Korean American Businesses Damaged from Baltimore Riots

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A Korean business owner in the doorway of his destroyed store. AP photo
A Korean business owner in the doorway of his destroyed store. AP photo

From  iamKorean.com

 

Pictured above: Richard Sung Kang leaves his damaged liquor store in the aftermath of the Baltimore riots. (Photo courtesy of AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

by REERA YOO | @reeraboo
reera@iamkoream.com

Richard Sung Kang’s American dream shattered along with his liquor store’s window during the Baltimore riots earlier this week.

The 49-year-old Korean immigrant saw his liquor store and bar, the Oxford Tavern, wrecked by a group of violent rioters following the funeral of Freddie Gray, who died of a spinal injury he apparently received while in police custody. Despite Sung closing the front door, the looters smashed the window and plundered the establishment. Even the store’s ATM was torn out, leaving a gaping hole in the exterior wall of the building.

“This is America. I wanted to follow my dream and wanted to make something for myself,” Kang told the Associated Press. He added that it was only his first year of owning the business and was unsure of reopening the store, as it could mean taking on more debt and paying higher insurance premiums.

“The most important thing is, I have to move on,” Kang said as his locksmiths worked on his doors. “But is it better to rebuild and start again or give up and find some other place? I don’t know.” …..MORE

  • “This is America. I wanted to follow my dream and wanted to make something for myself,” Kang told the Associated Press. He added that it was only his first year of owning the business and was unsure of reopening the store, as it could mean taking on more debt and paying higher insurance premiums.

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