KBTV anchor Chang Heon Lee, chairman of the Korean American Association in NJ

Korean television

The family found another business opportunity five years ago. The Korean broadcasting system based in South Korea sought a subsidiary in the New York-New Jersey market. Through word of mouth, KBS managers found the Lee family.

“They wanted someone who had the cash flow to run it,” Lee said.

Fascinated by the prospect of owning a media company, the family bought the partnership rights and founded KBTV, based in Ridgefield.

In a nondescript office park on Grand Avenue, the Lee family opened a small office and broadcast studio, produced local news and broadcasted KBS network content such as Korean drama and entertainment at the same timeand news from abroad. Chang Heon Lee became the local newscaster and head of the family’s media operations.

Getting in front of the camera wasn’t easy, Lee readily admitted. Since he is a second generation Korean, English was his main language. He practiced his speaking daily to perfect his Korean and turned to Google Translate to get the words pronounced right.

While learning broadcast journalism, Lee had to deal with the struggles of a new business and needed cash flow to keep it afloat. The station only became profitable in 2021, after years of investing and tapping into the Korean community with sponsorship availabilities.

The local KBTV news is broadcast on weekdays at 9 p.m. on the cable networks Spectrum and Optimum. There are three additional reporters to help with the broadcast and produce news for you to use for the Korean American people. During the pandemic, the station showed segments about where to get vaccinated and how small businesses can get help from banks with loans from the paycheck protection program.

It was also during the pandemic and after the Atlanta shootings that killed six people Asian-American womenLast March, Lee had a revelation: he wanted to do more to help the Korean-Americans.

Helping Hands

So he decided to run for the leadership of KAANJ. Many second-generation Asian Americans have no connection with older immigrants, he said, but he wants to change that.

Lee spent $ 10,000 of his own money promoting the position. Wherever he could, he spoke to the voters.

Voters recognized him from KBTV and stopped Lee from making small talk.

“You told me, ‘Your Korean has improved,'” said Lee with a smile.

Lee estimates KBTV has around 50,000 viewers in the border triangle and Pennsylvania, but his broadcaster’s reach didn’t reach him until he was campaigning. He sees no ethical conflict in being a journalist and head of a civil organization, as both organizations help Korean Americans.

Yongeun Lee, 50, from Allendale, voted for Lee. As the mother of a 17-year-old son, she is delighted to see a second-generation Korean American meddling in civil affairs.

“I am delighted that KAANJ now has a young president,” said Yongeun Lee. “It shows that many Koreans want change. It is time to let go of the old.”

Cecilia Lim, 18, from Montvale, board member of the nonprofit organization Asian American Youth Council, helped campaign for Lee.

“As the first second generation KAANJ President, he will be able to encourage many other second generations of our community to participate,” said Lim.

Lee has promising plans for the organization, including growth for popular community events like the Chuseok Korean Festival at Ridgefield Park, the celebrates the autumn harvest.

Lee wants KAANJ to be a truly statewide organization for 168,000+ Korean Americans instead of focusing on Northern Jersey. He plans to tour the state to meet with Korean communities in other areas such as Edison and Cherry Hill.

Leveraging his background in working with diverse populations in retailing, Lee plans to network with other ethnic organizations across the state through joint ventures.

He hopes to sow the seeds for future generations.

“My goal is to help KAANJ grow and make sure the next person after my tenure has a better start than me,” Lee said.

Mary Chao 慶 華 covers the Asian community and real estate for NorthJersey.com. For full access to the latest North Jersey news, subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Bergen County Unity Rally calls for end to hate against Asian Americans

"Go back home. How many of you have heard that before?" Richard Lee, director of advancement at the Asian American Christian Collaborative, asked rhetorically at the Bergen County Unity Rally on Sunday afternoon.

Under overcast skies at Overpeck County Park in Leonia, over 200 people gathered for the first-ever rally to bring together Asian Americans with people of all backgrounds, unified against hate and violence. The event, hosted by the recently formed Bergen County Diversity Coalition, paid homage to May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, recognizing the contributions of the communities to the history of our country, while grieving over the spate of violent acts against Asian Americans over the past year as they were scapegoated for the pandemic.

Lee was among over a dozen speakers from different backgrounds to address the issue of racism against Asian Americans. Others included Rep. Andy Kim, D-3; Reyn Cabinte, senior pastor of Uptown Community Church in Washington Heights, New York; Justin Adour, pastor at Redeemer East Harlem Church; Kasai Sanchez, organizer of the Teaneck Black Lives Matter Mural Committee; Sahib Singh, a member of the Sikh Youth Coalition; and Han Ik Son, president of the Korean-American Association of New Jersey.

Lee told the crowd that Asians have long been targets of racism when it comes to being denied opportunities in the country, from personal to professional, but they have been reticent to speak up.

"For far too long, far too many of us have believed that the path to belonging was by following the cultural command to keep your head down and don't make trouble," Lee said. "I think you and I have grown too comfortable in that assimilation."

The narrative since the pandemic started in Wuhan, China, is that "we do not belong," he said.

"Now we are a threat. Now we are expendable," Lee said.

Kim shared his personal stories of growing up as a Korean American in New Jersey to immigrant parents. He related an incident, from when he was working at the State Department, in which he was banned from involvement in issues related to Korea because he is Korean American — despite the fact that he was born in this country and can barely speak Korean.

"This country that I risked my life to serve in Afghanistan as a civilian diplomat was now telling me that they didn't fully trust me," Kim said. "They were telling me they didn't trust me to work on Korea because they worried if I did, I wouldn't be able to represent the United States of America. This, my only home I've ever known. And they were saying they questioned my loyalty."

Kim touched upon what other speakers noted: that despite being Americans, Asians are often still on the outside.

"No matter what you do or how hard you try, there are going to be people that think you don't belong here," Kim said.

Cabinte, the Washington Heights pastor, recalled the Atlanta mass killings that took the lives of eight people, six of them Asian Americans. While communities of color immediately knew it was a hate crime, law enforcement initially gave the killer the benefit of the doubt, saying he needed "to take out that temptation" and that it was a "a really bad day for him, and this is what he did,"

"When empathy was delayed, it was hard to feel as a part of the community," Cabinte said.

In addition to the sharing of stories of racism, the event featured cultural performers to entertain the crowd. The Pro Sono string group played a moving rendition of "Amazing Grace," Korean Traditional Dance of Choomnoori lit up the stage with a colorful fan dance, and Kulture Kool engaged with a classical Indian dance.

Holding the Bergen County rally was symbolic for AAPI Heritage Month, especially this year, said Cecilia Chan, an organizer.

"It really is a rallying point for all of us to join together to fight for what's right," Chan said.

Mary Chao 趙 慶 華 covers the Asian community and real estate for NorthJersey.com. To get unlimited access to the latest news out of North Jersey, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Second-generation Korean Americans preserve Korea's fan dance in New Jersey

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, New Jersey -- At the Woorigarak Korean Cultural Art Center, in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, a group of Second-generation Korean Americans preserves the beauty of Korea's culture through dance.

Wearing the traditional and brightly colored hanboks, the Korean traditional dress, a group of dancers performs the Buchaechum, a traditional form of Korean dance also called a fan dance.

"The Korean fan dance is very bright, graceful, and one of a kind. It tells a story and describes everything in nature," said Eunjoo Kang, Director of the Woorigarak Korean Cultural Art Center.

The dance, which features elegant movements, is performed with vibrant fans adorned with feathers and which the dancers use to represent shaped images of birds, butterflies, and waves.

Related: Our America: Asian Voices tell the stories of Asian and Pacific Islander groups in America

For dancers like Jessica Han, executing this traditional dance form elevates her confidence and instills a great sense of pride in her Korean roots.

"I'm very proud of what I do. As a minority, we've been put down a lot and we face a lot of racism. But this is a way in which I could bring part of Korea here to the U.S.," said Han.

For Kang, who choreographs and directs the cultural arts center, educating the next generation of Korean Americans and maintaining Korea's dance traditions alive through generations is more than just a duty.

"I think it is my destiny to teach children and show them our Korean traditions and culture. While I have kept all of the traditional dance moves in the choreography, I try to mix traditional and modern sounds that all of my students can enjoy," said Kang.

Through the Woorigarak Korean Cultural Art Center, Kang hopes to continue educating the next generation while also showcasing the beauty of Korea to people of other cultures.

"America is known as the land of opportunity and this dance has definitely given me the opportunity to show who I am without being afraid," said Han.