With nearly one million Korean Americans living in Los Angeles, it is important that there is a broad understanding of Korean culture and traditions.

Officers from the LAPD’s Wilshire Division have participated in past forums, which include an introduction to Korean culture and food. (photo courtesy of the KCCLA)

The Korean Cultural Center, Los Angeles (KCCLA) promotes the ideals of Koreans through its many exhibits and programs. One unique program helps to foster better relations with law enforcement. KCCLA held a forum Wednesday with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. While it was the first time the sheriff’s department participated, the KCCLA has been hosting similar forums with the Los Angeles Police Department since 2005, and it has become standard training for new officers at the LAPD’s Wilshire Division.

Lt. Kimberly Unland, with the Sheriff’s department’s Leadership and Training Division, said participating in the forum is part of the department’s effort to build partnerships with the diverse population groups living in Los Angeles County. She added that the forum Wednesday will be the first of many the department will be involved with in the future.

“We see it as an opportunity to enhance community policing and public trust policing,” Unland said. “We want to learn more about the cultures that are integrating in our communities, and to create an understanding and a trust.”

Rick Phillips, spokesperson for the KCCLA, said the program covers Korean history and traditions, and an introduction to the language. Korean food was served at the event to better familiarize the sheriff’s personnel with the culture.

“Many of the people participating have never eaten Korean food, or had any interaction with Korean people or the culture,” Phillips said. “Often times there is a language barrier, or they (law enforcement) might not understand why members of the Korean community act a certain way or do certain things.”

Phillips said one of the topics at the forum was the tradition of the man being the head of the household.

“If officers respond to a disturbance at a house, they may not understand that in a Confucian society, you would have to talk to the man of the house,” Phillips said. “Obviously the officers can do what they want, but we want them to have a better understanding of why Korean Americans may act a certain way.”

Phillips said the forums are co-sponsored by the Los Angeles chapter of the Global Cooperation Society International (GCSI). Chan-Hie Kim, the president of the Los Angeles chapter of GCSI, also said while many Korean Americans own or operate businesses in Koreatown, many of them live in communities throughout Southern California in areas under the jurisdiction of the sheriff’s department.

“One of the things we do is teach them basics of the language. We teach them a few sentences such as ‘thank you’ and ‘how are you’, or basic things they will need to know in an emergency situation,” Kim said. “There are also things we teach them about social status. How when you shake hands, it is accompanied by polite language; and respect for the elderly, which is a very big deal in Korean culture, as well as in all Asian societies.”

Capt. Eric Davis, the commanding officer for the LAPD’s Wilshire Division, said the personnel at the station have benefitted greatly from participating in the forums.

“Sometimes we come across things that require us to rely on the skills learned at the forum, and because of the training, we are able to address those factors. It can be something as simple as a radio call for service, or something very serious,” Davis added. “There are certain procedures and policies that play out during a police encounter, and the more everyone knows about each other, the better it is for everyone.”

Phillips said the law enforcement forums are held a couple of times a year. Unland said the sheriff’s department is planning to participate in a second forum at the center in October.

For information, visit www.kccla.org.