Lacey joins Washington cities in honoring Korean American Day 

The City of Lacey joined a list of Washington municipalities after the city council adopted a proclamation designating Jan. 13, 2026, as Korean American Day.

The date commemorates the December 1902 voyage of 102 Korean immigrants who boarded the SS Gaelic bound for Honolulu, Hawaii, and became the first Korean settlers in the United States. 

An 1882 treaty between the two nations established peaceful relations, friendship and commerce, opening the door for emigration two decades later. 

Recent state data put the Korean American population in Washington at more than 102,000. Other cities to have recognized Korean American Day include Federal Way and Mukilteo.

At its Tuesday, Jan. 6, meeting, Mayor Andy Ryder signed the proclamation, calling on businesses, organizations and residents to celebrate Korean American heritage and build "a welcoming environment and a culture of belonging." 

Chami Joe Ro, a board member of the Washington State Korean American Day Celebration Foundation, accepted the proclamation on behalf of the Korean American community. 

"We appreciate your invitation to the Korean American Day celebration proclamation," Ro told the council. "I would like a special thanks to Mayor Andy Ryder and the council members for their dedication and effort communicating to the Lacey city citizens." 

Ro invited people to the 19th annual Washington State Korean American Day Celebration on Jan. 13 at the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Seattle. 

The proclamation noted Korean Americans have served in World War I, World War II, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam War and other military engagements. 

They "served our Nation with honor and courage, upholding the values that make our country strong," the proclamation states. 

Outside the military, Korean Americans have left their mark on politics, industry, entrepreneurship, volunteerism, the arts and education. Still, those contributions came amid harassment, discrimination and anti-Asian hate that "unfortunately, remain prevalent today," the proclamation states.

Lacey, in response, pledged to strive to reduce barriers that result in increased social inclusion, economic mobility, language access and meaningful civic engagement. 

Washington recognized Korean American Day as a state observance in 2007 when Gov. Christine Gregoire signed Senate Bill 5166 into law. 

For Ryder, the celebration hits close to home. 

"Korean American Day is really important to me personally," he said. "I had a Korean aunt from the time I was 6 years old, and so I grew up in a Korean household. … I’ve seen firsthand the contributions of the Koreans here in the City of Lacey, and it's had a huge impact in my life.”