By Elizabeth Shin

After interviewing Mr. Tong S. Suhr, chairman of the Centennial Committee of the Korean Immigration to the U.S., I was left in deep thought. Are we so absorbed in our current lives that we don’t see the relevance of taking the time to look back into the history of our parents and the generations of Koreans that came to the U.S. before them?

If we do not feel the need to examine our lives in light of the history of our ancestors, it is for one of three reasons: we don’t see the need; no one has made the effort to educate us on these historical facts, or, we simply do not know where to begin.

Before speaking with Mr. Suhr, I, too, gave little thought to the history of Korean immigration beyond the experiences that my parents shared with me. Now that I?e had the benefit of hearing Mr. Suhr, I as a Korean American cannot thank the Centennial Committee enough for its dedication.

Twelve special projects are scheduled for this year’s celebration. They include a photo exhibition, the compilation of pictorial books covering the 100-year history of Korean immigration, the Denver Project, and a family tree program.

The photo exhibition will contain 150 rare photos including the very first Korean immigrant to the United States, Dr. Philip Jaisohn. The committee hopes to hold a first exhibition for the Korean community in five Korean churches in Los Angeles.

Mr. Suhr and other committee members flew to Denver, Colorado from Jan. 26-29 to research the history of Korean immigration to this previously unpublicized locale.

They were interested in uncovering the mystery surrounding the victims of a mining explosion that occurred in Primero in 1910.

One hundred eight people died in this explosion, a number of whom were Korean miners. Names of the deceased were registered on a death list that included a number of Korean last names, some of which appeared to have been masked by Japanese first names. Tragically, many of the Koreans who died were buried without markers in the cemetery.

The committee successfully located the spot where Park Hee Byung, a leader of the Korean independence movement was buried. Park was a highly-respected leader of the underground movement against the Japanese rule.

Mr. Suhr and other committee members sang the traditional version of the Korean anthem at Park? burial site. Mr.Suhr describes this moment as ?ery poignant. It is clear that this trip holds much meaning for the organizers of the centennial celebration.

Finally a modern family tree project is a significant task. The program will be a modified version of the traditional ?okbo that includes all of the names of women, which were traditionally excluded in the books. In addition, the family tree will include photographs of family members. Mr. Suhr is working with a team to have it accessible for viewers via the Internet.

When I asked Mr. Suhr about how the 100 year celebration was funded, he explained that three things are needed in order to execute a project: money, people and a plan. The committee began with little to no funding, with each member donating 200 dollars a piece. Now, however, some organizations have generously donated larger amounts. Each project has to raise its own funds in order to keep the system fueled.

Mr. Suhr, a lawyer who holds a master? degree in journalism from UCLA, remains a journalist at heart. He would like to see young people benefiting from this organization by becoming educated about Korean history.

“Immigrants are like transplanted trees, he said. ?o thrive and flourish, the tree must have a strong root system. Knowing where you come from is essential in order to know where one stands currently and to see what kind of future one can plan. Mr. Suhr is a man dedicated to imparting wisdom for the younger generation. He would like for us to get involved and participate in this celebation by contributing time and resources.

Persons interested in volunteering, may contact him at (213) 389-7356.