Greater Philly Korean Community Celebrates Longstanding Roots, Looks To Future

GREATER PHILADELPHIA — The local Korean American community recently held some celebrations to ring in Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in the region, while taking the time to look to the future of Korean-American influence in this part of the country.

Montgomery County in particular has seen a large influx of Korean-Americans throughout the decades, and is today recognized as having one of the largest Korean-American communities in the United States.

Philadelphia itself is considered to be one of the oldest Korean-American communities in the entire country.

Sharon Hartz, a representative with the Korean-American Association of Greater Philadelphia, recently told an NBC 10 Philadelphia reporter that local communities can expect to see Korean-owned businesses, like the national Korean grocery store chain H Mart, expanding throughout the region, as a second generation of Korean American population moves out into the Philly suburbs.

Today, there are H Mart locations in the Philadelphia region in the city's Olney neighborhood, as well as in Cheltenham Township in Montgomery County, and Upper Darby Township in Delaware County.

Another popular Korean-American grocery store, Assi Plaza International Food, is located in the North Wales area, which is part of the North Penn-Lansdale region of Montgomery County.

According to the business's website, the suburban Philly location is one of three across the United States, the other two locations being in Illinois and Georgia.

State politicians are also recognizing the Asian American Pacific Islander community here in Pennsylvania during the month of May, recognized as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Gov. Tom Wolf's office put out a news release on Thursday saying the governor and First Lady Frances Wolf joined the Governor's Advisory Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs during a ceremony to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month on Wednesday in Harrisburg.

"I am proud to join with the Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs to celebrate the rich traditions of our commonwealth's Asian Pacific American communities," Wolf said in a statement. "In Pennsylvania, we know that our diversity is our strength, and we honor the many contributions and achievements of Asian Pacific American Pennsylvanians."

Wolf gave thanks to commissioner members, including Executive Director Stephanie Sun, for "all of your hard work to advocate for the Asian Pacific American community in Pennsylvania, and ensuring that state government is accountable and accessible to all Pennsylvanians."

The Keystone State is home to more than 600,000 residents of Asian and Pacific Islander decent, according to the governor's office.

Sun stated that her commission even created a statewide recognition, called the Advancing Pennsylvania Award, to honor those from the Asian and Pacific Islander community who help promote community leaders and organizers who have "made a difference in Pennsylvania."

On Tuesday, three organizations and one individual were given the award during a ceremony in Harrisburg.

Those winners were the Bhutanese Community Association of Pittsburgh, the Muslims of Central PA, the International Spring Festival Organization, and Philadelphia high school student Christina Lu.

The Governor's Advisory Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs was created through executive order and is dedicated to ensuring that state government is "accessible and accountable to the diverse Asian Pacific American communities in Pennsylvania," according to the governor's office.