Korean Community Rallies in Support of NJ Supreme Court Nominee

HACKENSACK—Dozens of Korean-Americans and representatives from various organizations across Bergen County and the state, including several Fort Lee residents, rallied Wednesday in support of one of Gov. Chris Christie’s nominees for the New Jersey Supreme Court at an event in Hackensack sponsored by the Korean-American Voters Council (KAVC).

A former assistant United States Attorney for New Jersey currently serving as first assistant in the state Attorney General’s office, Philip Kwon, who is Korean-American, has been the target of what former Edison Mayor Jun Choi called “inappropriate, speculative attacks” in the media in reference to recent articles in the Star Ledger raising concerns about Kwon and his family’s legal issues, which Christie has said have been resolved.

“This is a significant milestone for the Korean-American and Asian-American communities,” Choi said. “This is a significant milestone for all New Jerseyans. We don’t stand here as one ethnic group; we stand here representing the entire state of New Jersey.”

Sen. Kevin O’Toole (R-40), who represents parts of Bergen, Essex and Passaic Counties, said his mother was a North Korean war refugee, and that his parents suffered discrimination as an interracial couple in the 1950s. He echoed Choi, saying that while Christie’s nomination of Kwon was “groundbreaking,” the governor didn’t select him because he’s Korean-American, but rather because he’s “one of the most qualified nominees.”

“I am convinced that he will do an exceptional job as an Associate Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court,” O’Toole said.

He went on to chastise the media for what he called “fiery rhetoric” and “hyperbole,” and said he was “disheartened” that a number of his fellow state senators have “rushed to judge” Kwon.

“They don’t know the man,” said O’Toole, who serves on the Judiciary Committee. “They don’t know the candidate; they don’t know the nominee.”

He said Kwon’s professional credentials put him “head and shoulders above other nominees who have come before us,” and called on his fellow senators to “roll up your sleeves, find out what the facts are [and] speak to the candidate.”

“Don’t go into the sewer based on supposition or what you think you read about his mother or his business,” O’Toole said. “If there are questions, and if they are legitimate, I think Phil Kwon will answer those at the Senate confirmation hearing.”

Deputy Mayor of Palisades Park Jason Kim called Kwon’s nomination “very important for the Korean-American, but also for the Asian community.”

He said there has been “a neglect of representation of the Asian community” in state government.

“I really, truly thank the governor that he is thinking of and appointing an Asian representative and Korean representative [to the Supreme Court],” Kim said.

Ji Sun [Gina] Yoon, president of the Korean American Association of Fort Lee (KAAFL) and one of the main organizers of the event in Hackensack, said Kwon’s nomination is a source of pride for many in the Korean-American community.

“It’s a huge, huge expectation because this job is a very high level position,” Yoon said.

Also in attendance Wednesday were Helen Yoon of the and Andrew Kim.

“As Sen. Kevin O’Toole said, [Kwon] is a man integrity, and he’s got all these credentials and experience,” Kim said. “He’s a wonderful candidate, and I hope he does a lot of good things for the state of New Jersey.”

Helen Yoon said it’s “exciting for the Korean community.”

“It’s a huge breakthrough, and I think that it’ll create a lot of opportunity,” she said.

Choi said the event at the KAVC’s Hackensack headquarters also served to launch a grassroots movement called “Citizens for Philip Kwon,” which includes a Facebook page, a Twitter page and an iPetition page.

As of Wednesday, Kwon’s confirmation hearing had not yet been set, O’Toole said.