The Korea Daily has received an Honorable Mention in the Written Reporting category at the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) Journalism Excellence Awards.
The recognized work, “Sent Back, Left Behind: Korean Lives After U.S. Deportation”, was published last December and explores the lives of Korean deportees after their removal from the United States. The story is available on The Korea Daily’s English-language website at en.koreadaily.com.
This marks the first time a Korean American news organization has been recognized at the AAJA Journalism Excellence Awards. AAJA is one of the nation’s largest and most respected journalism organizations, representing more than 2,500 Asian American journalists working across over 500 newsrooms throughout the United States.
The Korea Daily received the honor in the Written Reporting category, one of the awards’ most highly competitive divisions. The project was the result of six months of on-the-ground reporting in both the United States and South Korea by reporters Sangjin Kim, Yeol Jang, Kyungjun Kim, and former staff reporter Yoonjae Jung.
The top honor in the category went to Cecilia Lei of KQED, an NPR member station. The Korea Daily received its Honorable Mention alongside Amy Qin of The New York Times. Other winners included journalists from leading news organizations such as The Washington Post, CNN, and Bloomberg. The awards were presented from June 26 to 27 in Minneapolis.
While the United States is home to countless immigrant and minority communities, few have news organizations with the reach and influence to bring their stories and perspectives into the mainstream. In that sense, The Korea Daily’s recognition alongside some of the country’s most respected news organizations represents more than an achievement for our newsroom; it is a meaningful milestone that reflects the growing voice and standing of the Korean American community.
The award comes just over three years after The Korea Daily launched its English-language platform in April 2023. For more than half a century, The Korea Daily has served as the voice of the Korean American community. Launching an English-language platform was a bold step toward reaching the next generation of Korean Americans while engaging more directly with mainstream American society.
This award is the clearest validation yet that The Korea Daily’s journalism is earning recognition not only within the Korean American community but also across the broader U.S. media landscape.
We will treat this recognition as a new beginning as we continue to pursue the highest standards of journalism, amplify the voice of the Korean American community, and ultimately compete for journalism’s highest honor—the Pulitzer Prize.
We are deeply grateful to our readers for the trust and support that made this achievement possible.
— The Korea Daily
