Councilmember Valerie Ervin Recognizes Korean American Day

Montgomery County Councilmember Valerie Ervin (D-District 5) will join leaders of the Korean community and Maryland State Delegate Susan Lee Friday to officially celebrate the passage of a key amendment to Montgomery’s Special Days of Commemoration law.

It is an amendment that has officially designated Jan. 13 as Korean American Day. It's reflective of the first Korean immigrants who arrived in the Hawaiian Islands in 1903.

The celebration of the amendment to the law will take place Friday, April 20 on the third floor of the Council Office Building located at 100 Maryland Ave. in Rockville. It is expected to start at 3:30 p.m.

The special county day also will celebrate the contributions of Korean Americans to life in Montgomery County and throughout the US.

“Through the passage of this legislation, the council salutes the Korean community, said Ervin. “Korean American Day will now be recognized by county residents in perpetuity, and we can all join in the celebration.”

James Suh, president of the Korean American Association of Maryland, said having Montgomery officially recognize the importance of this day is extremely important to the members of the county’s Korean community.

"I wish to applaud the Montgomery County Council for amending its law and designating Jan. 13 as a Korean American Day,” said Suh. “The day signifies the acceptance and recognition of the achievements of the Korean Americans and immigrants who worked hard to improve the quality of life in Montgomery County and the State of Maryland."

Chung Pak, a commissioner of the Maryland Higher Education Commission, applauds the commemoration.

“Korean Americans and immigrants have made significant contributions in the areas of science, technology, business, education and arts for the last 109 years and made the ultimate sacrifices in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, the Iraq War, the war in Afghanistan and the war on terror to protect and improve the lives of countless people in Montgomery County, the State of Maryland and our nation," Pak said.