The Korea Society joins the nation in mourning the senseless killing of George Floyd and stands in solidarity with those who peacefully exercise their constitutional rights in demanding justice.

The Korea Society has been, and remains, committed to bridging cultural and racial divides. After the 1992 Los Angeles riots that exposed deep divides between black, Korean, and other communities in Los Angeles, the Society established a long-term educational project for high school students. The program focuses on deepening awareness of cultural, racial and ethnic diversity, and on understanding the stereotypes that foster intolerance and racism. Serving a diverse group of New York City high school students each year, the Project Bridge Program is as relevant today as it was nearly 30 years ago. We stand with those actively working to build trust and understanding between diverse communities and to addressing racism.

As we approach the 70th anniversary of the Korean War on June 25, we honor all veterans who fought bravely in South Korea, including the African American soldiers who fought and sacrificed in Korea even while encountering racism in the ranks. It is notable that it was during the Korean War that U.S. military units were integrated under President Truman's 1948 Executive Order, an important milestone in American civil rights history. In 2016, General Vincent Brooks became the first African American military officer to take command of U.S. Forces Korea, the Combined Forces Command, and United Nations Command. The Korea Society calls attention to General (ret) Brooks' thoughts on the challenges still before us in his June 4 statement.