Boston

Winter Olympics Put Local Koreans in the Spotlight

From Copley Square to Mattapan Square, there are still some people who know very little about PyeongChang, South Korea.

So NBC10 Boston turned to the Korean Consulate in Newton, Massachusetts to give us a primer on what we should know about the Olympic host nation that is now in the global spotlight. 

Counsul General Yonghyon Kim represents the many South Korean citizens in the state who are studying and working.

"It should be a two way street in friendship, understanding, business," Consul General Kim says.

With so much innovation and intellectual horsepower in the Bay State, he’s also trying to find new opportunities for Korean businesses in the area and hopes the Winter Olympics will boost his home country’s profile.

"But at the same time, I would be New England’s ambassador to promote Boston," says Consul General Kim.

While Consul General Kim is a Korean national, Dan Koh is a third generation Korean American, born in Boston and raised in Andover.

Koh is running for Congress in the third district.

"There are actually no Korean Americans in Congress right now, there’s actually been one, ever," he says.

Koh is feeling tremendous pride watching the Winter Games being played in his grandfather’s home country, but he says his priority is getting behind team USA, especially the local Olympians like Andover’s Analissa Drew and Marlboro’s Bobby Butler.

"Some good third district representation," he says, "so we’re proud to have them there."

Contact Us