The enduring myth of the American dream, rising from rags to riches with a little grit and imagination, may face a crisis these days. Amidst all the fears expressed in the last several months about losing money, homes, and the American Way of Life, vaulting oneself from a poor or obscure background to positions of power and wealth may be a rare sight these days.
But for a Korean immigrant, the dream lives on. One might even say that he embodies it. Mark Keam settled in the U.S. as a 14-year-old boy in the late-1970s. He took on a series of part-time jobs, including factory labor, construction, and collecting shopping carts from a retail parking lot. Now he is an aspiring politician running for the Virginia House of Delegates. Keam is a captivating vision of the nation’s past and future.
“I have lived the American Dream,” said Keam. His impressive legislative experience and public policy making positions in the federal government may paint a candidate with the ability to reach across the aisle to seek common sense solutions in order to achieve reasonable bipartisan results.
But beneath that veneer of reform-minded politician lies a modest man, whose life story brims with triumph and hope. “This country has given me many opportunities, and I want to return them,” Keam said. “I’m the first one in my family to get a law degree.”
Keam is clearly comfortable with who he is and intends to keep presenting himself to the public as himself—a man of stature with an impressive resume, but also as a pal with whom average Americans would want to share a beer.
Born in Seoul, Korea, Keam is the youngest child of a Presbyterian minister. He has lived in Vietnam, where his father was in captivity in the war-torn country. He has also lived in Australia, earmarked for its development of multicultural policy, during the first wave Asian immigration. California eventually became his home.
KAP recently spoke with Keam to learn more about his candidacy and personal life.
KAP : What was your motivation for running for office?
Keam : I have been in government and politics, in campaigns and policy making, for 20 or more years. I felt that I had the right sort of skills and personal interest. I wanted to seek a different role in politics instead of being just a volunteer. A right opportunity had opened up in my area.
KAP : What could you bring to the table that other candidates in the running may not?
Keam : I would bring about 6 years of legislative experience that other candidates may not. I served as Chief Counsel on the high profile Senate Judiciary Committee in a bipartisan way.
I worked for at least 14 years or so in a public policy making position: implementing changes, taking votes, developing positions, and etc., in the federal government. None of my opponents has any experience in policy making. That’s something that I bring that nobody else would. I know what it takes to be a candidate beyond just serving.
KAP :What are the issues facing the state of Virginia?
Keam : One of the big issues is the state of unemployment. In the last two or three days, President Obama, as part of his stimulus package, has decided to allocate $125 million to the state of Virginia to supplement employment benefit.
However, the House of Delegates controlled by Republicans, voted against it, saying that accepting that kind of condition now would hurt the business economy more than help it. If the state is paying all these unemployment benefits, it indicates that business is not strong. And when the economy gets better, businesses will benefit. But the state will still pay the unemployment benefit to the workers.
Despite the philosophical differences, the $125 million the government is offering, you need to accept that. The current incumbent Republicans in the legislation are out of sync with our communities.
For example, our [the state of Virginia] schools were considered some of the best in the country, and still are to a degree. But I see some warning signs if left alone. Virginia is not paying high enough a salary on an annual level. Beyond the local jurisdictions and budgetary concerns, we’re not being creative.
A teacher receives a board certification, but we do not treat them any differently, whereas in Maryland, across the river from here, they provide extra incentives there; they recognize that profession.
KAP : Could you share your family background?
Keam : I’m the youngest of three children, born to both Koreans. I am an immigrant and have lived in Saigon, Vietnam, Sydney, Australia, and grew up in California. I am proud of the fact that I was able to accomplish many that this country has given me. I am an average guy who grew up and worked hard.
KAP :How was your experience in Vietnam? Would that have been a threshold that generated your interest in politics?
Keam : Oh yeah, absolutely. It had a tremendous impact concerning what happens in the world. I grew up in Vietnam. My father was stationed there as a minister, a Korean army chaplain. When he was discharged and came to Korea, the government suggested that he go back and start a church as to preserve a sense of diplomatic ties and culture and community there for the expatriates.
He went back and was a Korean community leader. It was fine until the tension began to escalate towards the end of seventies. We were told to evacuate the country right then and there. We literally overnight packed up everything and left the country. When we left, my father did not make it. He stayed behind. He was captured and was in prison for a year. Negotiations led to his release a year later.
But, it was a traumatic event, not to have our father around. My mother did not have the means to accrue any income. She was a housewife who did not have any marketable skills. It was a difficult time for us.
KAP : What changes would you make for the Korean-American community?
Keam : The idea that I would be serving in Richmond, in the General Assembly, is a general change in a symbolic way. Nobody like me has yet to serve in Richmond.
It would be a new level of understanding, not only as the first Asian-American to serve, but a recent immigrant to serve. If there is a debate on the role of immigrants, I would bring controversial aspects of immigration to the table regarding labor conditions. We have to treat everybody the same, despite their status on paper.
Taking such rhetoric is in itself a bit of change. Beyond that, I am concerned about government services that apply to minorities and Asian-Americans in particular. As far as the data goes, on health care issues, health discrepancy between whites and blacks has been brought to the surface. But for Asian Americans with different diets and lifestyles, providing healthcare needs to be sensitive to their needs.
Currently, without a single Asian American representative serving in the General Assembly, people do not talk about public policy catering to Asian Americans.
KAP : What are your aspirations in life?
Keam : First of all, I want to be happy. I feel that we are only given one life by God. In whatever we do we must do our best. Growing up with the Christian faith, I feel that I have been given a mission to do something for my community.
I hope people around me are happy, love each other, and everyone feels fruitful in these relationships. As a personal matter, I would focus on my public service and make sure that our voices are heard at the highest level of government. I have always been interested in teaching. I wouldn’t mind going into a career in teaching at some point.
(C)보스턴캡 한인연합신문 KAP, The Korean American Press, 74th.
