Day of Korea’s Independence Is Celebrated by 600

More than 600 Korean-Americans on Sunday celebrated the 43rd anniversary of Korea’s independence from Japan with a barbecue, folk dances and speeches at Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley.

“This is to celebrate the end of Japan’s 36-year colonial rule,” said H. Andrew Kim, vice president of the Korean American Assn. of Orange County.

California Lt. Gov. Leo McCarthy, who gave the keynote speech, praised South Korea and noted recent political changes there, including a new South Korean constitution and the holding of democratic elections for the National Assembly.

“Billions of people will be watching as Korea takes a place among the other major countries of the world. . . . You have a right to be proud,” McCarthy said.

The event celebrated Japan’s loss of control of Korea, on Aug. 15, 1945, after World War II. Japan took control of Korea in 1910. As part of a special message, the Rev. Jin Sun Rang of the Zion Korean Presbyterian Church in Anaheim recalled his imprisonment in Korea as a high school student. “The Japanese forced us to worship the Shinto shrine. Many Korean Christians who refused the Shinto shrine idolatry were imprisoned and killed,” he said.

At the conclusion, Rang offered a prayer urging God to help unify Korea, which has been split into two north and south countries since 1948, into one nation.

Soccer Match, Race

Activities occurred beneath a blue-and-red South Korean flag tied to a large helium-filled balloon. Martial arts demonstrations, a soccer match and footrace were held. Many women wore traditional han bok costumes, long flowing gowns of colorful silk, while elderly men escaped the hot sun and played chang ki, or Korean chess, beneath the shade of large trees.

“We are one of the fastest-growing Asian communities in Southern California,” Kim said.

About 80,000 Korean-Americans live in Orange County, with another half a million in Los Angeles County, according to estimates provided by the association.

With growth has come political awareness.

Voter registration booths at Korean events have become commonplace, said Maxwell Min, a UC Irvine mechanical engineering student and member of the Orange County United Korean Student Assn.

“We registered about 15 people so far. We always attend and have a voter registration booth at special community celebrations like this,” Min said.

Kim said Ki Soo Kim, South Korea’s consul general, and numerous state politicians sent representatives to Sunday’s event.

Best wishes were sent from U.S. Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove), U.S. Sen. Pete Wilson (R-Calif.) and Democratic presidential candidate Michael S. Dukakis, who wrote, “I am sure your festival in Fountain Valley will be a huge success.”

Officeholders who were represented included state Sens. Cecil N. Green (D-Norwalk) and David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles), Assemblywoman Doris Allen (R-Cypress) and Orange County Supervisor Roger R. Stanton.