Kim Brothers - CHARLES H. KIM and Reedley, CA

https://youtu.be/9fT10ZhvzG0

- YouTube

레이들리(Reedley)는 캘리포니아 중앙에 위치한 샌 호아킨 밸리에 있는 인구 2만5천 명가량의 작은 도시입니다. 농업 중심도시 프레즈노에서 동남쪽으로 22마일 떨어져 있고 엘에이와 샌프란시스코 그리고 라스베이거스 삼각의 중간쯤에 위치한 조용한 시골 농촌 마을이지만 초기 한인 이민사와 독립운동사에 잊을 수 없는 곳이기도 합니다.

.

조선은 미국과 외국과는 첫 번째로 1882년에 조미수호통상조약(朝美修好通商條約, Treaty of Peace, Amity, Commerce and Navigation, United States-Korea Treaty of 1882)을 제물포에서 체결했습니다. 이 조약의 미국 측 목적은 기독교를 조선에 전파하려는 미국 선교사들에게 조선의 문호를 안전하게 개방시키는 것이었습니다.

.

이 조약을 근거로 기독교 개종자를 대상으로 1902 년부터 1905년까지 약 7,000명을 하와이 사탕수수 노동자로 선발하여 이주시켰습니다. 7,000 명 중 약 2,000명이 미국 본토 캘리포니아주 프레즈노, 핸퍼드, 비살리아, 디 누바, 레이들리, 델라 노, 윌로우 스, 맥스웰 등 샌 호아킨 밸리의 8개 농장 공동체로 이주하여 자리를 잡았습니다.

.

미국 한인 이민 사회가 개신교회를 중심으로 모여지기 시작한 그 근본 이유가 바로 조미수호통상조약 때문입니다.

.

1913년 남가주 지방 헤밑(Hemit)의 미국 농장에 한인 11명이 노동자로 일하던 중, 일본인 노동자로 오해를 받아 현지 주민들에 의해 쫓겨나게 됩니다. 당시 일본 영사는 쫓겨난 한인들을 방문하고, 한인 노동자들을 대신하여 미국 정부에 배상을 받아 주려 하자 한인 노동자들이 이를 완강하게 거절합니다.

.

이에 대한인국민회가 나서 적극적으로 현지 주민들에게 일본과 조선이 다르며, 일본이 조선을 침탈한 사실을 설명하여 오해를 풀고 손해를 배상받고 취업의 자유를 보장받습니다. 이어 대한인국민회 총회장 이대위 선생은 다음과 같은 전보를 미국 정부에 발송해 한인과 일본인간의 대우를 달리 해 달라고 요구하게 됩니다.

.

다음은 당시 이대위 국민회 총회장이 보낸 전보의 전문입니다.

.

“상항 발 전보”

수신: 미국정부 국무장관 Bryan귀하

근일 한인 11명이 Hemit지방에 일하러 갔다가 그곳 주민들에게 축출 당하였는데 이 사건을 일본영사가 간섭하려고 하나 우리가 일본관리의 간섭을 원하지 않는 이유는 귀국의 법률 밑에 사는 한인들은 대개 한일 합방 전에 한국을 떠난 사람들이고 한일합방을 반대하며 일본정부의 간섭을 받지 않을 것이니 전시나 평시를 막론하고 한인에 관한 문제는 한인 사회에 교섭하기 바랍니다.

1913년 6월 30일, 대한인국민회 북미지방총회 총회장 이대위

.

이에 미국무부의 윌리엄 브라이언 국무장관이 아래와 같은 회신을 보내왔습니다.

.

“미국 국무성 성명”

한인은 일본인이 아니라는 대한인국민회 총회장의 전보를 받았다. 그 전보에 말하기를 재미 한인은 대개 한일 합방 전에 한국을 떠난 사람들이고 한일 합방을 인정하지 않으며 일본 정부와 관계가 없고 일본관리의 간섭을 받지 않겠다 하니 이제부터 재미한인에게 관계되는 일은 공이나 사를 막론하고 일본정부나 관리를 통하지 말고 한인 사회를 통하여 교섭 할 것이다.

1913년 7월 13일 미국 국무장관 William J. Bryan

.

미 국무장관의 성명으로 인해 대한인국민회는 미국에서 재미 한인을 대표하는 정부로서 독립운동을 벌일 수 있었습니다. 그뿐만 아니라 김규식 선생을 비롯한 경술국치 후 중국으로 망명하였던 우국 인사들 중 541명이 여권도 없이 대한인국민회의 보증서만으로 미국 유학의 꿈을 이룰 수 있었고 70여 명의 사진 신부가 미국 이주를 할 수 있었습니다. (http://blog.daum.net/enature/15852493)

.

그 이후 레이들리(Reedley)는 김중진(Charles Ho Kim)이란 분이 김브라더스 농산물 유통회사를 설립하게 되어 한인 초기 이민사회의 중심이 되었습니다. 이곳은 샌프란시스코 대한인국민회 이대위 목사와 상해임시정부 안창호 선생과 미국 동부에서 자칭 조선의 대통령이라는 이승만이 오가며 자금을 조달받던 지역 중에 하나였습니다.

.

이대위 목사는 미국 정부를 상대로 조선인이 결사할 수 있도록 한 공로로 존경을 받았고 또 안창호 선생은 상해임시정부의 대리인으로서 권위가 있었습니다. 더군다나 안창호 선생은 미국에 방문하면 자신도 농장 노동자가 되어 오렌지를 수확하며 초기 이민자들과 어울렸습니다. 이승만은 미국 이민서류에 스스로 일본인이라고 자술했습니다. (http://blog.daum.net/enature/15854815)

.

Marn J. Cha가 집필한 "센트럴 캘리포니아 (1903-1957) (University Press of America 2010)의 한국인" 에 의하면 "이승만은 레이들리(Reedley)지역의 소녀 메리 킴에게 혼인을 제안했지만 메리 킴 부모가 이승만의 친일적이고 기회주의적인 정치를 좋아하지 않아 딸의 결혼을 허락하지 않았다"고 합니다. (https://books.google.com/books?id=-kk4Q24h4JgC&dq)

.

그런 이승만이 1935년 프란체스카와 결혼하여 방문하자 한인들이 결혼 축하 잔치를 베풀어 주었다고 합니다. 아직도 레이들리(Reedley)에는 170여 개의 초기 이민 한인 묘소가 있고, 작은 크기의 독립문이 있으며 각종 한인 초기 이민 시절의 기념건물과 장소가 있습니다.

.

+++

 

 

Kim Brothers

WHO WAS CHARLES H. KIM?

August 29, 2008

 

 

Charles Ho Kim after arrival in the U.S. (1914)

 

Charles Ho Kim left an indelible mark on Korean American history as an educator, political leader, businessman, activist and philanthropist. Yet he is still unknown among many, both inside and outside the Korean American community – despite the fact that the first public school in the U.S. to be named after a Korean American was, in fact, named after him. Charles H. Kim Elementary School in Los Angeles was dedicated on October 19, 2006.

 

Material in this blog was adapted and edited by Daisietta Kim from The Life and Dreams of Pioneer Kim Ho by Jong Whan Cha and Jisoo Kim, translated by Elizabeth H. Kim and Dr. Stephen Kim.

 

Pyong Yong Min, Hyung-ju (Henry) Ahn, Stuart Ahn, Daisietta Kim and RMA Photography contributed photos.

 

Early Years

 

Jung-jin Kim (later Charles Ho Kim) was born on May 25, 1884 in Soan-Dong, now Angook-Dong, in Seoul, Korea into a well-known Andong family line of Kims as the only son of Hyu-Gyu Kim and Nak-kyul Kwon. He was the tenth generation descendent of Sang-hun Kim (1578–1652), who served on King Injo’s Royal Court of the Yi Dynasty as Prime Minister. For his opposition to the forced peace treaty with the Chinese Chung Dynasty, however, Sang-hun became a ransom captive of the Chinese court and was kept prisoner in Shim-yang for three years. The powerful Andong Kim family began to decline from then on, and by the time Charles was growing up, the family was destitute. When both his grandfather and father passed away in the same year when he was six years old, he was the only man in the family.

 

Early Years

 

Charles’ mother, Nak-kyul Kwon, was his bedrock of fortitude and confidence. At a time when education was more of a luxury than a necessity, she put her son’s education above all else. Missionaries from the United States were busy establishing institutions of higher education that pioneered new western ideas. Unlike other Korean women rooted in their traditional Confucian ways of life, Charles’ mother Nak-kyul insisted on a modern education for her son and taught him to be politically and socially astute. She scraped together everything she could to get him into the prestigious Hansung School where he would receive the best education available. She was also a person of strong Christian faith. If her sacrificial and unconditional support of Charles’ learning helped shape his mind, her devout Christian faith helped shape his character. As a child Charles regularly attended church services at Jungdong Methodist Church with his mother. The Christian faith nurtured by his mother and the Methodist Church would remain with him throughout his life.

 

 

In 1900, Charles married Sook-jong Lee when he was only seventeen, which was not an unusual age to marry at that time. After the wedding, Charles moved to Seoul to continue his studies, leaving his young wife under the care of her parents in Chung-chung province. After four years of study, he graduated from Hansung School (today’s Kyungki High School) as a member of the first graduating class. For the next eight years, Charles worked as a mathematics teacher at various schools founded by western missionaries.

 

Charles Ho Kim (seated) as a young teacher (1905)

 

Charles taught at Yongwha School operated by the historical Naeri Methodist Church in Inchon, Paichai School founded by the Methodist missionary H. G. Appenzeller, and Ewha School founded by Mrs. Mary F. Scranton (later to become one of the largest women’s universities in the world). But it was at Dae-sung School that his love for the homeland and resolve to do his part to protect the country from foreign aggression grew. These precursors of now famous institutions of higher learning served as training grounds for educating a new generation of leaders at a crucial time in Korean history.

 

The year of the Yi Dynasty’s fall, 1910, was the same year that Charles’ daughter Han-sook was born. Times were tough for all, but particularly so for those who resolved to resist Japanese occupation. Charles earned a meager salary as a mathematics teacher and had to teach night school to support his growing family. As a teacher, he strove to instill patriotism and a reform spirit in growing young minds. Dae-sung School was founded by the famous independence movement leaders Ahn Chang-ho and Yoon Chi-ho, and was recognized by many like-minded leaders as the headquarters for independence activities. When the Japanese campaign to eradicate Korean national identity through language control and name change was accelerating, Dae-sung School led the opposition to this oppression by urging schools not to raise the Japanese flag in schoolyards. The authorities immediately closed Dae-sung School, after graduating only one class of nineteen students in 1912, only five years after its opening in 1907.

 

Road to Exile

 

The Japanese escalated their effort to quell the nationalists while simultaneously collecting forces to take complete control of Yi’s government. Many opposition leaders of the independence movement were hunted down, and some including Charles were forced to go into exile in China and the United States. Shortly after the closure of Dae-sung School in 1912, Charles made the decision to leave behind his young wife and two children in order to devote his life to the work of the independence movement. Unbeknownst to them at the time, they were not to see him again for thirty-three years. Four days after his departure, Sook-jong gave birth to a son, Kyung-han.

 

Road to Exile

 

 

Since his name was on the Japanese black list, he had to use a different name, Ho, to cross the border. Arriving in Shanghai, he found a job working at a railroad yard and remained there for two years. He saved money to send to his family back home and to purchase a ticket to the United States. In 1913, a special permit was issued to Korean refugees in exile in China to allow them entry into the United States. This was granted by Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan, at the request of the Rev. Dae-wii Lee, then chairperson of the Korean National Association (Gookmin-Hoe) in the United States. Those who entered the States in the next few years with this special visa were referred to as “Shin-do Hakseng” (Refugee, or Newly Arriving Students) and comprised most of the second wave of early Korean immigration to the United States, following the first wave of laborers in 1903. This second wave was also distinguished from the others by the fact that most of the immigrants were considered political refugees. Charles Ho Kim was one of many nationalist independence activists who benefited from this special dispensation, and he found himself on a ship bound for San Francisco in 1914 at the age of 30. This special immigration act for Korean refugees was abolished in 1918 after protest by the Japanese.

 

Upon arrival in the U.S. he adopted the name ‘Charles.’ Including the pseudonym Hansa given to him at birth, his many names are a reflection of the many identities and cultures he crossed. To this day, some of his records are under his given name, Jung-Jin Kim, while others are under Ho or Charles Ho Kim. He also reported his date of birth as 1889 instead of 1884, in order to render more credibility to his student status.

 

Charles arrived in the States with high hopes. But, despite his excellent education, he was forced to begin work in lowly coal mines. It was dangerous and backbreaking work. And because of his commitment to support both his family back home and the independence movement, he had to work twice as hard. That meant choosing more dangerous jobs for higher pay. He often signed up for the task of setting up dynamite deep inside the mines. Although well paid, such jobs attracted few volunteers because the risk of not getting out in time was high. Working l8 hours a day for many days, he once fainted from exhaustion and malnutrition. At times, backaches brought on by an injury immobilized him. Tragic accidents in the mines were not uncommon. In 1910, in the Primero coal mine in Colorado, a gas explosion killed 80 miners.

 

 

Before long, he earned the respect of his fellow miners as they realized that Charles had more education and a better command of the English language than they did. But it was not his knowledge alone that earned their trust. It was his ability and willingness to help others. As time passed, Charles emerged as a leader among his co-workers. Because he took good care of them they were loyal and respectful. When Charles suffered his back injury, his friends helped him recuperate at home and covered for him at work. Charles never forgot the friendships made during those difficult times. In fact, many years later, he provided homes and even burial sites for those without provisions or relatives.

 

Korean miners in Pueblo, Colorado (Charles Ho Kim, front row, 4th from right)

 

With the money Charles sent home, his mother opened up a retail shop for Sook-jong to operate. The mother and daughter-in-law team worked diligently to eke out a living. Thanks to their hard work, the two children were well cared for and received the best education possible. (The first-born son, Young-han, died in a tragic accident at age eleven). Although they missed their father, Han-sook and Kyung-han grew up in a loving environment and went on to top-notch universities in Korea.

 

Realizing that there was no real future in the coal mines, Charles decided to head for California after two years of hard work in Colorado. He settled in Reedley, a farming town in the San Joaquin Valley in central California. Westward expansion resulting from the gold rush of 1849 and the construction of the Central Pacific Railroad that connected Sacramento and Los Angeles had a profound effect on the development of this region. With increasing demand, the means of transporting people and goods began to develop. The soil and climate of this valley were ideal for growing fruit. Water from melting snow in the Sierra Nevada mountain range along with the area’s efficient irrigation system made possible a high yield of top quality fruits. With production and transportation capacities in place, the San Joaquin Valley earned its distinction as America’s “fruit basket.”

 

In Reedley, while applying himself to farming and saving money, Charles continued to work for Korea’s independence, raising funds and instilling patriotism among his fellow Koreans. As in the mines, his presence commanded respect from his fellow workers and he emerged once again as a leader among them. With his background in advocacy of the underprivileged, he organized Korean immigrant workers and negotiated with farm owners for better pay and working conditions.

 

During this time, Charles befriended Hyung-soon (Harry) Kim, who was one of the first Koreans to come to Hawaii in 1903 as one of five interpreters chosen to accompany the group of one thousand Korean workers. After working six years on Maui sugar plantations as an interpreter, he returned to Korea and married. When Korea fell under Japanese rule, he went to Shanghai and worked for Korea’s independence. He refused to interpret for the Japanese government, and fled to America in 1913 to avoid arrest. Charles and Harry crossed paths in Reedley and soon became close friends. Interestingly, Charles had at one time taught Harry’s wife, Duk-sai (Daisy) at Ewha School in Korea. Charles stayed with Harry’s family and became a second father to Hyung-soon’s two daughters, Mary and Ruth. With similar political, religious, and philosophical values, the two men were very compatible. They encouraged and challenged each other. Their friendship later became important for their careers when the two men went into business together and opened the Kim Brothers Company in Reedley in 1921. Although the company started out as a small fruit-packing and local delivery business, it slowly made its way up in the fruit growing and packing industry.

 

 

Kim Brothers

 

The Kim Brothers started off as a small operation, transporting fruits and grain to larger cities, and running a small retail nursery. Eventually, they grew the business by packing fruit, and enlarging the retail nursery operations. They finally succeeded in a significant way when they invested in and earned the exclusive right to produce nectarines, the new hybrid fruit which was a cross between plums and peaches.

 

 

Fred W. Anderson, a horticulture specialist from Modesto, California, developed a successful hybrid between a plum and a traditional peach that resulted in a delicious and fuzz-less fruit — the nectarine. At what turned out to be a crucial turning point for their business, Kim Brothers procured the sole right to cultivate this fruit for sixteen years. Nobody thought that this unusual fruit sold by a small, unknown company would make it big. Sold under the brands Le Grand and Sun Grand, Kim Brothers’ nectarines became immensely popular and posted record sales in a short time. The company grew to become a major nectarine supplier for the whole country. In its heyday, the company operated six farms covering 500 acres of land and employed more than three hundred seasonal workers.

 

Harry S. Kim in a Kim Brothers nectarine orchard (early 1950s)

 

 

Because their success pivoted on the sophisticated know-how of creating a winning hybrid, Kim Brothers invested a great deal of money and effort on product research and development. That meant tightly controlling the growing environment by managing the soil and the temperature. The company spent years honing methods of propagation by grafting and splicing. The whole process began by selecting choice seedlings, a determining factor in producing prized fruit for the next three decades. Other factors affecting marketability such as coloring, taste, and size were intensely researched. Conventional peaches were highly perishable, inconsistent in quality, and susceptible to bruises — all factors that prevented other companies from succeeding and the industry from booming. Most of the central California farmers, particularly grape growers, were suffering from excess production of perishable produce and the subsequent price wars. With greater resistance to pests and bruising and with a longer shelf life, Kim Brothers’ nectarines enjoyed a distinct advantage over the fruit of competitors. Most importantly, consumers preferred the taste of the cream-colored flesh that was sweet but not too tart. They also liked the convenience of eating the fruit with the skin on. The new nectarine cultivated by the company was a superior fruit that looked and tasted great. By reaching $1,500,000 in sales, the Kim Brothers, Harry and Charles, became the very first Korean American millionaires.

 

Kim Brothers packing house in Reedley, CA

 

One of the key ingredients in the Kim Brothers’ business success was vertical integration. By controlling supply and logistics aspects of their business, they were able to maximize profits. They opened Reedley Nursery, a $100,000 business enterprise, to propagate and cultivate young nectarine plants. They also built a $400,000 packing house where fruit could be packaged and distributed to wholesalers nationwide. The company grew to own 500 acres of farmland with the assets passing one and a half million dollars. During the peak season, more than 120 trucks were in operation. In thirty some years, the Kim Brothers company became one of the largest businesses owned and operated by Korean immigrants.

 

 

Despite its large scale, the company remained a family-run operation. There were many aspects of the business that required division of labor. Charles ran internal operations, including product development, quality control, hiring of staff and seasonal workers, and offering bids for jobs. Harry Kim took on sales, client relations, and other external affairs. Harry’s wife Daisy was the mother hen who made sure that the staff members were happy and the place was clean. Mary, one of Harry’s two daughters, grew up and married Yong-jeung Kim, who served as the company’s spokesperson and liaison. During the off-season Yong-jeung lived in Washington, D. C. to keep abreast of current international politics and to foster media relations for the company. With funding from the company, Yong-jeung also published Voice of Korea, a bi-weekly magazine that channeled political views of the Korean National Association. This magazine was a counterpart to the publications of Syngman Rhee whose political views were increasingly conflicting with those of the Korean National Association and Charles Ho Kim. Harry’s other daughter Ruth married Kyung-han, Charles’ son, who came to the U.S. after studying in Germany. Thus, Charles and Harry further sealed their lifetime friendship by becoming in-laws. Years later when the two men neared retirement, Kyung-han took over and managed the business.

 

Charles Ho Kim & Harry S. Kim in 1953

 

Daisy (Duk-sai), wife of Harry

 

The Kim Brothers Company achieved great milestones in business during a time when Asian ethnic minorities living and working in America did not enjoy the same rights as Asian Americans today. Efforts to keep America, particularly western states, white, resulted in discriminatory political policies. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and Gentlemen’s Agreement of 1907 severely restricted Chinese and Japanese immigration. The 1924 Immigration Act imposed quotas targeting specific countries of origin thus effectively barring “undesirable” immigration including Korean laborers, picture brides, and international students. Some schools in California cities had segregated schools for Asians. Eateries hung up signs declaring the right to refuse service to avert patronage from blacks, Asians, and other minorities. The Webb-Heney Act of 1913, also known as the Alien Land Act, prohibited foreigners ineligible for citizenship from owning land in California. To the first generation of immigrants, racism in America further stoked their desire to return home and to work harder for Korea’s liberation from Japan.

 

 

Seasonal farm laborers who were ethnic minorities worked for lower pay and in worse conditions than their white counterparts. Decades before labor unions and advocates like Cesar Chavez emerged to champion their rights, farm workers were on their own. In a general environment of discrimination and unfavorable working conditions, the Kim Brothers Company was a haven for immigrant workers. The company was a forerunner in practicing equal opportunity employment, hiring a diverse workforce consisting of Asians, Latinos, whites, men and women. By rewarding honesty, integrity, and hard work and by doling out fair pay, the Kim Brothers Company earned a reputation among farm workers as a highly desirable place to work. Because the company grew different varieties of fruit picked at different times, and because it offered other jobs such as packing and delivering fruit, workers were able to minimize the seasonal nature of their work and maintain some consistency in wages. Because they were able to sell their nectarines at premium prices, Kim Brothers paid their workers well. ongoing employer-employee relations that were mutually beneficial proved to be a key factor in the company’s success.

 

Kim Brothers employees at the packing house (1960)

 

The prosperous Kim Brothers Company emerged as an important establishment that supported local activities in the region. Employing more than three hundred workers during the summer, the company provided much-needed jobs and housing for Korean laborers and international students. As successful entrepreneurs, Charles and Harry did not hesitate to contribute their hard-earned dollars to local events and activities. They supported music education at local schools, sports festivals, and community parades. Event organizers often turned to the Kim Brothers Company and the Reedley Nursery for financial support. The Kim Brothers Company also supported the local Korean church from the very beginning so that it could become the spiritual and social hub of the Korean American community. Members first began to hold worship services in the company building space. When the congregation grew to include more than just a handful of people, Kim Brothers donated land for a new building. Church parishioners, numbering no more than sixty members, diligently raised funds and in 1938 came to call their own a new Reedley Church building that was valued at $20,000. With available space, outreach programs thrived, and the church became politically involved in advocating and supporting Korea’s independence.

 

20th anniversary of Reedley Korean Presbyterian Church (1959)

 

 

Kim Brothers established a school for Korean language and cultural instruction that addressed the needs of the second generation. The company also built a dormitory for farm workers. Among these workers were many Korean students looking to earn enough to survive the summer. And they supported the establishment of the Reedley Cemetery, where today 189 Koreans are buried.

 

Le Grand and Sun Grand nectarines sold by the Kim Brothers Company remained leading varieties in the market until the early 1960s when the permit expired. By the time other varieties began flooding the market, the Kim Brothers Company was focusing more on the greenhouse nursery business than the orchard business, selling some of the company farms, including one to Cesar Chavez. Then Charles and Harry retired and moved to Los Angeles.

 

Up until that time, the success of Kim Brothers Company had an immense impact on Korean American history because the owners, Charles and Harry, were politically and socially active philanthropists. Politically, the company provided crucial funding for the Korean Provisional Government in Shanghai and overseas independence movement activities. Locally, it supported community activities and the church. Socially, it financed important educational programs and publication projects. In light of such accomplishments, researchers are taking a renewed interest in Korean American history in central California. For the past ten years, celebrations have been held at Reedley Cemetery on Memorial Day in May and on Korea’s Independence Day on August 15th. A Korean American history research committee is currently working with city officials to preserve the Reedley Church building as a museum.

 

Political Involvement & Later Years

 

While the Korean community was growing in the U.S., Charles continued to be active politically, traveling and raising funds even as he was establishing himself as a successful businessman. He proved himself to be an incredibly effective fundraiser. Unlike professional politicians, he was able to empathize with Korean laborers. As a hardworking businessman who had worked his way up from the bottom, he earned the trust and respect of many who looked up to him as an inspiration and a role model. His dedication and sincerity moved them. But he did not just collect money from others; he was the first to give. With the launching of the Kim Brothers Company in 1921, he used his business as a platform to fund political activities, often stepping in to fill financial shortages in the resistance movement. The funds raised in America by Charles and others secured the most constant source of funding for the Shanghai Provisional government in exile until Korea’s liberation from Japan in 1945.

 

Political Involvement & Later Years

 

 

Meanwhile, the Korean National Association of North America was increasingly becoming divided due to internal conflicts, particularly among factions in Hawaii. In 1936 at age 52, Charles emerged as a key figure in quelling dissension and instigating internal reform. With reconfigured jurisdictions, the newly restored Korean National Association of North America presided over the mainland U.S., Mexico and Cuba. As part of its reform, the headquarters was relocated from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Charles was nominated as the Central Executive Committee Chairperson of the new Korean National Association of North America, a position he served for three terms: in 1937, 1945, and 1949.

 

In 1936, the members of the Korean National Association decided to construct a new building for its headquarters in Los Angeles. The construction cost $30,500–not a small sum during that time of economic recession. As the Korean National Association Construction Committee Chairperson, Charles oversaw this project and personally financed more than half of the cost. He donated $20,000 under his and his family members’ names. At the opening ceremony of the building he gave a poignant speech: “This building is a home for us displaced Koreans. Here, we will foster progress for our people, we will support the Provisional Government in liberating our homeland, and we will educate our future generations.” In line with his belief, the new headquarters served as a central location for independence activities, a liaison office for communicating with the U.S. government on behalf of Koreans, and a hub for organizing community activities. In addition to the Association, the building also housed important Korean American organizations such as Shinhan–Minbo (The New Korea Times) newspaper and the Korean Women’s Patriotic League. Despite its celebrated beginning and its historical significance, however, the building became dilapidated and was sold to the Los Angeles Korean United Presbyterian Church in 1978. Later, a building restoration project was initiated to educate the public on Korean American history and the work of the Korean National Association. During the restoration process, many important documents were discovered in the attic of the building. Recognizing its role in shaping Korean American history and in bringing together the community, the city of Los Angeles declared the Korean Independence Memorial Building as a historical landmark in 1991.

 

In 1939, sensing the dire need to cooperate amidst growing global conflict, the Korean National Association of North America proposed to unite with the Korean National Association of Hawaii, and Dongji Hoe, comprised of Syngman Rhee’s core supporters.

 

Charles played a pivotal role in bringing about the unification of the two Korean National Association branches. Personally against the political ideologies of Syngman Rhee, it was not easy for Charles to accept Dongji Hoe and its political views with open arms. But he set aside his personal feelings for the sake of unity. Thus, the umbrella organization, the United Korean Committee (UKC) was born in l94l with offices in Los Angeles and Hawaii. Elected as the Executive Committee Chairperson of the Los Angeles Office of the UKC, Charles continued to serve as one of the key leaders of the independence movement.

 

The unprecedented unity achieved by the UKC occurred just before Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, l941. Immediately, the leaders of the UKC set to work to respond. on his second day on the job as the UKC Chairperson Charles communicated with Secretary of State Cordell Hull in pledging Koreans’ loyalty to the U.S. in defeating a common adversary.

 

 

 

Executive Committee members of the UKC and delegates from Hawaii in Los Angeles in 1942 (Charles Ho Kim seventh from left)

 

The UKC leaders acted quickly in executing their twofold strategy of aiding the United States in its war against Japan and in differentiating Koreans from Japanese Americans. They collaborated with the U.S. government in issuing a special administrative decree that gave Korean Americans rights as “ally aliens.” As such, the UKC encouraged Korean men to serve in the U.S. army to fight the Axis powers and the women to help procure materials and resources for the American Red Cross. Campaigns to support the sale of U.S. war bonds raised money for war efforts.

 

 

Charles established under the UKC Executive Committee the Korea Wartime Savings Committee, and single-handedly obtained $840,000 in U.S. government bonds. To protect Koreans from anti-Japanese sentiment running high in mainstream America, the Committee officials registered all Koreans and issued identification papers proving that they were not Japanese nationals. “Korea for Victory with the U.S.” bumper stickers were handed out. Korean men wishing to serve in the U.S. Army were unable to do so because of their alien status. The U.S. government and the UKC circumvented this problem by forming an unaffiliated Korean California National Guard. These “Tiger Brigades” that formed first in Los Angeles, then in San Francisco, marked the first military cooperation between the U.S. government and Korean Americans. Through such efforts, Koreans were able to avoid the tragic fate of internment that befell Japanese Americans. The UKC leaders even tended to Koreans living in Mexico and Cuba by cooperating with the governments in gaining their trust and issuing identification papers in appropriate languages.

 

The alliance between the U.S. government and Korean American leaders culminated in a flag-raising ceremony in Los Angeles on August 29, 1942. on this day, the City of Los Angeles officially recognized Korea as an independent nation. August 29th was the National Humiliation Day of 1910 when Japan annexed Korea. Proudly carrying the Korean national flag, the Tiger Brigade marched to City Hall where the UKC members led by Charles and government officials had assembled. More than 800 Koreans who gathered at the event were moved to tears seeing the Korean flag raised again after thirty-two years of struggle. The Korean Women’s Choir sang a moving rendition of the Korean national anthem during the ceremony. In the days following the event, the UKC requested that 48 states and various major cities display the Korean national flag next to Allied countries’ flags in all government functions. Numerous state and city government offices wrote back in full cooperation with this request. Three years later in 1945, Japan surrendered to the Allied Forces, and Korea was liberated.

 

Letter from Chicago's Mayor Kelly acknowledging the Korean people's support in WWII (1943)

 

On October 24, 1945, two months after the liberation, the UKC decided to dispatch a group of representatives from the United States. The group was composed of thirteen independence movement leaders including Han Si-dae, the group leader, Kim Won-yong (the author of 50 years of Korean American History in 1959, sponsored by Charles), and Charles Ho Kim. They were to stay in Korea for a year to support the post-war reconstruction efforts, lead the initiative to obtain self-rule of the country from the U.S. military, and help nurture a constructive political climate after the long colonial rule by Japan. The group chose to stay at Charles’ old house in Seoul, and began their work without much success since they had no official guidance due to the complex political rivalry among the many vying parties at the time. Notable among them were the politically left wing party of Park Hun-young and Yuh Woon-hyung, and the right wing Korean Democratic Party, largely made up of the middle class led by Syngman Rhee and supported by the U.S. military. The most popular of these parties was the moderate group of former Shanghai Provisional Government leaders led by Kim Goo, but they had no clear strategy to lead the reconstruction effort.

 

The Democratic Party of Syngman Rhee was not cooperative with UKC representatives from the U.S. In fact, they tried to block their work, and after a few futile attempts the group returned to the States disappointed. Charles Ho Kim and Kim Won-yong, however, were appointed to a transitional legislative commission for the U.S. government created in December 1946, and composed of 90 persons, half of whom were democratically elected by delegates and the other half appointed by the U.S. military. Charles worked on the issue of reclaiming properties from the Japanese, as part of the effort to draft a constitution for the new Republic. Meanwhile, Syngman Rhee’s party insisted on going ahead with a national election despite much opposition due to the failure of the U.S.–Russia committee on unification of the communist party in the north and the democratic party in the south. Charles Ho Kim, along with Yuh Woon-hyung and Kim Kyu-shik, advocated a moderate position arguing against the establishment of two different governments. The election for the south part of Korea was carried out on May 10, 1948; the National Assembly which voted for a new Constitution was installed, and Syngman Rhee was elected as the first President of the new Republic. Some leaders who opposed Syngman Rhee’s plan were threatened, and the U.S. military helped Charles escape back to the States via a military plane. Later, when asked by the military to return to Korea and take part in bringing order to the Korean government, Charles refused, choosing to continue his work with the Korean community in the States.

 

When Charles was in Korea from 1945 to 1948, he saw for himself how difficult it was to rebuild Korean society after decades of colonial rule. Having found financial success himself through farming, he hoped that Korea would regain its footing through a thriving agriculture industry. He donated generously to the fledgling Kunkook University in Korea, now famous for its agricultural school. In 1955, the Korean National Association of North America also agreed to annually donate $1,200 to Kunkook University. Providing scholarships was an important public service at that time when Korea was struggling to revive social programs, because many bright students with financial difficulty had to forgo hopes of attaining higher education. Charles was also known to donate generously to Ewha Women’s University, his daughter Han-sook’s alma mater.

 

After he returned to the U.S. in 1948, Charles devoted his efforts to bettering the Korean American community. When the Korean War broke out in 1950, many struggling international students and workers found refuge at the Kim Brothers Company. By working there in the summer, students were able to save a year’s worth of tuition. Wishing to implement a more systemized program for aiding Korean American students in financial need, Charles received a permit from the California state government to establish the Korean Foundation, Inc. in 1957. In addition to donating real estate worth $500,000 through the Kim Brothers Company, Charles and Harry Kim personally donated $200,000 in cash for a scholarship fund. According to its records between 1958 and l974, more than 600 students received scholarships from the Foundation. Many of today’s Korean American community leaders had been beneficiaries of the Foundation scholarships. George Chey, the 5th President of the Los Angeles Korean Association, said, “Charles was admired by all those around him because of his impeccable character. He was so approachable that he didn’t seem like a millionaire. He treated the young people who worked for him like his very own children.”

 

 

With so much personal history intertwined with the socio-political history of the time, Charles understood the need for documentation of the Korean American experience. He collaborated with his friend and colleague Warren Kim in publishing a Korean American history book. After collecting research information and resources for eight years, the two published 50 years of Korean American History in 1959 in Reedley, California. The 575-page text spans history from 1882 to Korea’s liberation in 1945 and contains invaluable photographs. Written both in English and Korean, the book is one of the most widely used texts for understanding Korean American history today. In the 1950s, Charles donated generously to support Korean language instruction at the Reedley Korean Presbyterian Church, and he also paid for Korean language instructors to teach U.S. soldiers at the Naval station in Monterey. With his commitment to his people, his generous giving of financial resources and his vision for the future, Charles was able to preserve the voice of Korean Americans for years to come. In 1960, soon after the publication of the book, Charles and Sook-jong celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary at Harry Kim’s home in Reedley.

 

60th wedding anniversary of Charles and Sook-jong in Reedley (1960)

 

In 1962, Charles and Harry sold off the Kim Brothers Company and retired in Los Angeles. In the early 1960s in Los Angeles, the Korean community, concentrated around Vermont and Jefferson Avenues, had grown to about four thousand. Four local churches, political and social organizations, and other activities catered to their needs. The community was comprised of three distinct groups: descendents of the Hawaiian plantation immigrants, descendents of the expatriate student leaders who came during the colonial period, and the recent wave of international students. Because the second-generation Korean Americans spoke mainly English, they did not interact much with the international students. Political allegiance was another dividing factor. For several decades, the Korean immigrant community was split between Syngman Rhee supporters of the Dongji Hoe and Ahn Chang-ho supporters of the Korean National Association. After Syngman Rhee and Ahn Chang-ho left the United States, Dongji Hoe was led by Leo Song and the Korean National Association by Charles. All these groups, differing along political and language lines, willingly chose to live together in Los Angeles but failed to cooperate effectively.

 

 

Already in his late seventies, Charles felt that his last contribution to society should be to bring together the different cliques of the Korean American community. Political differences of the colonial era were becoming increasingly meaningless in the changing and growing Korean American context. He felt that there was a need for a centralized place for promoting social programs and human rights for Korean Americans. Leo Song readily embraced the idea, and the two leaders took the initiative to raise money to build the Korean Community Center at the corner of Vernon and 4th Avenue in Los Angeles. From the outset, there were conflicts between the first and second generations, between newcomers and old-timers, and between political factions.

 

Korean Community Center on Vernon Avenue, Los Angeles (1963)

 

Then there were major problems with raising the $70,000 needed for the building. Not everyone who promised to donate money kept his or her word. In the end about 200 people donated money over the course of several years. Major contributors included Charles Ho Kim, Harry Kim, and Harry’s wife Daisy Kim, each of whom gave approximately $10,000. The Korean government also donated $12,000 and President Park Chung Hee himself donated $1,500. Other social organizations gave what they could. Others like Warren Kim, who had published the Korean American history book with Charles, donated his social security money and inspired others to give. With much hard work and enthusiasm, the building was finally purchased and the Korean Community Center opened its doors in 1963. Although the Center opened with everyone’s blessings and high hopes, difficulties continued to ensue. Raising the $1,000 necessary for the monthly mortgage and operational costs posed an ongoing problem. Racial tension in the area culminated in the 1965 Watts Riots that killed thirty-four people. Despite these problems, the Center was established as a place to nurture the seeds of the growing Korean American community. In 1968, the old building was sold and the Center relocated to the current building on 981 S. Western Avenue.

 

Korean Federation building at 981 S. Western Avenue, Los Angeles

 

A lot was happening in Charles’ life around the time that the Center opened in 1963. In light of his achievements in the field of education, Kunkook University awarded him an honorary doctorate degree. His daughter Han-sook and her children were finally able to come to Los Angeles to live with him. For the next few years, Charles spent his days peacefully enjoying his family and working for the Center.

 

On January 5th, 1968, Charles passed away quietly in his sleep. That morning he seemed to sleep late, so Sook-jong went to check on him. It appeared that he heard her come in and turned sideways slightly. But he closed his eyes and died without saying another word. Three hundred people who loved and respected him came to the funeral to mourn his passing and to celebrate the eighty-four years of his life. They remembered him as a pioneer, a political leader, a patriot, an entrepreneur, an educator, a community leader, and a family man. As was his wish, he was buried in Reedley Cemetery. When Sook-jong died in 1978, she was buried alongside her husband. At the request of the Korean government in 2002, Charles’ and Sook-jong’s remains were moved to Daejun’s National Cemetery in Korea to be honored along with other patriot leaders.

 

 

Charles H. Kim Elementary School

On August 22, 2006, board members of the Los Angeles Unified School District named the new elementary school at 225 S. Oxford Avenue the Charles H. Kim Elementary School. This event marks a historical milestone for Korean Americans in that this is the first time an American public school has been named after a Korean American pioneer.

 

 

The Name Selection Committee, comprised of parents, residents and teachers, carefully considered seventeen preeminent individuals, including Dr. Sammy Lee and Young-ok Kim. Behind the scenes of the naming process was the quiet coming together of Korean American community leaders. At first, different groups endorsed different individuals, which could have easily divided the community. When eligibility was further narrowed down to eliminate living persons and war heroes, the Korean American Foundation of Southern California took the lead in endorsing Charles Ho Kim.

 

October 19, 2006 Dedication (Principal Sandra Kim is to the right of grandchildren Daisietta Kim and Stuart Ahn)

 

Members of the Korean American Foundation of Southern California with Principal Sandra Kim (center)

 

 

Once set into motion, the campaign for Charles Ho Kim gained momentum. Leaders actively lobbied, historians shared their research information, and local churches organized petition drives. Instead of quibbling, Korean American organizations demonstrated unity and effectiveness in a way that would have made Charles proud. Special thanks are due to the staff of the Korean American Foundation: President William P. Min, Board Director Steven Ko, Robert Kwon, Alex Cha, and Yonah Hong. Co-author of The Life and Dreams of Pioneer Kim Ho Jisoo Kim compiled copious research material. They put forth a cogent argument for Charles Ho Kim that won over opposing groups, and they worked with community members in gaining grassroots support. Their report submitted to the Board of Directors proved to be “one of the most well-organized and detailed proposals” they had ever seen.

 

Charles H. Kim Elementary School opened in 2006 under the leadership of Principal Dr. Sandra W. Kim. Kerry Kehrley was appointed Principal in 2010. Due to its high performance standards, the school is highly sought after by discerning parents. Kindergarten through fifth grade is served. Special programs include Korean Bilingual, Spanish/English Dual Language, and Gifted classes. In 2011, the school was designated a School for Advanced Studies, and in 2012, a California Distinguished School.

 

 

Charles H. Kim Elementary School is a national model of environmentally healthy, friendly and efficient design that ensures a successful learning environment. The school was constructed to showcase green and high performance standards established by the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS), a green building rating system created specifically for California K-12 schools. A school that earns at least 28 points from a menu of options is designated as a CHPS school. Kim Elementary received 46 points.

 

 

 

170 Korean in here