Smithsonian
Commemorates Korean Centennial
Date: Monday, January 27
Topic:
JhoonRhee Speaks
Mark your Calandars for
Saturday,
June 14th @ 2pm
Baird Auditorium
National Museum
of Natural History (10th Street and Constitution Ave.
entrance)
Jhoon Rhee, one of the most influential
innovators to bring martial arts to the American public, will
offer a history of tae kwon do, followed by a demonstration of
the sport at the Smithsonian in Washington
DC.
Smithsonian Commemorates KA Centennial
By Ji
Hyun Lim | AsianWeek Staff Writer |
Schedule of events
follows
Seeking wealth and fortune, the first Korean
immigrants who landed on the shores of Hawai?i found
themselves laborers on sugar cane plantations, facing many
hardships in their new world. Over the next 100 years, the
Korean American community has blossomed into a population of
over 1 million that has contributed vastly to American society
in art, literature and politics.
In commemoration of
the 100-year anniversary of Korean immigration, the
Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program will present a
series of monthly events throughout 2003. Free lectures,
performances and dialogues at the Smithsonian will highlight
the contributions that Korean Americans have made during the
past century.
This celebration would not have been
possible without the efforts of the Asian Pacific American
Program in the Smithsonian. Norman Mineta, then vice president
of Lockheed Martin, Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-HI, and an advisory
board helped establish the APA program at the Smithsonian in
July 1997. The board commissioned Franklin Odo, a professor of
Asian American Studies with 30 years of experience, to create
a program that would reach out and connect the major diverse
APA communities.
Said Odo: ?At this point, we need to
be working with 40 to 50 ethnic groups and the basic approach
is to reach each one independently and show them that the
Smithsonian is interested in their culture and
heritage.?
In the spring of 2000, Odo was encouraged by
the Korean Embassy to create a program for the Korean
centennial. He recruited journalist Terry Hong and several
interns and began to work to fundraise and coordinate events
for a sustained, monthly discussion to educate the public
about the Korean immigration experience.
Odo and Hong
decided to focus on the bi-cultural experience of the Korean
American. Instead of rendering the experience as one that is
purely ?Korean,? the Korean centennial hopes to focus on the
?hybrid product,? Hong points out. Without ignoring the
similar APA immigration experiences of Chinese, Filipinos or
Japanese, the Korean centennial will express how both the
Asian and American experience converge and create a unique
voice and history.
?The whole history until 1965 over
six decades is similar to Chinese, Japanese and Filipino,? Odo
comments. ?They were subjected to the same laws,
discrimination, oppression and working conditions [but] there
have been lots of accomplishments and Korean Americans have
done extraordinary work as journalists, artists, actors,
filmmakers, writers and martial artists.?
Hong agrees
that this year?s centennial celebration will be important for
the community and especially important for children. ?Having
something happen in the Smithsonian, having endorsement,
support and recognition is important in building their
self-esteem and sense of history and a sense of entitlement,?
Hong said. She adds, ?Entitlement should belong to
everyone.?
Highlights from the Smithsonian
Centennial Celebration:
Jan. 16 ? May 31
Photography
exhibit
An exhibit of photographs will be on view at
the National Museum of Natural History, documenting the
U.S.-Korean contacts that led to the first Korean immigration
in 1903, as well as the history and achievements of Korean
Americans from their arrival in the United States to the
present.
March 13
Film and television
discussion
Actors Soon Tek Oh (M*A*S*H*, Mulan, East of
Eden) and Sandra Oh (Double Happiness, Arli$$, Barrier Device)
will discuss the changing face of multicultural American
media, the struggle for more positive roles for Asian Pacific
Americans, and gaining greater control of how Korean Americans
are represented in film and television.
June
14
Tae Kwon Do
Jhoon Rhee, one of the most
influential innovators to bring martial arts to the American
public, will offer a history of tae kwon do, followed by a
demonstration of the sport.
Aug. 15
Religion
dialogue
Sang Jin Choi, the only Korean pastor in
Washington to work with homeless African Americans; Sang Park,
an attorney who is a church elder in the largest Korean church
in northern Virginia; and Professor Kyeyoung Park, an
anthropologist from the University of California, Los Angeles,
will explore why Korean churches have virtually exploded in
numbers to become a vibrant presence in most major cities
throughout the country.
Oct. 30, Nov. 6-7
Modern
dance
Renowned modern dancer Dana Tai Soon Burgess, in
conjunction with his company Moving Forward, will present the
world premiere of a Smithsonian-commissioned piece.
For a complete listing of Smithsonian events call 202-357-2449
or go to http://www.apa.si.edu/sapap/pressrel/pr121202.html
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