Koreatown’s economy is built largely on small business restaurants, liquor stores, dry cleaners and the like and as a result, trade groups representing these and other businesses play an important role in the Korean American community. Here are some of the most influential of these business groups. The members are largely based in Los Angeles.
Korean Restaurant Owners Association
Number of members: 200
Year founded: 1985
In a culture in which business deals are often transacted around the lunch and dinner table, Korean restaurant owners and their trade association, the Korean Restaurant Owners Association, hold a high place in L.A.’s Korean community. In light of the highly publicized health violations at many L.A. restaurants, the association is arranging a seminar in January to address the issue of health inspections. The group also works closely with the LAPD to ensure adequate patrols for the neighborhoods where its members operate.
Korean American Garment Industry Association
Number of members: 650
Year founded: 1979
The Korean Garment Industry Association is one of the oldest and most influential trade groups in L.A.’s Koreatown. The organization, with an annual budget of about $200,000 and two full-time staff members, is also one of the biggest garment associations in all Los Angeles, according to General Manager Patrick Oh. The association represents Korean-owned sewing factories, most of them in the downtown Fashion District. It acts as a consultant and an educational resource for its members, who pay $150 a year to belong. Its activities include publishing information about laws and regulations in the garment industry and providing legal advice.
Korean American Grocers Association of California
Number of members: 6,200
Year founded: 1982
While most of L.A’s Korean associations are limited to the immediate Los Angeles area, the Korean American Grocers Association of California boasts a statewide membership that makes it one of the largest Korean trade groups in the United States.The association, known as KAGRO, has nine chapters in California with about $2 billion in net annual sales among its membership. Its role is defined as assisting “Korean American retailers in adapting to American culture, lifestyles and business.”
Korean American Medical Association
Number of members: 600
Year founded: 1973
The Korean American Medical Association focuses on medical issues of interest to L.A.’s Korean community, said Secretary Peter Lee. “There are certain disease patterns that are much more prevalent or unique to Koreans or Asian Americans, such as stomach cancer and hepatitis, so one has to be aware of those things,” he said. The group conducts continuing medical education classes and seminars, and it holds an annual convention in Los Angeles. With a budget of $20,000 per year based on annual dues of $100 per member (not everyone pays, says Lee), the association cannot afford any full-time staff.
Korean Dry Cleaners and Laundry Association
Number of members: 1,800
Through its frequent activities, which range from seminars on cleaning technology to discussing regulations regarding cleaning chemicals, the Dry Cleaners Association has built itself into a “strong force” within the Korean business community, said Harrison Kim, executive director of the Council of Korean Business Organizations. One of the group’s most recent efforts came on the lobbying front when it urged members to send letters to their U.S. senators and representatives urging them to support a bill that would ease regulations concerning the clean-up of dry-cleaning chemical spills.
Korean Garment Wholesalers Association
Year founded: 1989
When Korean garment makers and wholesalers have questions about the credit-worthiness of their customers, they turn to the Korean Garment Wholesalers Association for answers. One of the association’s biggest assets is its customer credit list, which details the financial dealings of many clothing buyers that do their purchasing from L.A.’s garment industry, said President John Sun.
“Whenever something happens in the industry or related, we disseminate a bulletin,” he said. “They are usually hand-delivered to each store.” In addition to its credit list, the Garment Wholesalers Association provides its members with group rates for many business services, including shipping, telephone service and an outdoor foot patrol.
Southern California Korean Businessmen’s Association
Number of members: 60
Year founded: 1982
This group’s influence has declined somewhat over the years, according to its secretary, Mark Lee. From a high of 150 members, the association, which represents importers and exporters of fashion accessories, cosmetics and general merchandise, has shrunk to less than half that size in recent years. Lee attributed the declining membership to increased competition from importers who trade in merchandise from other countries. But he said the drop-off has stabilized in recent years. “Companies were going out of business because they lost their competitive advantage to importers from other countries,” Lee said. “But I don’t think (the association) will disappear because the companies doing business now are stronger.”
