I ran for Congress because, as a first-generation, Korean American, I want my kids to grow up in the same California that attracted my parents and so many immigrants like them to come plant roots here—where everyone has a fair shot at the American Dream, where women have autonomy over their own bodies, we prioritize our environment and the safety of our children, and where we maintain the spirit of openness and innovation that makes America so special. 

I learned the importance of hard work, education and economic opportunity from my parents. They came to this country from Korea in 1971 for their graduate studies, and ended up settling down in California to raise my younger brother and me. My mom and dad grew up in the aftermath of the Korean War, and like most Koreans from that era, respected and admired the 36,000 American GI’s who had given their lives to help protect and then rebuild South Korea. Like many Koreans from that era, my dad still has an occasional (OK, frequent) hankering for Spam, which was given out by Americans to struggling Korean families in the aftermath of the war. 

Their story – which is like that of so many Orange County families – is a constant inspiration to me, especially with the American Dream under attack by President Donald Trump. In Congress, I chose to serve on the House Oversight Committee and the Joint Economic Committee, to help push back on this administration’s reckless agenda, which threatens many of our shared values here in Orange County. As a former professor at UC Irvine School of Law and having cracked down on corporate greed as an enforcement attorney at the Securities and Exchange Commission, upholding the rule of law has become central to my time in Congress. 

In Congress, I immediately took action to stand up to Donald Trump and MAGA extremists like Elon Musk. I introduced legislation to crack down on Elon Musk’s government overreach and put forth a bill to empower the American public to fight back against Donald Trump’s lawlessness. 

On the House Oversight Committee, I continue my work to hold power to account. In this position, I speak out against injustices and violations of the rule of law. I always work to make certain that Orange County has a voice in Washington.

I met my wife Jane, who is the most amazing woman I know, while attending Harvard Law School. Jane teaches Family Law and runs the Domestic Violence Clinic, also at UCI Law. She is the founder and director of UC Irvine’s Initiative to End Family Violence, a signature initiative of the university working to find better solutions to the terrible and unfortunately all too common problem of domestic abuse and violence. She’s been a thought leader in her field, and with her partnership, we’ve been able to pass 8 leading bills to protect survivors of domestic violence.

We are grateful to be raising our three young children in Irvine. We love Orange County’s vibrance, diversity, and neighborliness, and of course the weather is amazing. To Jane and me, this district represents the very best of California – and America.