The Kim Kyung-jun case is not really well chronicled here. I have only half paid attention to it since it suspiciously looks like a smear campaign, and because, let’s face it, “corruption” stories in Korean newspapers might as well be weather reports (morning light extortion and influence peddling, leading to bribes and price fixing in the afternoon, twenty percent chance of indictments).
Mr. Kim has been sent back to Korea to face the prosecutors, however in his wake there is a quote from a Korean-American community leader in the LA Times that is sure to remind people of some of the themes refrained here at the Hole:
And as often happens when unflattering news about a Korean appears in the media, many Koreans in Southern California fear it will give the community as a whole a black eye.
Charles J. Kim, former national president of the Korean American Coalition and no relation to Kim, said cases like this hurt the image of second-generation Korean Americans.
“I’ve seen so many youngsters trying to cut corners, trying to get on the fast track without thinking of the consequences of their action,” he said.
Chucky? How are you defining “youngsters” and “cutting corners”? And for that matter I might as well state the obvious, Kim’s alleged actions sounds like yet another run-of-the-mill scandal here in Korea. The only reason it’s getting ink is its links to a presidential candidate. Who do you think your fooling in inferring this is an exceptional case Chuck?
9 Comments
“The Kim Kyung-jun case is not really well chronicled here.”
Do Korean nationals even care about this?
uh…
Not exactly headline news here. I imagine Korean American insiders would know, but the general public has no idea.
Does anyone know which media outlet in the L.A. area is most likely to report unflattering news about Koreans?
“Does anyone know which media outlet in the L.A. area is most likely to report unflattering news about Koreans?”
None that I know of, and I lived in L.A. for a long time. The LA TIMES used to regularly have informative and well-written articles about all things Korean: Koreatown, immigration, bars, food, culture, the North, etc.
The LA Times sometimes do, but it’s not as good as the NY Times on that matter. The LA Times is a little out of touch with the shifting demographics of Los Angeles, hence it’s declining readership. The NY Times appears to integrate and embrace a bit more the diversity around them so they are more in touch with Korean American and other ethnic happenings.
#5,
I’d also have to say that the L.A. Weekly is six months to a year ahead of the Times when it comes to news in Koreatown news. Many of the writers and contributing writers (including Jonathan Gold) lives in Koreatown.
“news in Koreatown news.”
My bad. I meant “news in Koreatown.”
From # 6 :’The LA Times is a little out of touch with the shifting demographics of Los Angeles, hence it’s [sic] declining readership.’
This is a PC, vacuum-packed way of saying, ‘The LA Times’ mostly white, English-speaking, American readership has fled in the face of the waves of millions of illegal Spanish-speaking aliens.’ I’ll add that the LA Times welcomes them with open arms and would like more to come. A suicidal policy, but only reflective of the USA in general.