KANA, the Korean Professional Workers Association, the Korean Political Development Committee, the NY Korean Arts Association, and the NY Korean Senior Soccer Association, among others, have publicly declared their endorsement for Grace Meng, who is running for Democratic State Representative of New York in the upcoming primary, on September 9th. This is news because Meng is not Korean but Chinese.
In all, 13 groups joined on August 19 to hold a press conference at the Yollin Konggan ('Open Space') to announce their support of Meng and her team, the so-called Flushing Politicians United. Like many others, these organizations are fully behind the development of Korean-American political power in the City and State. Interestingly, they see Meng's candidacy as one way to increase this power.
Terrence Park, leader of the Korean Political Development Committee, who attended the conference, emphasized: "As a candidate, Grace Meng is well prepared and capable of standing behind Korean interests. With the support and encouragement of Korean groups, we, Grace Meng and the Flushing Politicians United will certainly win in the Democratic Party primary election in September."
Ms. Meng herself said, "I am so pleased by this public endorsement from so many Korean groups. I feel stronger and stronger, as though I have thousands of troops and horses in my campaign." She added, "I will try my best to win. I truly understand what your support means and I will be a representative or spokesperson for Korean community and a bridge between the Korean community and mainstream America."
The Korean groups who support Meng are: The NY Korean Traditional Performing Music Association (Chairwoman Yun-sook Park), the NY Korean Senior Soccer Association (Leader Young-yoo Choi), the National Unification Advisory Council of Korea (Chairman Chun-hyong Lee), the NY Korean Arts Association (director Ok-gun Chu), the Korean Young-Adult Volunteer Association (director Andy Kim), the NY Korean National Headquarters of Family Unity and National Unity Movement
(Yong-yol Chong), The Chungcheongdo (Association of the Korean Chung-cheong Province, leader Ki-sop Whang), the Albany Korean Society Association (chairman Kye-chun Lee), The Campaign for a Bright and Healthy Korean Society (chairman Kyong-rak Kim), KANA(Chairman Richard Park), the Korean-America Women's Association (Sun-ja Paek), and the Korean Political Development Committee (Terrence Park).
Many leaders or chairmen have given speeches in support of Meng, while some have drawn the connection that support for Meng might be the cornerstone of support for Terrence Park, who wants to challenge the next city councilman. This caused some confusion among participants who came out to support Meng, and not Park.
Grace Meng impressed the New York Korean community recently, when she sang the Korean National Anthem on stage, at a celebration of the Korean Independence Day (August 15th), which honors Korea's independence from Japan, in 1945. Some Korean critics interpreted her act as a political gesture or campaign stunt at an otherwise sacred occasion. Some criticized the authorities who allowed her performance.
