On This Day

한글날 축하해!

Today is Hangul Day, a national holiday in South Korea that celebrates the invention and proclamation of the Korean alphabet by King Sejong the Great in 1446. North Korea commemorates the holiday as Chosŏn'gŭl Day on Jan. 15. Hangul, or hangeul, revolutionized Korean society by promoting literacy among the common people. Unlike most alphabets, the writing system was deliberately created with unique features like consonants shaped by mouth forms and vowels based on the elements. Though nearly suppressed during the Joseon dynasty, hangul experienced a resurgence in the 19th century, playing a key role in Korean nationalism. Today, hangul remains a source of national pride and is celebrated for its ease of learning and distinct design.

Politics

Korean American voters in Georgia are turning away from Kamala Harris for this reason

Kamala Harris is reportedly losing support in her bid for the presidency among Korean American voters in Georgia, a key demographic that helped push the state into the Democratic column in 2020.

Driving the news: Economic concerns are propelling this shift. Speaking to Politico, local small business owners like Lee Sung Yong and Shin Kyung Ok express frustration with inflation and dwindling profits. “The yearly costs of my operation have been so different under the two administrations,” Lee said. While some continue to oppose former President Donald Trump for his anti-Asian rhetoric, others see economic survival as the most pressing issue. “The economy … is always kind of the number one concern for a lot of the Asian American population. And they’re not happy with what’s happened in the last four years. They want change,” GOP Rep. Soo Hong, who represents parts of Gwinnett, told Politico.

The big picture: Georgia is a battleground state with a growing Asian American population that could significantly impact November’s election. Harris’ promise of an “opportunity economy” that would grow small businesses and invest in entrepreneurs, however, remains to be seen. “The economy is a huge issue,” James Woo of Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Atlanta told CNN last month. “A lot of community members we work with are small-business owners. They are working seven days a week at mom-and-pop shops, so the economy really impacts them directly.

Crime

Fil-Am custodian fatally shot “execution style” following California gym dispute

Rolando Viray Yanga, a 60-year-old Filipino American custodian, was killed outside his home on Sept. 29 after an apparent dispute that began at a Daly City, California, gym where he worked part-time.

What happened: The altercation occurred after an argument over gym etiquette at Fitness 19 at the Westlake Shopping Center, where Yanga confronted 21-year-old Maarji Afridi, a gym member, about vandalism in the gym’s bathroom. As captured on surveillance camera, Afridi later followed Yanga home and shot him “execution style,” firing eight shots. According to San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe, “the victim went down and the suspect then walked up to him and pumped some additional rounds into him at point-blank range.” 

Arrest and charges: Afridi has been arrested and charged with murder and multiple enhancements, while his 50-year-old mother, Zaib, was also arrested and charged as an accessory. The murder is classified as an "execution murder" with special circumstances, meaning Afridi could face life in prison without parole. Yanga's family has set up a GoFundMe, raising over $43,000 for funeral expenses and family support. Yanga is remembered as a kind and generous person, who is “always thinking of other people and sharing things with them.”

Entertainment

🎵 What we’re listening to

Vietnamese American artist Thuy recently released her third album, “wings,” and it’s giving unapologetic embrace of femininity and sexuality energy. The nine-track R&B album has got me walking down the street on “cloud 11” with my “hair down.” Her new music seems like it's luring listeners into her fearless journey of growth and transformation, inviting us to also explore our own identities while celebrating love and liberation. - Michelle De Pacina

News

Taiwan registers its first cross-strait same-sex marriage

In a historic move for marriage equality, Kaohsiung City registered Taiwan’s first cross-strait same-sex marriage on Tuesday. The couple, Ryan, 38, from Kaohsiung, and Righ, 48, from Beijing, were able to formalize their union following a recent policy change by Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC).

About the couple: The couple, who married in the U.S. in 2019, completed their registration following an interview with the National Immigration Agency, which confirmed the legitimacy of their marriage and that Righ posed no security risks. Despite being legally married in the U.S., they had faced significant challenges due to Taiwan and China’s complex political relationship. “It actually feels very unreal, finally winning this moment, because we have been waiting for a long time,” Ryan told Kyodo News.

How it happened: The MAC began to allow cross-strait same-sex couples to register their third-country marriages in Taiwan last month. This new policy applies the same rules that previously only allowed cross-strait heterosexual marriages to be formalized. Kaohsiung, on its own, was the first city in Taiwan to allow same-sex marriage registrations in 2014.

Why it matters: The change brings Taiwan closer to full marriage equality following its historic legalization of same-sex marriage in 2019. “We hope that marriage equality will be implemented in the near future, and (people in) Taiwan can marry anyone in the world equally in the same way,” Ryan added.

News

Why Taiwan’s president declared that China can never be Taiwan’s “motherland”

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te asserted on Saturday that it is “absolutely impossible” for Communist China to be Taiwan's motherland, citing the island's government as older. Lai, who assumed office in May, made the comment at a National Day event at Taipei Dome ahead of Taiwan's national day on Thursday. 

Older than PRC: Lai pointed out that Taiwan, governed as the Republic of China since 1912, predates the establishment of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1949. "In terms of age, it is absolutely impossible for the People’s Republic of China to become the motherland of the Republic of China’s people," he stated

Reunification as an “irreversible trend”: Chinese President Xi Jinping has led intensified rhetoric and military activity around Taiwan in recent years, vowing to "reunify" with the nation. He reaffirmed this position on the eve of the PRC’s 75th birthday last week, declaring that reunification is an "irreversible trend." Meanwhile, Lai's comments have faced criticism from the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party, a political group which advocates for closer ties with Beijing. KMT city councilor Ling Tao criticized Lai for "inciting political confrontation" by highlighting the "motherland theory."

News

There’s a new Korean dish winning over foreigners in South Korea

Gukbap, a traditional pork rice soup, is gaining popularity among foreigners in South Korea. Restaurants in Seoul’s tourist hotspots have reportedly seen a surge in customers lining up to try gukbap since the COVID-19 pandemic. To accommodate the influx, many establishments have added translated menus in English, Chinese, Japanese and other languages.

Becoming popular: Despite being unranked in 2022, gukbap debuted at No. 7 on Seoul-headquartered payment processor BC Card’s list of the 10 most popular foods among foreigners this year, which was released on Oct. 5. Like Korean instant ramen, industry observers partly credit gukbap’s rise in popularity to its frequent appearances in K-pop, K-dramas and films. Many foreign tourists have shared their experiences trying the dish on TikTok, including British actor Simon Pegg who took his delight to Instagram.

About the dish: Typically sold at around 9,000 Korean won ($7), gukbap has been a staple in Korea for centuries, possibly dating back to the Three Kingdoms era (4th to 7th century). The dish is often served boiling in a pot, accompanied by various side dishes that diners can mix and match. Garnishes and seasonings like sesame seeds, red pepper sauce, salted shrimp and chives allow diners to customize the flavor of their soup.

News

Fortune unveils its list of the “most powerful” women in Asia

Fortune unveiled its 2024 Most Powerful Women Asia list, featuring 100 influential women from diverse industries such as finance, energy, food and beverages, transportation and hospitality. The 100 women, including 53 CEOs, 26 chairpersons and 11 CFOs, are recognized for redefining leadership, driving innovation and inspiring future leaders. It includes 20 leaders from China, 14 from Thailand, nine each from Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong and many more from other nations. 

Who’s at the top?: Grace Wang, who cofounded Luxshare in 2004 with her brother after a decade at Foxconn, has taken her company from startup to powerhouse in just 20 years! Luxshare is now a top player in making some of Apple's bestselling gadgets, such as AirPods, Apple Watches, Vision Pros and iPhones, giving Foxconn a serious run for its money. Under Wang’s innovative leadership, Luxshare made its debut on the Fortune Global 500 list in 2023, and this year, it's sitting pretty at No. 488 with a whopping $32.8 billion in revenue.

Breaking barriers: Other women in the top five are Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation CEO Helen Wong, Suntory Beverage and Food CEO Makiko Ono, Macquarie Group CEO Shemara Wikramanayake and Japan Airlines’ first female CEO, Mitsuko Tottori. Like many women on the list, Tottori’s journey highlights the significant strides female leaders are making in traditionally male-dominated industries across Asia, even in countries like Japan where gender equality in corporate leadership remains a challenge. To improve this, experts recommend policies to enhance parental leave, increase access to childcare, foster family-friendly environments, ensure equal pay for equal work and the promotion of women to leadership positions.

Final Bites

📰Police search for suspects who mugged Asian woman in Brooklyn hate crime: A 25-year-old Asian woman was mugged in Downtown Brooklyn around 3:25 p.m. on Sept. 28 in an incident classified as a hate crime. While walking in front of 387 Jay St., she was approached by two individuals, one of whom made anti-Asian remarks while the other forcibly took the victim's $1,000 cell phone, before fleeing eastbound on Willoughby St. The victim, who suffered minor injuries, was taken to NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn in stable condition. The NYPD has released surveillance photos of the female suspect, while the other suspect remains unidentified. The Hate Crime Task Force is investigating, and anyone with information is urged to contact the NYPD Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

🎙️Legendary English narrator of “Dragon Ball Z” dies at 76: Doc Harris, best known as the iconic narrator for the English dub of the "Dragon Ball Z" anime series, died Saturday at age 76, following a minor surgical procedure. Born Gilbert Auchinleck, Harris began his career as a radio disc jockey in Vancouver during the 1960s and ‘70s before transitioning to voice acting. He lent his distinctive voice to over 200 episodes of "Dragon Ball Z" between 1996 and 2003, becoming a beloved figure for fans with his signature sign-off, "We'll see you next time on Dragon Ball Z." Harris' extensive voice acting career also included roles in "Captain N: The Game Master," "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic" and even an appearance on "The X-Files."

📺Amazon’s "Oshi no Ko" live-action trailer drops: Amazon has released the first trailer for the live-action adaptation of the hit anime "Oshi no Ko." The eight-episode series, set to premiere on Prime Video on Nov. 28, will follow the story of Aqua and Ruby, twin siblings who are reborn into the life of their idol mother, Ai Hoshino. The trailer blends elements of tragedy and J-pop, showcasing a captivating story involving the twins trying to uncover the conspiracy surrounding their mother's death. The cast includes former idol group members Asuka Saito as Ai Hoshino and Nagisa Saito as Ruby Hoshino. A sequel film will be released in Japan on Dec. 20, following the recently announced third season of the anime.

🎼Wanna be a K-pop idol? Blackpink’s label to hold global auditions: YG Entertainment, the South Korean music label behind Blackpink, BigBang and 2NE1, is holding auditions across Asia, in search of its next K-pop idols. In the Philippines, auditions will take place at Zero Studio in Quezon City on Nov. 24, open to those born between 2006 and 2013. Participants can audition in only one category — vocal, rap, dance or appearance — and must pre-register by Nov. 10 on the YG Audition website. Selected applicants will receive a confirmation email on Nov. 20 about advancing to the second round, where no walk-ins are allowed. YG is known for its successful K-pop groups and also manages top South Korean actors, such as Lee Sung-kyung, Yoo In-na and Yoo Seung-ho.