In the aftermath of the Los Angeles Riot of 1992, Korean Americans gained visibility and recognition as a minority group—distinct from Chinese and Japanese Americans—because they were featured so prominently in media coverage. Korean Americans were often a largely invisible group in the United States prior to the Los Angeles Riot. The riot also had detrimental effects on Korean American businesses and raised Korean American political awareness and identity.

The riot occurred after four police officers were acquitted for beating a Black man, Rodney King, during an arrest. The riot caused a large amount of damage to Koreatown, just north of South Central Los Angeles.

Explore further by reading Los Angeles Riot of 1992 on The Asian American Experience database

Impacts on Businesses and Korean American Relations and Political Awareness

In the aftermath of the riot, a study found that more than 50% of Korean businessmen were facing a "very difficult" financial situation, as well as psychological damage. A survey conducted by the Korean American Inter-Agency Council (KAIAC) found that 15% of college-age Korean youth had dropped out of school because of the riot. Many Korean Americans lost faith in the "American Dream" and began to wonder about their place and purpose of life in America. The riot also profoundly impacted Korean American family relations and stability.

Korean Americans faced several challenges related to being a minority group in America. In trying to rebuild after the riot, storeowners discovered just how isolated and excluded from the political mainstream Korean Americans were. City Hall and Sacramento paid little attention to the needs of Korean American victims. Many Korean Americans felt that they had been scapegoated as the cause of America's racial problems by the media and politicians. In the aftermath of the riot, Korean Americans emerged as one of the most vulnerable, exploitable, and underrepresented minority groups in America. Political empowerment became a specific, concrete, and immediate goal for Korean Americans. For second-generation Korean Americans, the riot gave rise to a renewed sense of pride and ethnic awareness.

The riot profoundly altered the perspectives of many second-generation Korean Americans who began to appreciate and closely identify with the suffering of first-generation Korean immigrants. For the first time, the second generation could understand how difficult it was for their parents to adjust to life in America. They saw what happened to their parents' stores and realized the lack of help and protection. Reclaiming "Koreanness" for the second generation brought a new sense of Korean American ethnic identity and activism. A second-generation Korean American student wrote, "I used to just consider myself an American, usually neglecting to express my ethnic background. I was embarrassed and ashamed, because many Koreans had established a negative image among the media and the African Americans."

Second-generation Korean Americans realized that they had to rise to the occasion and provide the bridge between the voiceless and underrepresented Korean immigrants and the mainstream political arena. On May 1, 1992, a few hundred young Korean Americans organized a "peace rally" in the heart of Koreatown. Calling for peace and harmony in the city and an end to violence and destruction, this rally would be one of the largest Asian American gatherings in the 150-year history of Asian Americans in the United States. On May 2, 1992, approximately 30,000—mostly Korean Americans—attended the peace rally to protest the lack of police protection during the riot and to call for racial harmony in the city. This rally marked a truly historic moment of unity among young, old, men, women, immigrant, 1.5-generation, and second-generation Korean Americans.

Explore further by reading 1.5 Generation Asian Americans on The Asian American Experience database

Multiethnic Coalition Building

In the aftermath of the riot, many Korean Americans felt that they must adjust their thinking and behavior to live in a multiethnic society. The Korean American community felt they needed to work with other communities and participate in the making of a multiethnic Los Angeles. First-generation Korean Americans realized that, because they were reared in a homogeneous society, they were ill-prepared for life in a multiethnic metropolis. During the riot, Korean-language media, especially radio stations, functioned as the "life-line" for the Korean immigrant community, providing critical information to desperate listeners.

After the riot, Korean Americans showed greater interest in learning about Latino and African American history and culture. Korean-language newspapers, television, and radio stations continued to inform, educate, and enlighten the community about African American and Latino experiences. The Korean American community began to play an active role in promoting mutual understanding between different groups in Los Angeles. Such efforts include the Black-Korean Christian Alliance, scholarships to African American students, trips to South Korea sponsored by the Korean government, and other activities.

Explore further by reading Black-Korean Relations, 1965–1992 on The Asian American Experience database

Challenges

The Los Angeles Riot of 1992 revealed the complexity of interracial relations. However, Los Angeles is still challenged by poor planning when it comes to addressing the needs caused by economic and demographic restructuring during the late 1990s and early 21st century. The lack of visions, plans, resources, and leadership pose major challenges for the city as it tries to build its economic base and human relations between its many diverse communities.

Although the riot raised the social and political consciousness of Korean immigrants, implementing changes and actions to empower the community in a multiethnic and multiracial environment has not been easy. The riot of 1992 not only increased ethnic solidarity among Korean Americans, but also raised multiethnic consciousness.

Continue your exploration of the Los Angeles Riot’s impact on race relations with this scholarly Round Table discussion

Edward Chang

This article is drawn from Bloomsbury / ABC-CLIO's The Asian American Experience academic database.

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