U.S. Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris expressed a special affinity for Korea in an exclusive op-ed published by Yonhap News. Harris reflected on her admiration for Korean culture and touched on the impact of Korean American traditions. She highlighted her fondness for Korea by mentioning the White House’s first-ever Chuseok celebration and the global phenomenon of the K-pop group BTS.
In her opening remarks, Harris drew parallels between Korean mothers’ devotion to family and her own mother’s sacrifices. “My mother, like so many Korean mothers, sacrificed to give our family the best life possible.” She wrote, honoring her late mother, Shyamala Gopalan, who passed away in 2009. Harris emphasized how this sense of resilience and sacrifice has shaped her, noting that these values resonate deeply in her life and campaign.
Reflecting on her modest upbringing following her parents’ divorce when she was seven, Harris highlighted her campaign’s commitment to advocating for working and middle-class families as a cornerstone of her platform. This dedication, she said, stems from seeing her mother’s struggles and those of Korean mothers.
Harris also celebrated recent milestones in Korean American representation and cultural recognition. On September 17, the White House hosted its first-ever Chuseok celebration, an event she said acknowledges the contributions of the Korean community to American history since the first Korean immigrants arrived in 1903. “President Biden and I were proud to host the first-ever Chuseok celebration at the White House and commemorate Korean American Day every year we have been in office, recognizing the community’s contributions to the American story since the first Korean immigrants arrived in 1903,” she wrote.
While Harris could not attend, she praised the Chuseok event organized by former and current Korean American White House staff. “Chuseok reminds us of the importance of family, the blessings of autumn, and that we stand on the broad shoulders of our ancestors,” she added.
Harris also highlighted BTS’s visit to the White House on May 31, 2022, which coincided with the final day of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. During the visit, BTS met with President Joe Biden and Harris to discuss strategies for combating anti-Asian hate crimes. Harris commended their advocacy, noting that BTS was invited to the White House, where they promoted inclusion in response to the rising attacks on Asian Americans.
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