Korean Newspaper Ad Urges Readers to Aid Kim

An advertisement in a local Korean language newspaper Friday called on readers to donate to Rep. Jay C. Kim’s (R-Diamond Bar) reelection campaign because “the Republic of Korea and President Kim Dae Jung need congressman Kim Chang Joon,” using Kim’s Korean name.

Kim is serving a home detention sentence in Washington for taking more than $250,000 in illegal campaign contributions, including some from foreign sources. Kim’s congressional spokesman P.J. O’Neil, said the congressman would not discuss the ad in the Korea Central Daily News, because he had not seen it.

A declaration at the bottom of the ad attributed it to “supporters of Kim in America,” but did not specifically state whether Kim’s campaign authorized or funded the notice. Pam Williams, Kim’s campaign coordinator, did not return telephone calls requesting comment.

Kim’s opponent in the June 2 primary, Republican Assemblyman Gary Miller, said: “I thought he represented the USA. He needs to go back to Korea if that’s what his focus is. I would understand if he said he represents the best interests of the Korean American community. That’s fine. But when an ad says the government of Korea . . . [needs] Jay Kim that bothers me a lot.”

Charles Kim, head of the Korean American Coalition, said he did not believe the ad was authorized by Kim, since it did not include a statement of authorization that is required by federal election law. “If I were Jay Kim I would not approve that language. It creates the image that you’re actually electing an agent for Korea. Korean Americans want someone to represent this country, not Korea.”