20250SCR_010697CHP INTRODUCED 2026-01-05 PASSED_ASSEMBLY 2026-01-29 PASSED_SENATE 2026-01-12 ENROLLED 2026-01-30 CHAPTERED 2026-02-03 FILED 2026-02-03 2025 SCR CHP CHR 0 Introduced by Senator Choi (Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Mark González) (Coauthors: Senators Alvarado-Gil, Arreguín, Gonzalez, Niello, Richardson, Seyarto, Strickland, Umberg, Valladares, Wahab, and Wiener) (Coauthors: Assembly Members Alanis, Ávila Farías, Chen, Connolly, Dixon, Flora, Fong, Gallagher, Hadwick, Hoover, Lackey, Solache, and Stefani) LEAD_AUTHOR SENATE Choi PRINCIPAL_COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Mark González COAUTHOR SENATE Alvarado-Gil COAUTHOR SENATE Arreguín COAUTHOR SENATE Gonzalez COAUTHOR SENATE Niello COAUTHOR SENATE Richardson COAUTHOR SENATE Seyarto COAUTHOR SENATE Strickland COAUTHOR SENATE Umberg COAUTHOR SENATE Valladares COAUTHOR SENATE Wahab COAUTHOR SENATE Wiener COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Alanis COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ávila Farías COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Chen COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Connolly COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Dixon COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Flora COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Fong COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Gallagher COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Hadwick COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Hoover COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Lackey COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Solache COAUTHOR ASSEMBLY Stefani Relative to Korean American Day.

Korean American Day Korean American Day. This measure would recognize January 13, 2026, as Korean American Day. NO

WHEREAS, On January 13, 1903, the history of Korean immigration to the United States began when courageous Korean individuals landed in the State of Hawaii after venturing across the vast Pacific Ocean aboard the S.S. Gaelic; and

WHEREAS, The hopes of these Korean immigrants for America, the land of opportunity, were quickly hindered by social, economic, and language barriers of unforeseen magnitude; and

WHEREAS, These Korean immigrants did not falter in their pursuit of the American dream, and through their perseverance and sacrifice, they established a new home in a new land and educated their children; and

WHEREAS, Between and 1907, approximately 1,000 Korean Americans entered the United States mainland from the State of Hawaii through the City and County of San Francisco, where the first Korean American civic organizations and Korean language publications were established; and

WHEREAS, While the City and County of San Francisco remained the center of the Korean American community, there was a gradual migration from northern California to southern California as more employment opportunities opened up, and a new, burgeoning community of Korean Americans began to thrive in the City of Los Angeles; and

WHEREAS, The City of Los Angeles is currently home to the largest population of Korean Americans in the United States, with more than 250,000 Korean Americans, and the neighboring County of Orange is home to the second largest Korean American population of any county in the nation; and

WHEREAS, While the first Korean immigrants to the United States fought and sacrificed to establish themselves, their children grew up to be patriotic citizens, many of whom went on to serve in the Armed Forces of the United States during World War II and to make other important contributions to mainstream American society; and

WHEREAS, The amendments to the federal Immigration and Nationality Act (Public Law 89-236) opened the door for a new wave of Korean immigrants to enter the United States. Since its enactment, Korean Americans have become one of the fastest growing groups of Asian Americans in the United States, now numbering more than 2,000,000, representing a more than 79-fold increase since 1960; and

WHEREAS, In 1994, the National Association of Korean Americans (NAKA) was founded in the State of New York as the first national civil and human rights organization of Korean Americans; and

WHEREAS, On June 27, 2002, NAKA was instrumental in passing the historic United States Senate resolution S.R. 185, recognizing the 100th anniversary of Korean immigration to the United States; and

WHEREAS, In accordance with S.R. 185, President George W. Bush issued a proclamation recognizing January 13, 2003, as the Centennial of Korean Immigration to the United States, commending Korean Americans for their “important role in building, defending, and sustaining the United States”; and

WHEREAS, Korean American Day is celebrated on January of each year to not only commemorate the arrival of the first Korean immigrants to the United States, but also to honor Korean Americans’ immense contributions to every aspect of society, including the important advancements of Californians in the fields of finance, technology, law, medicine, education, sports, media, the arts, the military, government, and other areas; and

WHEREAS, Korean Americans have been at the forefront of the cultural phenomenon Hallyu (Korean Wave) through K-Pop, K-Drama, and K-Foods, that have become an integral part of mainstream American society; and

WHEREAS, With diligence, fortitude, and an enduring belief in the American dream, Korean immigrants have helped to turn emergent areas within the State of California into thriving and respectable communities while raising their children with those ideals; and

WHEREAS, As the Korean American community prepares for a new era and creates new history, Korean Americans continue to instill in younger generations an appreciation for the courage and values of their forefathers, a deep sense of their roots, and pride in their own cultural heritage so that they may better contribute to the great State of California, which is rich with ethnic and cultural diversity;

now, therefore,

be it Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby recognizes January 13, 2026, as Korean American Day; and be it further Resolved, That the Legislature commends the many individuals and organizations that have worked diligently to preserve and record the history of Korean immigration to the United States and promote understanding and appreciation of Korean culture and heritage; and be it further Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.