Organizers say opening ceremony plans were communicated in advance, regret misunderstanding
The Federation of Korean American Chambers of Commerce USA (FKACC), led by Chairman Byung Koo Hwang, said it has formally apologized to the Los Angeles Korean American Chamber of Commerce (LAKACC) following controversy over the chamber’s exclusion from key events during last week’s K-Goods Fair in Las Vegas.
The K-Goods Fair was jointly organized by the FKACC and the Korea Federation of SMEs (KBIZ) with support from the South Korean government as part of ASD Market Week 2026.
Responding to a recent report by the Korea Daily questioning whether Korean American business leaders had once again been overlooked, FKACC said it had informed the LA chamber in advance about the format of the opening ceremony.
John Park, spokesperson for the federation, said the organization’s leadership had explained beforehand that only FKACC Chairman Byung Koo Hwang and Chairwoman Mi Kyung Kim would participate in the official ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“We asked for their understanding prior to the event, so it is unfortunate that the matter has become controversial,” Park said.
However, officials from the Los Angeles chamber maintain they never received prior notice regarding the ribbon-cutting arrangements.
The Aug. 25 opening ceremony featured more than 40 participants, including executives from KBIZ and FKACC, Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley, South Korean celebrities and government officials. No representatives from the Los Angeles chamber participated in the ribbon-cutting.
LA chamber officials also said they were not invited to the official dinner held that evening. About 80 guests attended the reception, primarily officials from KBIZ, government agencies and local organizations. According to organizers, the guest list was finalized jointly by KBIZ and FKACC.
Organizers explained that seating was limited because of difficulties securing a larger venue during the convention and expressed regret that they were unable to accommodate more guests.
Following complaints from the Los Angeles chamber, FKACC leaders met directly with LAKACC President Moon Chul Kwak to apologize.
Park said Chairman Hwang and other federation executives visited Kwak at his hotel on Aug. 26 to explain the circumstances, ask for understanding and offer a formal apology.
“We believe the Los Angeles chamber accepted our apology,” he said.
The Los Angeles chamber, however, questioned why representatives of one of the largest Korean American business organizations in the United States were excluded from the opening ceremony while dozens of other dignitaries participated. Chamber officials also expressed disappointment that they were not included in the official dinner, saying several board members who traveled to Las Vegas felt slighted.
Kwak acknowledged receiving the apology but said the incident highlighted a broader issue.
“I do believe we were treated unfairly,” he said. “This reflects a lack of understanding by organizations in Korea and government agencies about the role and stature of the Korean American business community in the United States.”
He added that while he accepted the federation’s apology, similar situations should not be repeated in future events.
A former LAKACC executive echoed those concerns, saying the chamber’s contributions have often been overlooked despite its long-standing leadership role within the Korean American business community.
Meanwhile, about 30 LAKACC executives and board members traveled by chartered bus to Las Vegas to support participating companies and tour the K-Goods Fair exhibition.
