'We have to learn how Jews create meaningful changes,’ says KACE chairman

“The core of American politics is the Congress,” said Kim Dong-suk, chairman of Korean American Civic Empowerment (KACE). “We need to know how to influence the Congress to pass bills related to Korea and raise our voices. I became a member of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) to learn strategies to do that.”

Kim showed his pass to reporters at the AIPAC annual conference held on Monday (local time) at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. He started to participate in AIPAC in 1998 and became an official member in 2002. He is the only Korean who participates as an official member of the Jewish-centered organization.

Kim explained that the Jews were creating meaningful changes in diplomacy and security by passing bills through AIPAC, going beyond perfunctory resolutions. He wishes to introduce these activities to Korea and found an interest group for Koreans just as AIPAC.

“Even though the Korean community in the U.S. has grown significantly, its political and social influence is not as big,” Kim said to highlight the importance of making efforts to genuinely understand Americans and their lives. “We need to develop a logic that satisfies both Korea and the U.S. to persuade key figures who have the power to make decisions.”


lightee@donga.com