The Korean society sees the Hispanic community as its largest racial neighbor and believes that cooperation and understanding between the two communities are necessary to develop and expand benefits for the two groups. To reach this desired level of understanding and joint benefit, however, the two groups must break the atmosphere of distrust and open channels of communication with each other.

“In my opinion, when Hispanic people develop a friendship and trust with someone, they treat them warmly and honestly. This means that when we Koreans become close to Hispanic people, they react with more honesty and more enthusiasm,” said Mr. Joo, a representative of Amigo Liquors.

Mr. Kim, director of the 4.29 Center, an organization that settles racial disputes in the Korean-American community, said, “Despite the necessity – the urgency – for dialogue between the two communities, neither is really in a position to initiate it. Both groups need to exert more effort; they have to try harder.”

Mr. Kim also said that there are presently plans to create a “Korean-Hispanic Conference,” the provisional name given to a panel consisting of 10 members from each community, which will strive to open and maintain clear channels of dialogue for both communities. The group will help develop a stronger joint political base for Koreans and Hispanics.

Hispanics have a long immigration history in America and the political foothold they have already established can be of use to the somewhat younger Korean community; more recent immigrants always benefit from the work of earlier immigrants.

Mr. Dae-joong Yoon, executive director of the Korean Resource Center in Los Angeles, said, “Solidarity with Hispanics for the development of immigrants’ rights and benefits is absolutely necessary. Understanding the Hispanic civil rights and labor movements, their history and the inroads they have made in America will create great synergy with our own struggle. For the solidarity among the two communities to work, we must have mutual sympathy.”

Many people agree that addressing the problems of employment facing Korean owners and Hispanic workers is the first step to building sympathy on both sides; Hispanics protest unequal and inhumane treatment at the hands of their Korean employers. Improving and solving this problem is a priority.

“Many Korean business owners employ Hispanic workers – and it is true that they are often treated poorly, and complain about such treatment,” said Mr. Yoon. “This is perhaps the greatest block to good relations among the two communities.”

Some suggest that building up good relations between the two communities can only take place as the result of concrete actions.

Ae-lee Moon, professor of sociology at U.C.L.A., advises the Korean community to make more effort in aiding Hispanics to resolve their feelings of alienation towards Koreans. For example, after school programs owned and run by Koreans could also add courses and activities aimed at Hispanics; Korean organizations could extend their scholarship programs to include Hispanics students.

Moon offered the example of the Jinchung Korean Language Foundation, which has provided scholarships to Hispanic students studying the Korean language. Despite the relatively small size of the award, the effect on the Hispanic community was enormous. “It really worked,” he said.

Moon suggested that more concrete plans are needed, like workshops and discussions. “Hispanics are our largest neighboring racial community; we should create an atmosphere of harmony and cooperation between us. In order to improve the condition of our rights and benefits in America, this is our homework.”