The departure of Radio Korea from its longtime home in Los Angeles’ Koreatown marks more than a change of address; it signals a potential shift in the cultural and geographic center of the Southern California Korean community.
Last December, the station moved its main operations from 3700 Wilshire Boulevard to La Palma in Orange County. The move follows a notification from landlord Jamison Properties that tenants would eventually need to vacate the building to make way for redevelopment into affordable housing. According to Radio Korea CEO Michael Kim, the company spent years searching for alternative spaces in Los Angeles but repeatedly encountered obstacles regarding cost and parking.
A Symbolic Loss and Personnel Shifts
For many, the station was inseparable from the neighborhood. The headquarters was so ingrained in the community that residents referred to the site as the “Radio Korea building” and the adjacent area as the “Radio Korea lawn.” Now, the large white block letters of the station’s sign have been removed, leaving only a shadow imprint.
The transition has led to the departure of several longtime employees who found the commute to Orange County unrealistic. Among them is Richard Choi, 78, one of the station’s most recognizable voices who spent nearly 37 years waking up at 3 a.m. For the morning broadcast. Choi, who lived near Hancock Park, decided to retire last year rather than face a significantly longer drive.
The Legacy of 1992
The significance of Radio Korea’s presence in Koreatown is deeply tied to the 1992 L.A. Civil unrest. Following the acquittal of police officers in the Rodney King beating, the station became a critical emergency information network for Korean immigrants, many of whom spoke limited English and felt they lacked police protection.
During the unrest, which saw more than 2,000 Korean-owned businesses damaged or destroyed according to some community estimates, Choi and other broadcasters remained on air through the night. Station accounts indicate that Choi sometimes stayed on air for more than 20 hours a day to provide updates to the community.
“Radio Korea played a major role in helping the Korean community rebuild,” Choi said, noting that the riots served as a turning point that transformed the community into “true Korean Americans.”
A Community in Transition
The move comes at a time of financial pressure for Korean-language media, which has faced declining advertising revenue and struggles following the pandemic. CEO Michael Kim stated that expenses are lower at the newly purchased building in La Palma.
Kim suggested that the center of the Korean community in Southern California has been gradually shifting. He compared the trend to the movement of the Chinese community from Chinatown to the San Gabriel Valley, questioning if Koreatown is becoming “less and less Korean.” This shift is reflected in Orange County, which now has two officially designated Koreatowns: one in Garden Grove (recognized in 2019) and another in Buena Park (designated in 2023).
However, others argue that Los Angeles remains the “emotional center” of the community. Yong-ho Kim, a former advertising employee and current restaurant owner, noted the loss of in-person interaction, as ads are now sent by phone rather than recorded in-studio. Hyepin Im, a community advocate with Faith and Community Empowerment, argued that ethnic media depends heavily on physical relationships within the communities they serve, stating that the lack of a physical presence in Koreatown “will be a loss to the community.”
Looking Forward
While Radio Korea continues to operate a small satellite office in Koreatown and insists its reporting in Los Angeles remains unchanged, the move may reflect a broader evolution of the region’s ethnic enclaves.
The shift toward Orange County could indicate a continuing migration of Korean leadership and population toward the suburbs. However, as Richard Choi noted, Koreatown may continue to serve as the “symbolic center” of the community regardless of where the broadcasts originate.
