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In the U.S. state of Virginia... where there is a large Korean-American community,... the
so-called "East Sea" movement regarding the naming of the body of water between Korea
and Japan in school textbooks has produced some tangible results.
But will this sentiment travel across the country to the western state of California,
where there's also a large population of Korean-Americans? Our Laah Hyun-kyung files this report from
Los Angeles. The U.S. state of California. Home to the largest population of Korean-Americans
and Japanese-Americans in the country. Some may see this as the next ground for a
political battle over how to refer to the body of water between Korea and Japan in school
textbooks. Virginia State will soon require the Korean-preferred
title of "East Sea" to be used alongside the "Sea of Japan" in its textbooks, while in
New York a similar bill has also been proposed. But the issue has not stirred up much attention
yet in California.
"LA The president of the Korean American Federation in Los Angeles says... the greater L.A. area
has been, and still is*... busy trying to protect the so-called "comfort women" memorial
statue in Glendale Central Park from being removed.
So right now is not the most suitable time to raise another issue and divert attention
- whether it be the East Sea bill, or anything else.
But Bae stresses that... if the issue surfaces in the area ... the Korean-American community
will be sure to throw itself behind the movement 1-hundred percent.
Speculation is though ... despite the large Japanese-American community, this may not
be an issue of great contention within California -- much like in Virginia -- partially due
to the fact that Japan's history of immigration to the U.S., compared to that of Koreans,
dates much further back.
"If there are Japanese-Americans speaking about this with the same interest that Korean-Americans
are speaking about it, it most likely would be what we call 'Shin Issei' or first generation.
My guess is even if you were to speak to Japanese expatriates or students studying here, most
of
them would not have strong opinion on what's going on in Virginia."
The variable would rather be how much more pro-active Tokyo will be in its opposition
to the East Sea movement in California, given its failed attempts to stop the bill from
going through in Virginia.
"But one thing for sure at this point is that... the Korean-American community will likely
rally behind the East Sea movement ... if the issue indeed surfaces in California.
Laah Hyun-kyung, Arirang News, Los Angeles."