LETTER FROM THE EDITOR - VOL. 18
KCCNYC Monthly - November 2025
By Eun Byoul Oh
I am writing this editor’s note upon hearing of the new mayor in NYC. I moved to New York when I was nine years old, and moved back to Korea briefly in my teen years and finally settled in New York when I was in high school. I feel like New York is my home and I believe New York will forever be my home.
The Mayor elect of NYC, Zohran Mamdani speaks on Nov. 4, 2025, in New York.
(Yuki Iwamura/The Associated Press)
New York is such a vibrant city despite it being called the “concrete jungle.” We all come from different cultures and races, with different thoughts and beliefs. No matter who you are, you are accepted here, in this cold, mean, yet warm-hearted city. I believe that the city should not be any different from the city that I moved into about 20 years ago. The city became a home to a Korean girl who barely spoke any English, who was born with Cerebral Palsy and was physically disabled. The same girl who moved without her parents, living with a guardian instead.
To me, this city was the city that never asked any questions, but just accepted who I was. No one asked me, “Why are you disabled?” or “Were you born that way?” which were questions that I was asked daily in my own country. No one asked, “Why don’t you live with your parents?” Although it’s true that I was asked the question, “Are you from North Korea or South?” Maybe this is why I do what I do now: teaching Korean culture and language.
No one questioned me on who I was, or what I was.
It was great to see everyone at KCCNYC After Class in the MET!
At KCCNYC, we try our best to create a safe space for everyone, to hold true to our identity as a non-profit organization in New York City. I remind myself of what I told the new students last night on their first day of class. I asked them to kindly mind other’s presence in classes. Welcome to classes everyone, and I hope you are all excited to join us.
I have to say that our organization is as diverse as New York is, and I have to thank our students for always being out there for each other, and for having fun and making safe space online or in person. We have so much fun in classes and also at our in person events!
Speaking of events, it was really cool to see everyone in person at the MET event. It was very nice to see everyone with Korean artifacts surrounding us. I hope someday, we get to have our trip to the National Museum of Korea in Seoul as a class. In the Museum, we will get to see the controversial golden crown as well!
Korean President Lee Jae Myung gifts U.S. President Trump with the Silla Crown
I will take a chance to insert my commentary on the APEC in Gyeongju this past week and the “crown”. I think the issue of the golden Silla crown has to be read with the context of Korea’s geopolitical situation with its own leadership under President Lee. Moreover, there is a high chance that things could change quickly in terms of the political landscape, as we saw the first female right-wing prime minister debuting at the APEC. The USA will certainly play a key role in Korea’s diplomatic situation, and economical situation with the threat of tariffs. I will ask everyone to keep a close eye on the changes in the East Asian political landscape, as I see some dramatic relationship changes happening rather soon.
In this November 2025 issue of KCCNYC Monthly, we are honored to feature personal essays of our adoptee students. November is adoptee awareness month, and I am deeply appreciative of the bond that we get to have with our amazing students. I see the courage it takes to come closer to Korea as adoptees. Thank you to everyone for sharing your stories this year!
Aside from the adoptee stories, this issue is packed with music, drama, history, folktales, and more. Dosan Hakdang, our book club will read The Dwarf by Cho-Se-Hui, remembering Jeon Tae Il, who died in November 1970, setting himself on fire calling for labor rights in Korea. I hope you can all join us to talk about Korean labor rights through the stories of Cho.
Lastly, I thank everyone who makes the monthly issue possible, and I hope our readers enjoy the articles.
With Gratitude, 감사합니다.
Eun Byoul Oh
