Political Formation of Korean Americans in Los Angeles: Visions of Political Power, 1992-1996

Since the Los Angeles Civil Unrest of 1992, Korean Americans have taken their first steps toward mainstream political participation and inclusion. From its initial stages, their struggle for political empowerment has been marked by profound partisan divisions. These divisions implicate a range of issues and point to pivotal concerns that organize and divide the political formation of the Korean American community. As the Korean American community is being transformed by its political engagement, mainstream politics in Los Angeles is also undergoing change as it confronts the new issues and complexities Korean Americans have brought to the city's political agenda.