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SERIN WOO
Family Advocate, KFAM
Serin Woo is a domestic violence family advocate for Korean American Family Services (KFAM), a Los Angeles-based non-profit organization that seeks to support Korean American families by offering counseling, education, and other social services. Woo specifically deals with domestic violence cases and heads KFAM’s YouTube channel.
What inspired you to work with an organization like KFAM? What do you do as a Family Advocate?
I was a reporter for a broadcasting company in Korea. Working with domestic abuse victims as my job here has led to my interest in helping abuse victims. After addressing such issues like domestic violence in Korea, moving here allowed me to help these victims one-on-one at KFAM. I generally work with victims of domestic abuse, focusing on providing assistance in escaping the cycles of domestic abuse. We also provide rental fees, child care support, transportation, medical, and vocational training. KFAM also provides legal services for those who need legal help and shelter for those who need shelter. Things such as domestic violence, mental illnesses, and low-income struggles are parts of the immigration story that most Koreans like to brush over. What is it like working at an office where you have to meet community members who are facing these struggles? Have you encountered some difficulty in providing services to your community members because of their pride? Nobody can live alone. I also live as part of a community. I can't dismiss someone who is struggling because I think that someone else's problem can be my problem someday in the community. Korean society is very conservative. Because of the social “shame” abounding in Korean people, they are not able to tell anyone, even if they recognize that they are survivors of domestic violence. The occupational groups, age groups, and genders of domestic violence survivors are very broad in scope. It is urgent to change Korean people's awareness. Does working with community members going through hardships affect you personally? How do you take care of your own mental health while always serving others? How do you find the balance between helping others and preserving your own strength? Many domestic violence survivors I meet are experiencing serious trauma. Trauma may spread during meetings with them. At that time, I'm very tired and hard. To solve these problems myself, I travel a lot. I like to trail, eat delicious food, meet new people and take care of myself. One evident struggle within the Korean-American community is the generational differences between the older and younger Koreans. What is one thing that you don’t understand about the older Korean generation? What about the younger Korean American generation? As I mentioned earlier, Korean society is very conservative. I also tend to stay in the time when I came from Korea in the past. Many people seem to have difficulty accepting new things. As a result, many people seem to have the wrong prejudice. For example, people who view domestic violence as a family affair and still think there are no male victims, or those who are not good at surviving domestic violence survivors are wrong. |
"Korean society is very conservative. Because of the social “shame” abounding in Korean people, they are not able to tell anyone, even if they recognize that they are survivors of domestic violence."
What are some of the most common Korean American issues that affect your community members?
The “home price” problem that Koreans in LA and nearby areas are experiencing recently is serious. Rent is skyrocketing for a day. Inflation also rises, and there are many “house pours” because only wages are rising. Nine out of ten people are very hard at home. Even after earning a monthly salary, it is difficult to raise money because there is nothing left after paying for the house. Moreover, if you cannot work properly due to health problems, you are likely to become homeless. What are some Korean American issues that affect you? I only immigrated from Korea two years ago, but I have many problems with the US's immigration policy. In particular, 'identity' issues often catch my ankle. To solve this problem, we have had to pay a lot of money to the US government. On the day I traveled to the border, I was worried that I would not be able to cross the border and face the checkpoint. Korean Americans all have different views of success. For some it can be becoming financially stable, for others it can be giving back to the community. What is your personal view of success? Have you reached it yet? If I can grow personally and play a meaningful role in the social community, I think it was a success. What are some achievements you've been proud of lately? I have participated in two recent demonstrations in Washington, D.C. It was a demonstration for the rights of the undocumented. It's not a problem I'm facing directly, but I raised my voice to solve my friend's problem and the problems of the community. No change is happening right now, but I believe small steps will make a big difference. What do you think is a crucial skill or concept that is most needed in order for the younger Korean-American generation to thrive? Trying to be a good influence and share the positive energy that can help me ultimately make a difference in the community, or even try for our community. |