Annandale remains hub of region’s Korean-American community

Other neighborhoods, such as Burke and Oakton, have many more Korean-Americans than Annandale, yet Annandale remains the regional hub for Korean restaurants, clubs, businesses, and culture. It’s also the home of the Korean-American Association of the Washington Metropolitan Area, which represents dozens of Korean-American social service, cultural, advocacy, and business groups based in Virginia, Maryland, and D.C., most of them non-profits.

The association offers classes in English, citizenship, and SAT preparation and provides job referrals, says its director, Jae Eog Lee. This group is raising money for a Korean-American cultural center and also works on advocacy issues, such as urging Congress to pass a new free trade agreement with Korea and ensuring that the upcoming U.S. census doesn’t undercount the 200,000 Korean-Americans in the D.C. area. Lee and members of the Korean community are proud of Mark Keam, the first Korean-American elected to the Virginia General Assembly. Keam, a democrat, will represent the 35th district, covering Vienna and Oakton.

The group’s biggest project is the KORUS festival, an annual showcase of Korean food, entertainment, and culture held in the Kmart parking lot. Lee says people from other cultures, including Chinese, Filipinos, Vietnamese, and Latinos, will be invited to participate in next year’s KORUS festival.