HR0315 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0315 LRB094 11991 HSS 44942 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, On April 11, 2005, the State of Illinois installed signs at the Number 84 (Lawrence Avenue) eastbound exits of I-90 commonly known as the John F. Kennedy Expressway, marking the direction of the Korea Town area of the Albany Park neighborhood; and

WHEREAS, Like so many other ethnic area designations throughout the City of Chicago, Korea Town is anchored by a commercial street where businesses that both serve and showcase a particular ethnicity have thrived; Lawrence Avenue from California Avenue on the east of Kennedy Expressway became such a street for Chicago's Korean immigrant population; and

WHEREAS, The Koreans played a large role in that neighborhood's revitalization; on October 30, 1992, Lawrence Avenue between Western Avenue on the east and Pulaski Road on the west received the honorary street name of "Seoul Drive" due to the collection of Korean-owned shops and business in the area; at that time, approximately 40% of the businesses in that neighborhood were Korean-owned; and

WHEREAS, In addition to uplifting civic pride through upgrading a neighborhood in decline, Koreans from Korea Town have made significant contributions to their adopted nation; United States Marine Lance Corporal Woon Hyuk Kim is a remarkable example; born on March 26, 1982, in Seoul, South Korea, he and his parents immigrated to Chicago a year later; he grew up near the U.S. Marine Headquarters Drill Center on Lawrence Avenue, where at the time the Korean population was burgeoning; growing up, it seemed to him that his parents were always at work; as a kindergartner, he had a key necklace that he wore so he could let himself in after school, thus making him very independent at a young age; he joined the U.S. Marine Corps to live out that boot camp experience and get some tuition assistance; today, he is stationed in Iraq; he says he is grateful for the adventure God has put him through, but can not wait to get back home to resume his civilian life; and

WHEREAS, It is just such history that has led to the erection of a designation marker indicating the way to Korea Town by traveling east down Seoul Drive; in addition to the merchants and food stores, many Korean restaurants, bars, and nightclubs can be found in Korea Town; the area boasts a large concentration of Korean television and radio stations along with newspaper and magazine publication offices; such businesses are a growing industry, catering to a growing number of Korean immigrants; in 2002, there were eleven major Korean mass media companies targeting Korean immigrants throughout Chicago; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the rich cultural heritage of the area of Chicago known as Korea Town, and we honor the many contributions of Chicago's Korean community; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Kil Young Kim, President of the Korean American Association of Chicago.