WATCH: Rep. Dave Min Honors “Godfather of Asian American Journalism” K.W. Lee

May 20, 2025 Press Release Washington, D.C. — Representative Dave Min (CA-47), spoke on the House floor to celebrate the life and legacy of renowned Korean American journalist, K.W. Lee. Mr. Lee’s career was defined by his tireless pursuit of the truth and justice, and his desire to create space for Korean Americans in the media. WATCH HERE Rep. Min’s transcribed remarks are below: “I rise today to honor the life and legacy of a true trailblazer, a man that many see as the godfather of Asian American journalism, K.W. Lee. Mr. Lee immigrated to the United States from Korea in the 1950s. He began his career in journalism by exposing poverty and corruption. In the 1970s, Mr. Lee's tireless pursuit of the truth saved the life of Chol Soo Lee, a wrongly convicted Korean American immigrant on death row. Later on, Mr. Lee founded Koreatown Weekly, the first national English language Korean American newspaper. As tensions were rising in Los Angeles in the 1990s, he launched the Korea Times English edition to give Korean Americans a place where their stories could be told on their own terms in the media. K.W. Lee's life is defined by his tireless pursuit of the truth and paving the way for Asian Americans to have a place in journalism and to have their voices be heard. After 96 years of fearless journalism, he will be deeply missed.” ###