Advocacy

The Korean American Coalition is and has been involved in a number of advocacy efforts. Some recent advocacy initiatives have included:

- 2012- Support the Koreatown Redistricting effort. Organizing Koreatown residents to submit public input in favor of keeping Wilshire Center Koreatown Neighborhood Council whole at the State Assembly, State Senate, U.S. Congressional District and City Council District levels.

- 2011 - Testimony before the California State Senate to oppose the term “Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner” on behalf of the many practicing Korean American “han-eui-sas.”

- 2010 - The organizing of a coalition to advocate for clear definitions and regulations concerning Korean American tutorial centers, also known as hakwons, in Los Angeles and Orange County.

- 2010 (ongoing) - Support for the Korean Refugee Adoption Act: KAC pushed for legislation that, if passed, would push the Secretary of State to create a plan to more effectively allow Americans to adopt North Korean refugee orphans in China and other neighboring countries.

- 2010 - The National THINK Conference: The Topple Hunger in North Korea Conference was designed to gather key policymakers for discussion, as well as to educate the general public on the hunger and human rights crises in North Korea.

- 2010 - Koreatown Boundaries: KAC was a key member of a coalition that successfully pushed the Los Angeles City Council for the official ratification of Koreatown's boundaries in Los Angeles.

- 2010 - Census education and assistance during the 2010 Census drive: Korean Americans in particular and Asian Americans in general were severely undercounted during the 2000 Census. KAC worked to remedy this during the 2010 Census.

- 2009 - Lobbying and consultation in an effort to build a police station that would patrol all of Koreatown: Two police stations split Koreatown in half, resulting in poor communication between officers and the community. This action was successful, resulting in a new police station that boasts the greatest concentration of Korean-speaking officers in Los Angeles.

- 2009 - The Michael Cho Case: KAC led a petition drive pushing for a federal investigation into the killing of Michael Cho by two police officers in La Habra, California.

- 2008 - Advocacy against the LPGA's proposed English language proficiency requirement: KAC with a coalition of Asian Pacific Islander organizations successfully advocated against an English language proficiency requirement that unfairly targeted golfers of Korean descent. This requirement was eventually withdrawn.