Many Korean Businesses Plan to Join Immigrant Boycott

The owner of a local Korean grocery store who employs several undocumented workers sympathized with their situation. Praising her employees for their strong work ethic she said, "the boycott would definitely hurt my business, but as an immigrant myself, I support their cause."

Other business owners were less sympathetic. Employers at a Korean restaurant in San Francisco said they would not allow their employees the time off to join in the boycott. "Even when they took time off for their citizenship exam it affected my business," she complained.

On the whole, most small business owners seemed unaware of the planned boycott. They said the issue concerns mainly Latinos. Large business owners that employ high numbers of undocumented workers, on the other hand, were not only aware of the boycott, but many plan to take part as well.

Nam Gon Kim, a candidate for president of the Korean Community Association in Los Angeles, said despite the financial loss most Korean businesses in Los Angeles will support the boycott. "By joining the boycott, the Korean community will show its support for other immigrant communities."

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