Reflections

After finishing this project and uploading the photographs what struck me the most is how Koreatown, outside of the center, has not been revitalized. Though large amounts of money have clearly been put into the Wilshere center and near the Wiltern theater away from the center it appears unchanged since the Riots other than the fact that everything has been rebuilt. There are no longer any burned out buildings remaining, however almost all of the buildings that were looted or burned have been rebuilt and turned into something different since 1992. What also struck me was the racial diversity within Koreatown. Although there are signs and buildings with Korean characters on them throughout the area, most of the residents seem to be hispanic. Along with this on the northeastern portion of the area is Little Bangladesh, which is actually considered part of Koreatown.

9172 S Figueroa St, Compton

Although located near Compton instead of Koreatown I felt it was important to share this picture. This is the location of where Empire Liquor once was, the spot where Korean shop owner Ja Du Soon shot and killed Latasha Harlins, which sparked a wave of violence from the African American community towards Korean Americans during the L.A. Riots. The empty lot is surrounded by apartment complexes, housing, and a couple abandoned buildings.I am unsure as to whether the Liquor Store was destroyed in the riots or if it was demolished later, my research online did not yield any answers. However I would imagine it was most likely destroyed. If any Korean business in particular would have been targeted during the riots it would have been this one.

Koreatown

From the devastation and burned out buildings shown below left after the L.A. Riots, Koreatown has grown greatly in its center while still remaining poorer the further you get away from the Wilshere or Wiltern centers. Located close to the epicenter of Koreatown is the Wiltern theater, a famous music hall which was built in the 1930s and hosts many large bands to this date. Also showing the revitalization that has occurred is the appearance of multiple large Korean malls, one example being Koreatown Plaza.

 

Western and W Washington

An officer looks through a looted Auto Parts store during the L.A. Riots, while now the AutoZone still remains. This is one few instances where the same store which was looted still remains in place today.

Venice and S Western

Looters burst out of a Hair Salon on Venice and Western in the bottom picture, while on the top many small businesses are now flourishing on the street corner. In the top picture is a Western Credit Union, one of the businesses located in the Western Shopping Center.

Western and 9th

The picture on the bottom is the smoldering husk of a Korean owned shoe store, while in its place stands a liquor store. There is no shoe store to be found anywhere near the intersection.

8th and S Kingsley

Police respond to a shooting on 8th and Kingsley where two people were shot during the L.A. Riots. Now the same intersection remains relatively quiet with little traffic.

S Western and Wilshere

The picture on the bottom is of a father and son looting a Big 5 during the L.A. Riots. Now though no Big 5 remains anywhere and in its place stands an ACE Hardware store.

S Western and W 5th Street

Two Korean store owners defended their business on April 30th 1992 during the L.A. Riots, and many Korean owned restaurants and clubs remain on the Western and 5th intersection in Los Angeles.

3rd and Hobart

The only Korean fatality of the L.A. Riots, Edward Song Lee lies dead at the intersection of 3^rd and Hobart on the second night of the L.A. Riots. When Lee and his friends arrived at the intersection, responding to calls for help on a local Korean radio station from owners of a noodle shop, they began to take gunfire and were pulled out of the car. Ironically it was later discovered that another Korean American had accidentally shot Lee while defending a business. Now the intersection remains quiet and nobody would know Lee died here were it not for this picture and police reports.

 

Reason for this blog

Dear readers, before I upload my photographs I feel it is important to explain the reason for this blog. As an Angelino I have always been interested in both the L.A. Riots as well as history of Koreatown so I felt it would be enjoyable to undertake a project involving both. After some contemplation I came up with the idea to use photographs taken during and immediately after the L.A. Riots of areas and buildings in Koreatown and take shots of the same area currently. Almost all of the pre-existing photographs I found were taken from the L.A. Times website, although the photograph of Edward Lee is credit of Hyung Won Kang's blog and the two burned out buildings are credit of James VanHise. This would let me as well as others see to what extent Koreatown has been rebuilt since the riots. Will there still be empty lots or burned out buildings, or will there be many new buildings? I believe this project will show that a lot of money has been invested in L.A.'s Koreatown since the riot and that it has been completely rebuilt better than the time of the riots.