The Korea Daily is introducing its official endorsements ahead of the upcoming November 3 midterm elections. Following our comprehensive coverage in the 52nd-anniversary special edition on the 22nd, we are now providing detailed profiles and our editorial evaluations for each endorsed candidate.
First Korean-American directly elected mayor of a major U.S. city, pioneer of Orange County’s Korean-American politics… The titles attached to him are numerous. Sukhee Kang (73) is back.
After first running for Irvine City Council in 2004, serving two terms each as a councilmember and mayor, and later serving as the regional administrator for the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) under the Biden administration, he has once again stepped up to run for Irvine City Council District 1.
The greatest asset Kang brings to this election is experience. Having led Irvine’s municipal government for eight years as councilmember and mayor, he went on to manage approximately 1,800 federal buildings, facilities, and procurement operations at the federal level. It is a rare background spanning both local grassroots administration and large-scale federal organization management.
Above all, Irvine is not simply a district where he is running. Having lived there for 40 years, he watched the city grow rapidly, and he was right at the center of that transformation during his tenure as mayor. In particular, he led the city administration during the launch of the Great Park development, a massive long-term project, and participated in establishing its long-term development plan.
The Irvine he faces today is vastly different from 2004. With a larger population and scale of development, the challenges to solveβsuch as the environment, traffic, public safety, and financeβhave grown correspondingly more complex.
Kang points to environmental and traffic issues in northern Irvine, which includes District 1, as top priorities. In an interview with this newspaper earlier this year, he stated, “Past environmental issues caused by the asphalt plant have impacted residents’ quality of life,” adding, “I will improve the area into a resident-friendly space.” To address traffic congestion and safety issues caused by heavy trucks traveling near the landfill, he also proposed the creation of dedicated truck lanes.
Public safety is another major platform. Kang emphasized, “While Irvine has long been evaluated as a safe city, new challenges such as property crimes and homelessness are emerging. Instead of vague measures, we must accurately analyze the current situation and come up with appropriate countermeasures.”
Regarding city finances, he prioritizes efficiency. “Because a budget is ultimately operated with taxpayer burdens, every expenditure must be closely reviewed,” he said. “We must cut unnecessary spending and concentrate financial resources on areas practically needed by citizens.”
Another strength of Kang is his long-standing network extending beyond the Korean-American community. Receiving support from Orange County Korean-American business leaders as well as the Chinese-American community, he has built a broad base of support in the multiethnic city of Irvine.
Kang’s current run carries significance beyond a personal political comeback. Having advanced to the city council and risen to mayor during a time when Korean-American politicians were rare, he is one of the trailblazers who expanded the horizons of Korean-American politics. When he first ran for city council in 2004, he personally knocked on 16,000 doors and won by a mere 350 votes.
Twenty-two years have passed. Back then, he was a political newcomer who had to make opportunities by knocking on doors. Now, he returns to the city council where he started as a veteran with extensive experience in both local and federal administration. Knowing the path the city has walked and guiding the path it will take requires accumulated wisdom. That is why people are paying attention to the return of 40-year Irvine resident Sukhee Kang.
