NYC Gazette

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On April 27, 2023, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) brought Queens Korean American leaders to Washington, D.C. for the historic address that the President of South Korea delivered to a joint session of Congress.

Meng brought the local leaders as her guests for the speech by President Yoon Suk Yeol. They included Queens Councilwoman Julie Won, Korean American Association of Greater New York (KAAGNY) President Charles Yoon, Korean American Civic Empowerment (KACE) Board Member Kwangsoo Kim and Korean American Community Empowerment Council Founder John Park.

Meng also escorted President Yoon into the House chamber for the speech. She was among a small number of lawmakers picked to serve on the prestigious escort committee, where she escorted the President toward the podium as he prepared to deliver his remarks to members of the House and Senate. The House Speaker announcing Meng to escort the President can be viewed here.

 In addition, she joined President Yoon at a reception hosted by the House Speaker.

 “I am proud to represent such a large and vibrant Korean American community in my congressional district in Queens, and glad that I was able to arrange for several local leaders to join me in witnessing this crucial speech that underscored the outstanding relationship between the United States and South Korea,” said Meng, a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. “It was also a privilege to welcome and escort President Yoon into the House chamber, and an honor to meet and greet him during his visit to Capitol Hill. South Korea is a key ally of the U.S. We have long shared a special bond, and as we mark the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-South Korea alliance, the ties between our two great countries only continues to flourish. I thank President Yoon for coming to Congress, and I look forward to continuing to work with him on the many interests and areas of cooperation that our democracies share.”

Meng was selected for the escort committee – which consisted of Democrat and Republican representatives and senators – by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).

Earlier this week, Meng introduced a bipartisan resolution ahead of President Yoon’s visit that reaffirms United States support for South Korea.

Yoon was inaugurated as the President of South Korea last year and is the first South Korean President in a decade to address a joint session of Congress.

Original source can be found here.