[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 7 (Friday, January 12, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E34]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    CELEBRATING KOREAN-AMERICAN DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 12, 2024

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, as Co-Chair of the 
Congressional Caucus on Korea, I am grateful to recognize Korean 
American Day. Celebrated annually on January 13, it commemorates the 
arrival of the first Korean immigrants on that day in 1903.
  In 2003, President George W. Bush, proclaimed January 13, as Korean 
American Day, and in 2005, the U.S. House and Senate passed resolutions 
demonstrating their unanimous support for the recognition, and 
appreciation of the Korean American community.
  South Carolina is blessed to be the home of a large and vibrant 
Korean American population. For almost 20 years, Columbia, South 
Carolina, has welcomed thousands of people from across the state for 
their Korean Festival, an experience filled with food, music, dancing, 
and traditions at the Korean Presbyterian Church on Richland Street.
  I was also grateful to have celebrated the 70th Anniversary of the 
signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement on July 27, with Ambassador 
Hyun-Dong Cho and several members of the Korean National Assembly 
ruling party, People Power Party Leader, Assemblyman Gi-Hyeon Kim, 
members of the National Assembly Chul-Gyu Lee, Seok-Ki Kim, Sang-Bum 
Yoo, Min-Kuk Kang, and Chairman of the International Relations 
Committee of the People Power Party and former National Assemblyman 
Jae-Young Lee.
  On several occasions, I have had the good fortune of visiting South 
Korea and have personally experienced the warmth of its people. In 
2023, I visited North Korea at Pyongyang and I saw firsthand the 
contrast of dictatorship there of darkness in the North as contrasted 
to the vibrancy of the South.
  I am grateful for the vast contributions Korean Americans bring to 
our community, from business to culture, and to commemorate this day. 
Their continued success is a tribute to the American Dream fulfilled.

                          ____________________