Asian-American Diversity

I want to thank The Times for not only taking a poll on Korean-Americans but also taking an accurate one (“Moving Between 2 Worlds,” July 12). To my surprise, your numbers and percentages reflect what Korean-Americans already know--very small percentages of Koreans own grocery and liquor stores. We are a diverse group, economically and socially.

It is a sigh of relief that a mainstream newspaper took the effort to break damaging stereotypes of Koreans. The media, especially television, have indirectly stereotyped Koreans as if all of us act like Soon Da Ju. At the same, the media ignore the fact that more than 15 Korean-American merchants have been killed in South Los Angeles the past several years.

If it was patently unfair for the Republicans to use Willie Horton ads, then it is obviously unfair to use the Soon Da Ju case to stereotype a diverse, Korean-American community.

PETER INSUNG BECK

Los Angeles