“Goo-soon mother, find me out.”

Rep. Marylin Strickland (Korean name Sunja), the first Korean-American woman to enter the US House of Representatives, entered the inauguration ceremony on the 3rd, wearing a hanbok. [스트릭랜드 의원 트위터 캡처]

Rep. Marylin Strickland (58, Korean name Sunja, Democratic Party), who received attention for attending the inauguration and opening ceremony of the U.S. House of Representatives on the 3rd (local time), wearing a hanbok, revealed the reason why Hanbok was chosen as the first lantern suit. He attended the inauguration ceremony in a red jacket and a dark blue skirt, which became a hot topic in the US media.

Senator Strickland is the first Korean-American woman to enter the House of Representatives.

On the 14th, Congressman Strickland announced that Koo Soon’s mother, Kim In-min, decided to watch the inauguration scene on TV at an online support meeting for Korean American voters, and that she wore a hanbok to help them easily recognize herself.

He said, “Because I thought my fellow lawmakers would wear dark suits, I chose the hanbok to make it easier for my mother to see,” he said. “Some Americans can’t distinguish between Korea and Japan and China, but I am proud that hanbok has become a hot topic in the United States.” He added.

Regarding the intrusion of President Donald Trump’s polarity supporters on the 6th, he said, “It was embarrassing and tragic to see the Southern League flag flying inside the Capitol. .

Congressman Strickland is taking an oath at the inauguration ceremony of the US House of Representatives on the 3rd (local time) wearing a hanbok. C-SPAN=Yonhap News

Congressman Strickland shared his experiences with young Korean voters who were born to a black father and a Korean mother, and lived in American society and struggled with identity issues. He said, “People try to define my whole life just because they are mixed race, and they ask,’Are you close to black or Korean?'” He said. “If my mother is Korean, of course, is she not Korean?”

He added, “I am proud of my black lineage, but I am an eternal Korean daughter,” he added. “Although the Korean American community and black people in the past had hostile feelings, I want to become a bridge between the Korean community and black people.”

He also emphasized, “The Korean American community needs to increase its political power,” and “The number of Koreans working in the parliament and local governments should increase, and the Korean American voters should be more organized.”

Reporter Go Seok-hyun [email protected]