Expressing support for establishing a Consular Office of the Republic of Korea in Philadelphia.

WHEREAS, The leaders of the Korean American community in Philadelphia formed a Committee for Attracting a Korean Consular Office to Philadelphia (the Committee). In 2013, the Committee elected Kwonil Jang, President of the Philadelphia Chapter of The National Unification Advisory Council, to lead the effort as the Chair of the Committee; and

WHEREAS, The Committee’s mission is to improve access to Korean consular services by reducing the burden of traveling long distance to New York City where the nearest Korean Consulate Office, The Korean Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in New York, is located, and to promote cultural, personal, and economic ties between the people of the Republic of Korea and the people of Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, According to the U.S. Census, the Korean population in the Philadelphia metropolitan region is estimated to be about 34,000. In addition, nearly 3,000 international students from the Republic of Korea attend colleges and universities in Philadelphia and across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, The Philadelphia metropolitan region, with the Gross Domestic Product of $358,469,000,000, is the 8th largest metropolitan economy in the United States with a strong life sciences, medical and energy industries; and

WHEREAS, The Committee successfully collected and delivered a petition with 16,500 signatures to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea in 2014; furthermore, 300 signatures from the Presidents of Korean community organizations were delivered to the Korean Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in New York in 2016; and

WHEREAS, From May 14 -21, 2016, a 28-member Delegation from Philadelphia will travel to the Republic of Korea to meet with members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea and the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, to further the Committee’s mission. The Delegation will be representing the following notable Korean organizations: the Committee for Attracting a Korean Consular Office to Philadelphia; The National Unification Advisory Council Philadelphia Chapter; the Korean American Association of Greater Philadelphia; and the Pastors Council of Greater Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, In recognition of the vibrant Korean American community of Philadelphia and the unique opportunity to pursue new diplomatic, cultural, and business opportunities between the people of the Republic of Korea and the people of Philadelphia, the City Council of Philadelphia supports and commends the mission of the Committee; now, therefore

,

be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we express support for establishing a Consular Office of the Republic of Korea in Philadelphia.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That Engrossed copies of this resolution be presented to the leadership of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, and The Korean Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in New York, as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

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