The prominent Korean figure skating star Kim Yu-na has been acknowledged by the city of Los Angeles with a special day, Aug. 7 to commemorate her success.Kim, the 20-year-old Olympic gold medalist, will visit Los Angeles Friday to receive the “Proud Korean Award.”
Herb Wesson of the Los Angeles City Council submitted a resolution of "Yu-na Day" and the resolution passed unanimously Tuesday. Los Angeles has the largest Koreatown with a population of over 120,000 and Wesson said he is glad to proclaim Kim’s day on her visit to the biggest Korean community in the U.S.
"Kim, an Olympic gold medalist and global idol star, can become a role model not only to second generation Korean-Americans but also to others in the community sports world," Wesson was quoted as saying.
She will meet Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and donate a signed pair of skates, which are going to be kept at the City Hall.
In addition, the Korean-American Leadership Foundation announced that they will also present this year’s "Proud Korean Award" to Samuel "Sammy" Lee, a Korean-American diving hero who won gold medals at the 1948 and 1952 Olympic Games.
The award is presented to Korean Americans who have made Koreans proud.
"Although Kim, who trains in Toronto, is not technically Korean-American, we decided to award her because she made Koreans proud all over the world," the foundation said.
By Kwon Mee-yoo @ koreatimes
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