The Forgotten Angelenos? : Too many Korean-American merchants still must struggle in effort to recover from riots

Some of the most visible scars left by last year’s riots are in those parts of South-Central Los Angeles where boarded-up liquor stores still blight the urban landscape.

Most of the destroyed stores were owned by Korean-Americans. Despite considerable progress since the violence, many of these merchants are still struggling to put their lives and livelihoods back on track. They must not become the forgotten Angelenos.

The gains have been slow and painful. Most of the store owners have elected not to rebuild, but businessman Daniel Whang is committed to returning to the community. This time he will offer not liquor and groceries but washing machines--60 of them. Whang is converting his liquor store into a coin-operated laundry.

His decision comes amid community pressure to reduce the unusually high number of liquor stores in South-Central Los Angeles. In deciding to try a different business, Whang is taking advantage of a business conversion program sponsored by a coalition of community organizations. In addition, the City of Los Angeles is offering a helpful program of financial incentives--a $130,000 waiver for city sewage hookup charges in Whang’s case--to replace inner-city liquor stores with businesses welcomed by the community, such as restaurants and laundries.

Whang, who came to the United States 11 years ago, is one of the more fortunate Korean-American merchants; many others are simply unable--either financially or emotionally--to resume doing business. Only a third of 180 Korean-American-owned businesses have applied to rebuild, according the Korean American Grocers Assn. Others have been held back by government red tape, lack of financing (many of these merchants lost their life’s savings) or fears of a renewed backlash against Korean merchants. City officials say they are expediting a request from Whang for a zoning variance, and he has applied for money from the Small Business Administration and the RLA (Rebuild L.A.) loan fund. Many residents in the area of Whang’s property say they will support his new venture.

Although Whang has tapped into available resources, there are many other Korean-Americans who will need government and community assistance if they are to rebuild or convert their businesses. Merchants who want to do business in Los Angeles need encouragement. Aggressive efforts must be made to help them.