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First Korean American LA City Councilman David Ryu swears in

June 29, 2015
David Ryu, left, was sworn in Sunday in the south lawn of Los Angeles City Hall by County Supervisor Yvonne B. Burke, right. Center: Ryu Eul-joon, his father. (Park Sang-hyuk/Korea Times)

David Ryu, left, was sworn in Sunday in the south lawn of Los Angeles City Hall by County Supervisor Yvonne B. Burke, right. Center: Ryu Eul-joon, his father. (Park Sang-hyuk/Korea Times)

By Lee Woo-su

For the first time in 112 years since the first Korean immigrants landed in America, the largest Korean American community in the U.S. saw the swearing-in of its first city councilman Sunday.

David Ryu, 39, was joined by Mayor Eric Garcetti, City Councilman Herb Wessson, City Attorney Mike Feuer, Korean Consul General Kim Hyun-myung and Korea Times CEO Jae Min Chang, and about 400 others, at the ceremony held on City Hall’s south lawn.

He takes over the 4th Council District from termed-out Councilman Tom LaBonge.

County Supervisor Yvonne B. Burke, Ryu’s former boss, for whom he worked as an aide, oversaw the oath of office.

Ryu vowed to work toward becoming the most transparent politician in City Council’s 165-year history.

His win has been a cause of celebration for the local Korean American community.

“Ryu’s victory is like a victory for all of us Korean Americans,” said James Ahn, head of the Korean American Federation of Los Angeles. “I hope Ryu is the beginning of a generation of Korean Americans who run for political office to raise the pride of the Korean American community.”

Ryu Eul-joon, 69, the newly appointed councilman’s father, said he told his son to become a politician who is always healing the pain of citizens.

“I’m sure it’s the same for David, but today is the greatest day for our family,” Ryu Eul-joon said.

Open Academy Youth Orchestra and a local traditional Korean samulnori team performed ahead of the ceremony.

David Ryu held a swearing-in ceremony for City Council Sunday. From left: City Council President Herb Wesson, Treasurer John Chiang, Ryu Jung-won, David Ryu, LA Mayor Eric Garcetti. (Park Sang-hyuk/Korea Times)

David Ryu held a swearing-in ceremony for City Council Sunday. From right: City Council President Herb Wesson, Treasurer John Chiang, LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, David Ryu, Ryu Jung-won. (Park Sang-hyuk/Korea Times)