Myung of the North America Holy City Movement Headquarters noted, “Many first-generation pastors who experienced the LA riots have now passed away, and the Korean American church community has shifted generations,” adding, “Younger pastors seem less interested in events like 4·29, and naturally, exchanges with the Black church community have disappeared, weakening the historical connection.”
Passing of the Torch to the Next Generation Fades
Efforts to educate the next generation about the history and meaning of 4·29 have also diminished compared to the past. With no central organization dedicated to preserving this history, only occasional event-based programs are being conducted.
The Hwarang Youth Foundation (President Park Yoon-Sook), a Korean American second-generation volunteer organization, plans to include discussions of the LA riots as part of its leadership program scheduled for June.
President Park Yoon-Sook commented, “We used to hold events every 4·29 season, but due to scheduling conflicts, it was difficult this year,” adding, “Other organizations are likely in similar situations, but it’s sad to see 4·29 gradually becoming an issue outside of public attention.”
Survivors Age, Organizations Disappear
Decades have passed since the LA riots, and the generation that lived through that period is aging.
The April 29 LA Commemoration Foundation, which once helped maintain the memory of the riots, no longer exists.
Jenny Lee, a former foundation member now in her seventies, said, “Many Korean Americans who suffered during that time are now elderly, often facing mobility issues or hospitalization,” adding, “It’s heartbreaking to see the Korean American community forgetting the painful history of 4·29 and neglecting those who lived through it.”
BY KYEONGJUN KIM [kim.kyeongjun1@koreadaily.com]
