Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ office assigned a Korean American high school intern to communicate with the Korean American media. This indicates that, even after eight months in office, the mayor’s office still lacks an effective communication channel with the Korean American community.
The high school intern, a Korean American girl, employed by the mayor’s office, has been responsible for contacting Korean American media outlets over the past three to four weeks. Her task has involved verifying and updating contact information, including phone numbers and email addresses. She remarked, “I’m currently the sole person in the mayor’s office handling this responsibility.”
When the Korea Daily reached out to the mayor’s office, it was confirmed that the high school intern has returned to school as the summer break ends. Consequently, the mayor’s office no longer possesses a Korean American staff member to engage with the Korean American media.
Within the mayor’s office, there are three principal roles designated for interacting with the Korean American community. Regrettably, all of these positions are either vacant or occupied by non-Korean individuals.
The aide responsible for the central region and entrusted with reporting on pending issues within the Korean American community is non-Korean. Traditionally, a Korean American professional has filled this position, someone well-acquainted with the Korean American community’s needs. This individual acts as an intermediary between Korean American organizations, like the Korean American Federation of Los Angeles, and key municipal departments such as the Mayor’s Office. The aide ensures that the demands and voices of the Korean American community are heard at City Hall.
During Mayor Eric Garcetti’s tenure, a Korean American named Robert Park held the position of central region aide, providing insights on pending issues in the Korean American community to the mayor’s office. Subsequently, Su In Lee, an aide in Councilmember Nithya Raman’s office for the 4th District, was considered for this role. However, she ultimately chose to become the small business policy manager for the Mayor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, thereby prolonging the vacancy.
Serapia Kim, who was part of Mayor Bass’ team during the initial stages of her term, later transferred to U.S. Rep. Jimmy Gomez’s office. Afterward, she left that position to pursue a legal education. The city then appointed a non-Korean aide to fill the vacancy.
Another unoccupied position is that of a Korean American press secretary. The mayor’s office stated, “We have been actively seeking candidates for the deputy mayor-level spokesperson and deputy press secretary roles dedicated to media communication. Despite conducting interviews with various Korean American political and media figures for several months, we have yet to finalize a selection.”
Furthermore, the role of a Korean language “bilingual community specialist,” responsible for conveying corrective actions through diverse channels, also remains vacant.
An individual knowledgeable about the city hall’s internal affairs explained, “Given the responsibility of overseeing the entire Korean American community, we have been meticulous in our candidate assessment. However, we acknowledge that a decision is still pending. Our policy emphasizes identifying qualified individuals committed to long-term service.”
A practical hurdle is the shortage of job seekers interested in municipal roles, spanning from entry-level positions to those requiring extensive experience. With young adults in their 20s and 30s increasingly seeking remote employment opportunities, especially since the pandemic, the city has received fewer resumes compared to previous years.
Steve Kang, director of KYCC, remarked, “The overall count of Korean American aides has dwindled recently, and young Korean Americans with academic backgrounds in politics, public administration, and journalism have displayed limited enthusiasm for public service. We recommend a community-wide effort to attract them.”
In a recent interview with the Korean American press, Mayor Bass pledged to “actively engage with the Korean American community.” It remains to be seen how the mayor’s office, which had to resort to a high school intern due to the inability to recruit a qualified Korean American employee, will develop a comprehensive strategy for “proactive communication.”
BY BRIAN CHOI [choi.inseong@koreadaily.com]
