Korean-American gallery owner announces bid for U.S. Congress against Rep. Young Kim

Esther Kim Varet, a Korean-American who operates art galleries under the name Various Small Fires (VSF) in Los Angeles, Dallas, and Seoul, has announced her candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in California’s 40th District, drawing significant attention.

According to a report by Artnet News on January 7, Varet recently updated her Instagram profile to declare her intention to run as a Democratic candidate in the district currently represented by Republican Rep. Young Kim, who secured a third-term victory in November 2024.

In her 40s, Varet emphasized the urgency of reclaiming the House for Democrats, stating, that with the Senate and Supreme Court firmly in Republican control, winning back the House “will be our only opportunity to check the Trump administration.”

Varet criticized both major parties for disregarding the voices of the arts community, saying, ““Both the Dems and the Republicans have totally gutted everything in the arts,” Kim Varet said. “They’ve discounted our voice in any decision-making process. I want to show them that we’re like AIPAC, like a formidable force.”

She also highlighted the strategic importance of California’s 40th District, noting, “The district is nearly evenly split between registered Democrats and Republicans, which makes it ripe to flip.”

Varet added, “The Democratic Party just needs a well-spoken young Korean American woman—with dual language skills and a robust fundraising network—driven enough to do the job. In comes Esther, the only candidate near Young Kim’s district that fits the bill.”

Although Rep. Young Kim won her most recent race by a 10-point margin, Varet believes that with the right candidate, Democrats can regain the seat.

In a past interview, Varet described herself as a first-generation Korean-American with grandparents who fled North Korea.

Varet holds a bachelor’s degree in Art History from Yale University and a doctorate from Columbia University. She has gained prominence in the art world through her successful management of the VSF galleries, which are known for representing contemporary artists across multiple cities.

BY YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]