III 

107TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 297

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 26, 2002

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the historical significance of 100 years of 

Korean immigration to the United States.

Whereas missionaries from the United States played a central 

role in nurturing the political and religious evolution of 

modern Korea; 

Whereas in December 1902, 56 men, 21 women and 25 children left Korea and traveled across the Pacific Ocean on 

the S.S. Gaelic and landed in Honolulu, Hawaii on January 13, 1903;
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Whereas the early Korean-American community was united 

around the common goal of obtaining independence from 

their colonized mother country; 

Whereas members of the Korean-American community have 

served with distinction in the Armed Forces of the 

United States during World War I, World War II, and 

the Korean Conflict; 

Whereas on June 25, 1950, Communist North Korea invaded 

South Korea with approximately 135,000 troops, thereby 

initiating the involvement of approximately 5,720,000 

personnel, both military and civilian from South Korea 

and the United States, who worked to stem the spread 

of communism in Korea; 

Whereas casualties in the United States Armed Forces included 54,260 dead, of whom 33,665 were battle deaths, 

92,134 wounded, and 8,176 listed as missing in action or 

prisoners of war; 

Whereas in the early 1950s, thousands of Koreans, fleeing 

from war, poverty, and desolation, came to the United 

States seeking opportunities; 

Whereas Korean-Americans, like waves of immigrants that 

came to the United States before them, have taken root 

and thrived in the United States through strong family 

ties, community support, and hard work; 

Whereas Korean immigration has invigorated businesses, 

churches, and academic communities in the United 

States; 

Whereas according to the 2000 United States Census, Korean-Americans own and operate 135,571 businesses 

across the United States that have gross sales of 
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$46,000,000,000 annually, and employ 333,649 individuals; 

Whereas the contributions of Korean-Americans to the 

United States include the development of the first beating heart operation for coronary artery disease, the development of several varieties of the nectarine, and achievements in engineering, architecture, medicine, acting, singing, sculpture, and writing; 

Whereas Korean-Americans play a crucial role in maintaining 

the strength and vitality of the United States-Korean relationship; 

Whereas the partnership of the United States and South 

Korea helps maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and provides economic benefits to the people 

of both nations and to the rest of the world; and 

Whereas beginning in 2003, more than 100 communities 

throughout the United States will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Korean immigration to the United States: 

Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That the Congress—

3 (1) recognizes the achievements and contribu4 tions of Korean-Americans to the United States over 

5 the past 100 years; and 

6 (2) requests that the President issue a procla7 mation calling on the people of the United States 

8 and interested organizations to observe the anniver-
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1 sary with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and ac2 tivities.

Passed the House of Representatives September 25, 

2002. 

Attest: JEFF TRANDAHL, 

Clerk.