Sukhee Kang | |
|---|---|
강석희 | |
 | |
| Mayor ofIrvine | |
| In office 9 December 2008 – 11 December 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Beth Krom |
| Succeeded by | Steven Choi |
| Member of theIrvine City Council | |
| In office 14 December 2004 – 9 December 2008 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1952-09-15)September 15, 1952 (age 73) Seoul, South Korea |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Joanne Kang(1977–present) |
| Residence(s) | Irvine, California (Before 2015, 2016-present) Fullerton, California (2015–2016) |
| Alma mater | Korea University |
| Profession | Politician, Small Businessman |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 강석희 |
| RR | Gang Seokhui |
| MR | Kang Sŏkhŭi |
Sukhee Kang (Korean: 강석희; born 15 September 1952) is an AmericanDemocratic Partypolitician fromOrange County, California. From 2008 to 2012, Kang served asMayor ofIrvine, California, the firstKorean American to serve as mayor of a major American city.
Born and educated in South Korea, Kang immigrated to Southern California and became involved in civic life following the1992 Los Angeles riots. Kang was elected to the Irvine City Council twice, serving from 2004 to 2008. Kang was elected twice to Mayor of Irvine, serving from 2008 to 2012.
In 2012 Kang was an unsuccessful candidate for theUnited States House of Representatives, and in 2016 he was an unsuccessful candidate for theCalifornia State Senate. In 2023 he was appointed Regional Administrator for theGeneral Services Administration.
Kang was born at Yeji-dong nearJongno 5-ga inSeoul, South Korea, to merchant parents from the city ofKaesong, in what is now North Korea. He servedmilitary draft duty in theRepublic of Korea Army from 1973-75[1] and immigrated to the United States in June 1977 from South Korea after receiving his bachelor's degree in agricultural economics fromKorea University inSeongbuk District,Seoul. When he was in a college, he joined the English debating club named Seoul PTC (Pine Tree Club) and served as the president from 1971-72.[2] He received an honorary doctoral degree in Business Administration fromDongseo University inBusan, South Korea in March 2011.[3]
Kang began his professional career atCircuit City as a sales and customer service representative; he worked with Circuit City for 15 years, from 1977 until 1992.[4] Since 1992, Kang volunteered at the Korean American Scholarship Foundation (KASF),[5] the Korean American Community Fund (KACF),[6] theOrange County Branch of Korean American Corporation, and served as the president of the Korean American Democratic Committee (KADC).[7]
Kang first got involved in politics following the1992 Los Angeles riots, during which more than 750 Korean businesses suffered extensive losses. Following the riots, Kang took on a more active role in civic and community affairs, and served as Chairman of the Korean American Coalition of Orange County and the Korean American Scholarship Foundation, Western Region.
Prior to his service on the Irvine City Council, Kang was a Governor's appointee on the California Workforce Investment Board and was the Mayor's appointee to the Irvine Finance Commission.
In November 2004, he was elected Irvine City Councilmember, and was re-elected in November 2006. He served twice as the Mayor Pro Tem. Kang served as a member of the Orange County Great Park Board, Orange County Sanitation District Board, Transportation Corridor Agency Board, Executive Steering Committee of theLeague of California Cities Orange County Division, and Orange County Transportation Authority Measure M Super Committee.[8]
In November 2008 Sukhee Kang defeated Christina L. Shea, aRepublican councilwoman, with 52.2% of the vote,[9] to become the first Korean American to serve as mayor of a major U.S. city.[10]
Kang was elected to a second term in November 2010 after defeating Christopher Gonzales, a Republican Party candidate, with 63.21% of the vote.[11][12]
As mayor, Kang backed a $120 million deal with the Orange County Transportation Authority to lay the groundwork for a citywide public transit system.
Kang endorsed theNorthwood Gratitude and Honor Memorial and worked to achieve the unanimous Irvine City Council vote for its approval in December, 2009. The Northwood Gratitude and Honor Memorial, dedicated on 14 November 2010, has 5,714 names of U.S. service members that lost their lives inIraq andAfghanistan. It will be updated annually as needed.
In 2012, Kang ran forUnited States Congress in the45th House District. Kang advanced from the primary election, but lost to incumbentJohn Campbell in the general election. In 2016, Kang ran for theCalifornia State Senate inthe 29th district, but lost in thejungle primary.[13]
In January 2023,President Biden appointed Kang Regional Administrator for theGeneral Services Administration. Kang's region includes: Arizona, California, Nevada, Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, American Samoa, East Asia, and Guam.[14]
Sukhee Kang is married to his wife Joanne Kang (née Choi) in 1977.
Sukhee was honored by the Father's Day Council of Orange County as Father of the year in 2012.[15]
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sukhee Kang | 27,534 | 52.2 | |
| Christina L. Shea | 25,189 | 47.8 | |
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sukhee Kang | 23,841 | 63.2 | |
| Christopher Gonzales | 13,879 | 36.8 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Campbell | 54,346 | 51.0 | |
| Democratic | Sukhee Kang | 35,182 | 33.0 | |
| Republican | John Webb | 17,014 | 16.0 | |
| Turnout | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Campbell | 170,339 | 58.5 | |
| Democratic | Sukhee Kang | 120,831 | 41.5 | |
| Turnout | ||||
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Ling Ling Chang | 73,514 | 44.0% | |
| Democratic | Josh Newman | 48,754 | 29.2% | |
| Democratic | Sukhee Kang | 44,766 | 26.8% | |
| Total votes | 167,034 | 100.0 | ||
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)