L.A.’s Koreatown is growing fast in terms of size and economic power. But for some it is an ethnic community still somewhat below the radar screen. To gain an idea of how familiar the business community at large is with this area, the Business Journal Forum asks:

Have you ever done business in Koreatown?

Kelly Colomer

Marketing Director

Grant Thornton LLP

Los Angeles

Short of going over there to sight-see, I’ve never been. KTLA once did a live newscast from there and that’s how I learned about Koreatown. I went over and stopped in some of the stores and restaurants once, and haven’t had an opportunity to go back.

J. Carlos Punzalan

Audit Partner

Roth Brookstein & Zaslow LLP

I worked at an accounting firm in Koreatown from 1978 to 1986, and until last year I was working with two law-firm clients there. I still meet other CPAs at restaurants there from time to time for business lunches. My office is in West Los Angeles and a lot of people I need to meet with are located downtown, so Koreatown is a central area where I also know the restaurants.

Brian Kabateck

Attorney

Quisenberry & Barbanel LLP

Century City

I represented some people in Koreatown who had claims against insurance companies after the riot. The people said the companies didn’t properly reimburse them for the theft during the riot. I drive through the area almost every day on my way to work, but haven’t stopped in any of the shops or restaurants.

David Kluth

Managing Director

Julien J. Studley Inc.

Los Angeles

We represented a law firm in the 3699 Wilshire Blvd. building and some others. From time to time we work with businesses in the area, but not so much the Korean businesses themselves. It’s a sector of the business community I haven’t focused on so much, but as it grows it may require more attention.

Jack Rodman

Director of National Accounts

E & Y; Kenneth Leventhal Real Estate Group

We’ve done some analysis of some office buildings on Wilshire, which I guess is on the edge of Koreatown. These were large properties owned by large institutional Korean investors. We don’t look at the smaller properties in the area.

Lee Myers

Partner

Myers Smith Inc.

West Los Angeles

I don’t even know where Koreatown is.