8:20 - this is completely incorrect. All those Koreans were South Koreans who immigrated, almost all of the older Koreans were military veterans who fought for their own country and/or fought in Vietnam. No North Koreans were involved in these riots.
This crap annoys me considering I speak better English than 99% of the Americans and Canadians here. Why is racism against Asians still ok? Honestly a fucking racist joke on a video covering the racial discrimination the koreatown area suffered. Those Koreans didn't receive any reparations for all the businesses that were destroyed. If that happened to WHITE people dear god those people would be made kings. Fucking racist cunts.
As a Korean American living in California, one of the INCORRECT (wrong) point is that most rooftop koreans are from North korea. Its actually South koreans living in los angeles and california. South Koreans are military trained as well because of the mandatory service.
exactly. I left correction comments on both this video and popo's original video. I even e-mailed popo regarding this matter, got an answer he heard that from 'his girlfriend's uncle', and that was his research. Never admitted, never corrected. After all those years they spent to serve in Korean army to protect motherland from North Korean communists, sent to Vietnam to actually fight Vietnamese communists along with American freedomfighters, they are still some random thin-eye Asian to American perspective, undistinguished from North Korean communists, their worst enemies. This makes me so angry.
Former ROK Marines, a lot of them Vietnam vets, were the first to form multiple squads to patrol around K-Town during the riots. Not to mention that, all Korean men are former military in general.
This can cause international violence incident, that would be amazing, honestly, I don't think the K-town were helped much, like bruh; how dare they disrupt peace?
@ERRATAS 0202 Westminster and San Jose are a good distance away from K-Town. Westminster is in the OC, a different county. San Jose is in Northern California. While, I wouldn’t be surprised if there were other ethnic groups and people in general (good samaritans) who jumped in to help, majority were Korean defending their own Korean community when the authorities failed to respond. I saw your racist comment earlier against Koreans and African Americans. Just keep your false narrative out of the conversation. 👍
@ERRATAS 0202 why would anybody else defend what isn't even theirs or even their people. Stop trying to insert yourselves into this. It was practically ALL Koreans. Koreans defending their KOREAN businesses and their fellow KOREANS. Everybody else were "not my problem". gtfoh
@@steveh5307nah bro,go search the google,I found out that most of the Asian people not only Korean also helps, and the cause of all of this chaos is the Korean named Soon Ja Du shoot the black kid not by accident
@@quocvietngo2467 Laying some stuff what i know here. Fyi, not defending Soon Ja Du her at all. Killing a girl because of theft cannot be justified. Soon Ja Du was experiencing lots of thefts prior to shooting young black girl named Latasha Harlins. This incident came 13 days after the videotaped beating of Rodney King. She should have ended up behind the bar, but got placed on probation. The riot itself started with Rodney King incident, but outcome of Soon Ja Du case definitely contributed to the riot and K-town became one of targets. But not only that, LA County and City intentionally blocked off roads that connect to mainly Caucasian areas and led people straight to K-town.
This video brought back some painful memories as well as pride through all of your wonderful support of Roof Koreans and the 2nd Amendment. I was a junior in HS during the LA riots in 1992. Life was hard upon immigrating to the US 1980. My mother had 2 jobs (garment factory worker during the day and a waitress in the evening). My dad worked as an electrician at Todd Shipyards. Todd Shipyards built ships for the US Navy under contract. He worked there until 1984 when defense cuts shut-down the facility and was laid-off. My parents borrowed money and scraped every penny from their savings to purchase a convenience store in Wilmington, CA (southern part of LA)...it was a rough area. The store was open 365 days a year and this is probably why I can't ever remember going on any family vacations growing up. The business did well enough to eventually buy a house and put me and my brother through college. I remember how terrified we were during the riots. My dad barricaded the front of the store with our Oldsmobile Cutlass and we armed ourselves with a Remington 870 and a S&W .38. We had fire extinguishers placed at strategic locations just in case the gang-bangers threw molotovs into the store. We took shifts guarding while others got some sleep. We stayed protecting the store for 4 days.....until order was restored. There were fires raging all over the place and no police support. The store survived and was eventually sold in 2003 and my parents operated a gas station until they sold that and retired in 2015.
All Koreans sacrificed so much throughout 1900s and we continue to live in a state of civil war within our country. The reason why we are all so driven is because we understand that we are on a knife's edge and if you are an expat that you are the nation's export.
Love the background you give, like yours my parents immigrated in 78' and my dad also worked at Todd Shipyards in the 80s-90s as a welder and later went on to FOSS. One of the hardest working generation of Koreans.
@@sukjinaigoo716 Thank you for the comment, Brother! Nice to hear from a fellow Todd Shipyard child! I had the privilege to tour the U.S.S Stark while it was harbored for a refit in Wilmington Ports before setting sail to the Persian Gulf. It was hit by two Exocet missles from an Iraqi jet in 1987. I remembered touring the frigate and watched it burn from the attack on ABC World News Tonight hosted by Peter Jennings... 😔 sad!!!
even as a brit this is legendary , those Koreans did what was right and good for them I'm all for self defence even though my government isn't ..lol. popo medic making a great video as always and the music is always on point. mad respect to those Koreans who acted and saved those businesses and even lives
...reminds me of a friend in past who borrowed some of his guns to neighbours during this riot so they could defend themselves, their family and neighbourhood. He had the guns on table and neighbours could pick one. Pregnant young lady came over, picked an AK-47. Friend asked, "do you know how to use that?". The lady attached a magazine to the gun, cracked the slide loading the gun and said, "I used to live in Lebanon" 😊...Their street was left untouched when the rioters saw the armed people on the street.
The so called 'South Koreans' derive from the Northern part of the peninsula where their own parents evacuated from the north to the South in the war. 1/4 of the South Korean population today have northern ancestral roots, and Korean Americans simply mostly derive from Koreans who have northern ancestry, as they were motivated to emigrate as they lost their hometown anyway.
You're wrong about that. I'm also S. Korean born and lived in the U.S. Since 81' You'd be surprised many N. Koreans living in the U.S. People think their Chinese Koreans, but half of them are hidden N. Koreans. Of course they're not going to admit it.
@@Wandrative No difference? I think you should research before telling me I have weird pride. North and South is completely different since the Korean War.
@@korcrow Genetically and culturally no difference. And why would people who come from the Northern part of Korea before the Kim state formation even hide that they are from the north? Ludicrous.
At the time of that riot, the police intentionally blocked only white people's areas and opened the way for rioters to enter the Korean town. Koreans were completely isolated and others just watched and neglected as if it were not their business. These are really shameful moments of American society. This Korean community has literally become a warrior to protect their families, jobs and lives. I have great respect for them.
That's sad fam. It's just about money and not humanity. I heard somewhere that someone who illegally shared video games would get 6 yrs+ in prison but those that hurt people or children actually get less. Weird ass laws.
Why are you blaming the cops? Their resources are thined out, its understandable that they focused on the most possible area of assult by those cowards. Blame the once young black scholars who robbed these good people.
I was born and raised in Korea. It was huge incident back then even in Korea. I remember that TV broadcasted about this day and night over and over, and raised a fund nationally for those Korean-Americans. Majority of Koreans would know well about this. It was such a tragic and painful year for all Koreans. Actually, one of the Korean TV channels made and aired a documentary program dealing LA riot just a few days ago. We cannot forget this. It was that painful.
Facts, I bet the cops arrested the Business defenders for illegally shootin, I bet, they didn't arrested dangerous rioters. That's not fair, where's god when we need'em?
My mom and grandparents moved to LA Koreatown in the late 1980s. My grandpa did own a shop which got looted, my granpda, his brother, and his employees protected the store.
@@bootnazz1786 first of no. Second the store owner killed the girl who was korean but she suspected the girl was stealing something. Also were not that mean. Third, black people killed many koreans.
@@aidennam4641 that girl was buying orange juice,put the Korean owner thought,she was stealing,grabbed her,the girl hit her back,then while the girl was walking away,the Korean shit her in back of the head.im 44 years old,I remember.
Lol you treat property more lucrative than a Human Life... "Asian Hate Bill" the only race in American with one, with the least amount of violence towards them, you Asians are sissies.
중요한 사실은 당시 미국의 부촌이 근처에 있어서 방위군이 부촌을 지키러 가면서 한인타운이 타겟이 되었고 그것이 미국이 원하던 방식이었다. The important fact is that at that time, the U.S. wealth village was nearby, so as the National Guards went to protect the wealth village, the Korean town became the target, and that was the way the United States wanted.
I was a teenager back then, protecting our store with my dad. I heard stories of people unloading cars full of guns and ammo. Even antique firearms that were full auto. Even hand grenades were taken away by the police. The radio keeps hearing about people pinned down and running out of ammo. It was unreal. People are high as hell stealing stuff. Local supermarket burning. We definitely earn the right to keep Korea Town.
@@queuedjar4578 that could be said about every army during the war, and Korea fully acknowledges this, with Korean leaders visiting Vietnam to apologize again and again to a point where they're telling Koreans to stop coming and apologizing.
@@cloud_9429 Good for them but at this point if it's a politician that wasn't personally involved with the war crimes then it's kinda just virtue signaling. The ones responsible for war crimes should always be held accountable, and the ones left behind should learn from it.
@@queuedjar4578 that's like saying to the German PM going to the holocaust victim site to go back and bring back the actual soldiers from the war. The Vietnamese ppl are saying they forgive, so what’s your problem 🤷
@@cloud_9429 I don't see a problem with that. The current German PM has nothing to do with the holocaust. The people who committed it do. I'm sure three hundred thousand years ago my cavemen ancestors stole berries from another tribe, should I go back to the site and bow down and pretend that I'm sorry for something I already don't condone and didn't cause in the first place?
Being an old geezer from Finland I remembeer the L.A. riots well. I had visited L.A.(and the US) for the first time three years earlier. I will always remember the rooftop Koreans from the news, even in the sad context I felt that it was the coolest thing I had ever seen! A few years later I do remember black LAPD shirts with "In L.A. we'll treat you like a "King"!" which were displayed at a car show in an old CHP unit.
As a Korean, I support Finnland, your history is amazing! Loved how the Finnish managed to keep its measures from the Soviets! I'll always remember the Finno-Korean Hyper
One thing that is barely covered is why there need to be rooftop Koreans. Back then Korea town stood right in between the rich and poor areas of LA. The Korean business owners had to defend their own shops because the police line decided not to defend Korea town and set of their police line in front of the rich area.
They weren’t defectors from North Korea… Korean men of that generation that owned businesses were likely 40+ in age and many of them served in the Vietnam war and served 2 mandatory years in the military.
I was there in 1992. Some of the Koreans you see are veterans of Vietnam War. They actually had combat experience. Plus many Korean bought firearms including Korean ladies at the time. Also, many families have lost their fathers who worked at stores but were shot by blacks daily.
I am from a country where police are usually too late or corrupt, and only criminals have guns. I feel jealous that they are able to defend themselves instead of being sheep.
I was in high school and grow up in Korea town. I remember older Koreans with full combat uniform with red marine caps with rifles and guns patrolling on western and 8th.
I am Korean, and I added correction comments on the popo's original video, but here your video came up to my recommendation, so I add this here again. We fully understand American people's lack of information, we just hope you to get right information and remember who they actually were, and why they had to hold their guns to defend themselves despite the existence of police, instead of simply consuming Roof Koreans as internet meme in order to defend gun owning argument like many Americans do today. The Korean immigrants to the LA, US were not North Korean defectors. NK is not where they were trained to fight. The majority of LA Rooftop Koreans were retired South Korean military veterans from Vietnam war, who were serving for SK army to defend SK against NK communists, and then were sent to Vietnam to reinforce SK's military ally, the US. Those who served as soldiers built barricades and hold guns, former officers gave commands through the community's radio broadcast. They built temporary militia using their military experience from Vietnam war.(In such situation, what is more important than shooting skill is working as a trained group, moving to right location at right moment of time according to right commands and right recon information) And now Popo calls them communist-trained soldiers who are 'pretty cool badasses'. What would you feel if you spent many years to serve in the military to defend your mother nation against communists, and then fight in an actual war against communists, immigrate to a friendly nation who defends freedom world, and then called as 'defectors from communist nation'? Yes, there are Korean people from NK, Soviet, and China who are living in the US, but they don't live in LA Korea town that we are talking about in this video. They create their own communities and do not mingle with South Koreans in Korea towns in America because of their difference in political stance and language dialect. Remember, the Korean war is still going on. There was no peace treaty made, SK and NK are on war until today. All they had was a temporary cease-fire agreement that unexpectedly lasted for decades, and there have been multiple military incidents that caused dozens of casualties on both sides over the decades. I am speaking from my history education from South Korean public education, Korean media, Korea town community's stance, and as well as what I heard from my uncle who has been living in LA Korea town since then. However, I e-mailed Popo about this matter, and he answered he heard the story from his Korean girlfriend's uncle(yes, that was his research for the video according to what he says), and told me to trust him(even though I am Korean and know who those Koreans were better than the 'story' he 'heard'). Therefore, I think Popo does not actually care about those people who were actually involved in the incident, but only wants some interesting stories out of it. He wants to see tough Asian men from dangerous part of the world holding guns to protect property, but he does not care who they actually are and why they had to risk their lives.(police didn't include Korea town within its defense line, media false-reported Koreans were murdering and raping black people, making them focus on attacking Korea town instead of police defense line and rich town beyond it.) I sincerely hope not every Americans are like him, because I was taught America is where people of diversity try to understand and respect each other and altogether pursue a shared quality. I also served in ROK army, so I assume you can also agree with me on that it is a soldier's honor to know what he is trying to protect in his motherland.
@@곰돌슨 I think he's means about victims in vietnam war.. haihh still can't move on from that history.. when will they move on and didn't start a verbal fight 🤦♀️
@@sumayyahEr78 And I strongly disagree with your point that it's time to move on from Vietnam war. My nation Korea is for sure partially responsible for invasion on the nation, and majority of Koreans agree on this. We still struggle with specific details about each incidents during Vietnam war that are claimed to be 'war crimes' are actually true or not, but that doesn't change the fact that our military dictator sold off our loyal soldiers to the American war at cheap price and helped them destroy Vietnam, just in order to build better relationship with America and get better weapons and money. I hate anyone who blame those Korean veterans at Vietnam war, because they are really not. But it's true our national decision to the invasion did actually harm Vietnam and that really is our fault. We should NOT move on and forget.
This is what it means to be an American. Everything is in chaos and no one is coming to help you. You have to have to do what you have to defend yourself and your community. God bless these brave Americans.
....or you live in the rest of the developed world where we don't have mass riots and shootouts in the streets and you don't need to stand on a rooftop to protect your business from dozens of armed crazy people hellbent on destruction for destruction sake.......
koreans are plastic surgery addled whiners who are infamously untrustworthy About their only notable military accomplishment was their navy in the imjin wars; they have otherwise been slaves of China Japan etc. for most of their history. Even today they depend on JApanese loans and western assistance to keep them afloat.
The commend centre was organised and controlled by Vietnam war veteran officers apparently. They applied a few tactical obstacle strategies around the area that trapped riots who got into and easily killed. Proud of them defending well and its a sad story too..
@@masqabsurdo2939 Go say that to a Korean person that only speaks Korean. They'll have no idea what you're saying. Maybe someone that also speaks English well can figure out what you're trying to say. Either way, that sentence makes no sense as written.
Rodney Kings arrest/beating being video taped and the officers who beat him being acquitted was the original catalyst for everything. It was those big VHS cameras that brought everything to light.
My uncle had a gun shop in that plaza at the time of the riots. Pre-dominately Korean owned businesses, and other owners were all given access to whatever they could shoot or use to protect their livelihood. My uncle doesn't talk about it much, but he said that he doesn't regret what happened to the looters. That event was the epitomy of what anarchy would be, and it was insanity 1000%.
Just want to say that the part about most of the Koreans being North Korean defectors is a big stretch. There are very few defectors and to say those few made it all the way to the US… just not probable. But the part about the rooftop Koreans being trained is true. All south Korean born men can handle a gun and have had training. At 18 you had to join the army. And at that time they all saw combat. Also it wasn’t callers that made radio Korea make the announcement arm themselves and protect their businesses, it was the Korean president of the chamber of commerce that came in and slammed his pistol down on the table and said you have to tell people to stay and protect themselves and businesses or koreatown would burn to the ground. There is a very well made documentary that was made by Radio Korea it’s on UA-cam look it up, way more factual, it has actual interviews of the rooftop Koreans and the LA Korean youth task force (they were like the Guardian Angels Gang from New York)
@@곰돌슨 that is correct. Before rooftop Koreans, there were treetop Koreans. They were feared by both the allies and the enemy in the jungles of Vietnam.
LAPD Police did not protect Koreatown. Shortage of Police at that time. American Korean protect themselves forming Korean Military & well organized. 95% of Korean people are Military trained people young or old men. Some are Vietnam veteran ROK Marines.
The Roof Top Koreans were not North Korean defectors, they were South Korean military veterans. Most veteran Marines and Army. North Korean defectors were not allowed to join the South Korean military at that time. It’s only recently that law has changed. The Roof Top Koreans got together and chose the Senior ranking to be the leader and operated as an active military unit.
99% of Korean men have been to the military, so in case of any actual situation, they can be made into a military organization, and operations can be performed immediately and can be put into operation.
Shows how quickly shit can go sideways, im uk and remember this. The anger was justified following the acquittal of those officers, but criminal elements jumped on board and travelled a path of greed and help yourself. Opportunists really crawled up from the gutter. Respect to the defenders. Great reaction, as always.
Let me tell you people the truth, Rodney King had record a mile long, and he was high as a kite on PCP, and the first police officers that he started shit with were black, so you damned racists assholes need to learn the truth. PCP makes people strong as hell, and he was not cooperating with the police, but the goddamned pricks who got this on video didn't show people everything, because they wanted to start riots across the country. Personally, Americans should have armed themselves and joined in taking the scum out of existence.
? The officers were there to arrest someone who committed a crime then the people escalated instead of letting the offender face their consequences. If they didn’t attack the officers who were trying to apprehend an offender who btw was fighting back, it wouldn’t have escalated that led to the 60 deaths.
@@hirotakasugi4891 He's talking about the Rodney King incident. I'm assuming you misunderstood and are talking about the incident on Florence and Normandie.
I was about 12 when this happen. I remember listening to that Korean radio station during this event. It was pretty insane to listen what was happening minute by minute. My dad was worried because my uncle had a shop in a swamp meet. At the end, he had to go to LA to help my uncle, luckily they were able to take most the products out before the swamp meet burnt down. Some of the stories I heard were pretty crazy especially the gun fighting.
The flaw in that video is there were N Koreans. No, they're all S Korean immigrants. The governor had sent the National Guard but there was a delay due to a lack of ammunition. The situation got so bad that President Bush used the Insurrection Act to send in the Army and Marines. And he federalized the CA National Guard. All of the troops were under the command of Lt. General Marvin Covault. Some criminals tried to kill Marines by shooting them as part of a gang initiation. They missed. The Marines returned fire, they didn't miss. The Marines were not charged with a hate crime.
"You stole this place, give it back" This is used mostly for Anti-Imperial and for rich people who took over. Why does riots exists? It's very annoying
As a Korean american US Army veteran that was born in Korea and live here in nyc, I'm pretty certain that although we are aware of this event happening, we don't celebrate it or memorialize it. Maybe if there were some casualties from the defending side, then there would be some sort of memorial, I would assume.
From everything I've seen, one korean national was killed by rioters, and one was actually killed by friendly fire in an accident by other koreans. Many more would be injured. I think the lessons learned were more important than any memorial or holiday celebration would be, ultimately.
That gravel truck-driver was rescued by some black people who took control over his car, surrounded the drivers and stood there to they could drive it out of harms way and by that rescue the driver who was seriously injured. So not all there was looting, some where just horrified by those criminals who started to loot and riot.
It was an old black guy who lived down the street and ran down the block to save Denny after he saw it live in his TV A hero no question I think all the young blacks who attacked eventually died violently neither on the street or in the joint
I am Korean, and I have to say even Koreans in LA, the victims, they understand that, they don't hate black people as a race. Some Korean Americans and some African Americans even helped each other rebuild and recover after all that. We do know there are good and bad people regardless of skin color, and also that not all rioters were blacks, nor that not all blacks were rioters. What's bad is not black people. In our society, some people are financially poor, uneducated, abandoned, and discriminated. That's what makes them loot whenever there is a chaos in a city. They want revenge to the entire society, they don't consider looting as a horrible behavior, and they need money to make life. That's what turns people into looters and rioters, and those poor people happened to be mostly black people(and of course that's all because of American history of slavery and racism). Koreans know this, and they feel connected as another group of minority in America. It's like how if you see a communist in the 70s, he's more likely to be Russian or Chinese, but it's not Russian or Chinese blood that makes him agree with the communist idea, and not all Russians and Chinese are communists, and not all communists are Russians and Chinese. The American society abandoned black people. Pushing them to a crime-friendly environment and blaming them for committing crime is irresponsible. They did it, but they were not born to do it. Blackness is not what makes them bad, lack of things they deserve as American citizens(money, education, and most importantly, respect) is what causes them to become evil when they have a chance to be. The society grew the hate in some black people's heart, and that hate is the one committed crimes. Still, the rioters and looters are responsible for their behavior, but we have to review who's more responsible for that. I am not religious, but I know a Christian saying regarding this. 'Hate the sin, not the sinner.'
@@charlesbyrd6055 exactly. poorness makes some people bad, not all. I only mentioned it to say we can't blame poor bad people just because they are bad. they are made to be bad, and the society, as well as the bad people themselves, is also responsible for their badness. But I totally understand your point. I apologize if I offended you, but please note i'm more on your side of the opinion. I'm only saying we have more people to blame other than the bad people themselves. Korean people also started from the bottom, but they didn't turn bad. They came to America from one of the poorest nations on earth, and started American life as convenience store clerk, taxi driver, and construction laborer. But they didn't create gangs, or drug dealing club. Poor people can also become good and successful just like others.
We had to deal with this last year in July in KZN South Africa. Our area blocked off all roads into it with Shipping Containers and created Checkpoints with help of Community, Police and Army. We were the only area not to be looted an absolutely incredible effort👍
When this happened I was a journalist covering the Yugoslav wars during the breakup of the country. I was in an old fort above Dubrovnik and it had been the communications center. There was a direct open line to the US and Croatians in LA, defending their businesses the same as the Koreans, were putting on a great show repelling the rioters. The American media sanitized what happened. The looters were really out for blood. The Koreans and the other immigrant groups were attacked by the blacks. I suspect next time this happens it will be quite a bit more violent with real military action on both sides.
I see my brother in the footage. It breaks my heart. I held weapons in my hands then. I never want to do that again. This is a part of American history, not South Korean history. There is no reason for South Koreans to observe, not "celebrate," Saigu. On a lighter side, it made me laugh when I heard, "Wow, they have footage then." Yeah... home cameras are antique inventions from the 60s. I am glad to see younger generations being able to see the footage of the important historical moment, although the original video is immensely misleading and misrepresenting. There are a few comments about them below, so I will not repeat them.
I've always felt that the rioters who did these things weren't those who were engaged at the injustice of the Rodney King verdict, but agitators who take advantage of civil unrest and anger throughout the community. That they use this anger as an opportunity and and excuse to do whatever they want, and then the blame falls to peaceful protestors as far as society at large is concerned.
It's both. The agitators are empowered by the "protesters" who call for violence and justice against the officers, and then do absolutely nothing to try and stop the rioting or even condemn it. Most of the rioters are absolutely people angry about the verdict as well. Consider the video shown of the guy who threw an object and hit the police car, who then got arrested and created a mob that tried to get the police to stop from arresting him. That all stems from anger at the police because of the RK incident.
I was in LA at that time there was no peaceful protest it went 0 to 100 as soon as the verdict was announced, I would say after 2 or 3 days nobody gave af about verdict they just wanted to loot
@@562fooo7 Right. Spot on. There's a segment of the population that is always seething, looking for any excuse to 'Burn This B!tch Down', how many times do we have to see this to just call it what it is? If you live or do business in such an area, you better accept that the rioting and looting will happen again at the first opportunity, and shame on you for not getting out while you could have.
As a Korean, I must admit that I felt incredibly proud of my brothers who defended each other during these riots. Thank you for making a video about it!
I'm pretty sure "Saigu" is more of a Korean-American thing since it did take place and more of an issue in LA. If anyone is curious of what Saigu means, it's the date in korean numerals Sa = 사 = 4 i= 이 = 2 gu = 구 = 9
It's 419 (sa il gu), a reference to April 19, 1960 event that happened in South Korea. Students attempted an insurrection against the government due to election fraud.
The sky was raining ash for days. Friends of mine checking on family came back with their cars full of bullet holes and broken glass. It felt like the apocalypse.
It was unbelievably hot during the early 90s... usually firefighters would open the hydrants and cool the place down.. but there was a drought that year..
I remember seeing the rooftop Koreans on the news in Sydney, also the truck driver being pulled from his semi and bashed. Thanks for this background story.
You don't want to mess with people from the country where almost every single man goes through the insane military service. If 20 Korean men gathers, they can form a full unit. They can operate tanks, shoot missiles, snipe, and hide in mountains for a month without food supply.
they were south koreans, south korea was also a military dictatorship until like 1988, south korean military had the highest kill death ratio in vietnam, and every single man had to do military service (still do today, but it is much easier compared to back then).
i was one of those that stood on top of the roofs during the riot. as i recall, Olympic Blvd was sort of dividing line...South of Olympic Blvd, majority of the rioters/looters were blacks and North of Olympic were Hispanics. both blacks and hispanics took part in the riot/looting.
I live in St. Louis. I can tell you when Michael Brown was shot, and following that the 2020 police riots going into the election, the Kyle Rittenhouse situation, etc., that these sort of armed events are not figments of the past.
@BootN Azz Only 12 opinions matter inside a court room. Agree or disagree, unless you're a jury member is irrelevant. Consequently there's plenty of video footage for keyboard warriorship.
16:00 Koreans in Korea wouldn't celebrate it because this incident took in the US and affected AMERICANS who are ethnically Korean. Many Koreans don't even know this happened at all unless they've lived in the US or are interested in Korean American matters. I think Korean Americans in LA do memorialize it.
It was mostly South Koreans who are all veterans too. In s korea you have to go to the military for 4 years after high school or college depending of your got into university.
The police crowd controlled the looters into mostly K-town on purpose, and then refused to help any of the Korean businesses. People also forget the cops came eventually and started taking Korean owners' guns so they couldn't defend themselves. They wanted a deliberate battlegrounds for looters and better Ktown than any of the upper class areas.
Rooftop Koreans are the explanasion why the US had to withdraw from Korea. They also explain why South Korea is prosperous, when you give these wonderful people the freedom to do business, they thrive and make excellent societies.
Unfortunately during the 2020 "Summer of Love" it did reach Texas. Cities like Austin and Dallas saw some damage. Best to not be complacent and know not everywhere is always safe, and always better to be prepared.
This is EXACTLY what the 2A is for. And the "rooftop Koreans" are a perfect example of a "well-regulated militia": a group of well armed and trained citizens banding together for mutual protection.
National Geographic made a documentary about the riots a few years back. It's a really comprehensive collection on amateur and professional media of the events.
Power of crowd mentally is insane, the problem with these kinds of protests is that all the scum of the earth assend and flock, useing the "cause" for their own gain. It's disgusting honestly and not only does is completely ruin people's life's it also creates more hate and undermines whatever cause the protests were about initially.
90% American Korean people have gun and rifles in their house to protect themselves after bad experience many years ago. Again I know they are TOUGH AND WELL ORGANISE MILITARY within 2 hours . Strong network themselves. Don't mess around with Korean people. They will became mad cruel soldiers.
I remember watching it live from my college dorm room. Korean shop owners on the roof with AKs, fire and smoke in the background, picking off looters trying to take away their livelihood. I had never been so proud to be an American.
No the strongest Regiment is white rouge cops who started this whole thing in the first place. Then went uptown to defend white businesses. And herding the riot in K-town
We don't really celebrate that day. But about that incident, we learn it in school history class. And we see about efforts to get people to remember the incident through social media.
April 29th is not celebrated in Korea. They see it as a tragedy where they defended and resulted reduced damages, but it is not a celebratory subject. They remeber it as shitty times where they survived a violent riot disguised as a compassionate equal rights movement.
LA 92 National Geographic documentary is the best to see what really happened from start to end .. and it's doesn't have commentary ,only video clip that tells the story
As a Korean, they don't celebrate as much due to Government changes, but yes; we celebrate the Liberation day, the day we were free from the Japanese, Korea is still strict, I believe this wasn't heard because we had a Korean dictator during those days, if you lived in Korea, you might've heard about the Military Coupe that happened before. But hey, as a Korean, I thank you men for helping my people. "Peace, will be an option, the greed and hatred will be forever gone."
8:20 - this is completely incorrect. All those Koreans were South Koreans who immigrated, almost all of the older Koreans were military veterans who fought for their own country and/or fought in Vietnam. No North Koreans were involved in these riots.
You totally right. (Im south korean)
That is probably what they want you to think (joking)
But I think you Koreans should unite together both North Korea or South Korea in my chinese opinion.
@@tonoshiki2527 It was China that stopped Korea from being united in the first place tho..
@@isaachwang2823 Who make that war first should be consider seriously.
The immortal motto of the 1st Battalion Korean Roof Rifles: *"No Looty, No shooty!"*
This should be top comment fr 🤣😂🤣
@@iPsOfAcT0 Aye, agree on ya, lad.
This crap annoys me considering I speak better English than 99% of the Americans and Canadians here. Why is racism against Asians still ok? Honestly a fucking racist joke on a video covering the racial discrimination the koreatown area suffered. Those Koreans didn't receive any reparations for all the businesses that were destroyed. If that happened to WHITE people dear god those people would be made kings. Fucking racist cunts.
That is funny!
😂😂😂
As a Korean American living in California, one of the INCORRECT (wrong) point is that most rooftop koreans are from North korea. Its actually South koreans living in los angeles and california. South Koreans are military trained as well because of the mandatory service.
exactly. I left correction comments on both this video and popo's original video. I even e-mailed popo regarding this matter, got an answer he heard that from 'his girlfriend's uncle', and that was his research. Never admitted, never corrected. After all those years they spent to serve in Korean army to protect motherland from North Korean communists, sent to Vietnam to actually fight Vietnamese communists along with American freedomfighters, they are still some random thin-eye Asian to American perspective, undistinguished from North Korean communists, their worst enemies. This makes me so angry.
Also, saigu, is for immigrant in LA i assume, so you wouldn’t see any of that in South Korea. Just saying
Literally every Korean outside of Korea is from South Korea. Dont even bother asking which Korea theyre from, it's going to be South.
North korean can't travel abroad because of Kim jeong eun
@@paddington1670 You have some NK defectors living here. Trust me. But they won't tell you ever.
Former ROK Marines, a lot of them Vietnam vets, were the first to form multiple squads to patrol around K-Town during the riots. Not to mention that, all Korean men are former military in general.
This can cause international violence incident, that would be amazing, honestly, I don't think the K-town were helped much, like bruh; how dare they disrupt peace?
@ERRATAS 0202 Westminster and San Jose are a good distance away from K-Town. Westminster is in the OC, a different county. San Jose is in Northern California.
While, I wouldn’t be surprised if there were other ethnic groups and people in general (good samaritans) who jumped in to help, majority were Korean defending their own Korean community when the authorities failed to respond.
I saw your racist comment earlier against Koreans and African Americans. Just keep your false narrative out of the conversation. 👍
@ERRATAS 0202 why would anybody else defend what isn't even theirs or even their people. Stop trying to insert yourselves into this. It was practically ALL Koreans. Koreans defending their KOREAN businesses and their fellow KOREANS. Everybody else were "not my problem". gtfoh
@@steveh5307nah bro,go search the google,I found out that most of the Asian people not only Korean also helps, and the cause of all of this chaos is the Korean named Soon Ja Du shoot the black kid not by accident
@@quocvietngo2467 Laying some stuff what i know here. Fyi, not defending Soon Ja Du her at all. Killing a girl because of theft cannot be justified.
Soon Ja Du was experiencing lots of thefts prior to shooting young black girl named Latasha Harlins. This incident came 13 days after the videotaped beating of Rodney King. She should have ended up behind the bar, but got placed on probation. The riot itself started with Rodney King incident, but outcome of Soon Ja Du case definitely contributed to the riot and K-town became one of targets. But not only that, LA County and City intentionally blocked off roads that connect to mainly Caucasian areas and led people straight to K-town.
This video brought back some painful memories as well as pride through all of your wonderful support of Roof Koreans and the 2nd Amendment. I was a junior in HS during the LA riots in 1992. Life was hard upon immigrating to the US 1980. My mother had 2 jobs (garment factory worker during the day and a waitress in the evening). My dad worked as an electrician at Todd Shipyards. Todd Shipyards built ships for the US Navy under contract. He worked there until 1984 when defense cuts shut-down the facility and was laid-off. My parents borrowed money and scraped every penny from their savings to purchase a convenience store in Wilmington, CA (southern part of LA)...it was a rough area. The store was open 365 days a year and this is probably why I can't ever remember going on any family vacations growing up. The business did well enough to eventually buy a house and put me and my brother through college. I remember how terrified we were during the riots. My dad barricaded the front of the store with our Oldsmobile Cutlass and we armed ourselves with a Remington 870 and a S&W .38. We had fire extinguishers placed at strategic locations just in case the gang-bangers threw molotovs into the store. We took shifts guarding while others got some sleep. We stayed protecting the store for 4 days.....until order was restored. There were fires raging all over the place and no police support. The store survived and was eventually sold in 2003 and my parents operated a gas station until they sold that and retired in 2015.
Dang bro, did you got help from the Koreans too, while it happened?
All Koreans sacrificed so much throughout 1900s and we continue to live in a state of civil war within our country. The reason why we are all so driven is because we understand that we are on a knife's edge and if you are an expat that you are the nation's export.
Wow! What an ordeal. Very interesting to read about it from someone who was there, and had to tough it out to help defend the family store.
Love the background you give, like yours my parents immigrated in 78' and my dad also worked at Todd Shipyards in the 80s-90s as a welder and later went on to FOSS. One of the hardest working generation of Koreans.
@@sukjinaigoo716 Thank you for the comment, Brother! Nice to hear from a fellow Todd Shipyard child! I had the privilege to tour the U.S.S Stark while it was harbored for a refit in Wilmington Ports before setting sail to the Persian Gulf. It was hit by two Exocet missles from an Iraqi jet in 1987. I remembered touring the frigate and watched it burn from the attack on ABC World News Tonight hosted by Peter Jennings... 😔 sad!!!
even as a brit this is legendary , those Koreans did what was right and good for them I'm all for self defence even though my government isn't ..lol. popo medic making a great video as always and the music is always on point. mad respect to those Koreans who acted and saved those businesses and even lives
100%
in the UK same shit, same people in brixton
Mind your business,these Koreans moved in other peoe community,selling bad food,rude,following people,and killing people.
Come move to Texas or Florida! Arkansas even
@@Geralt_of-Rivia I thought y'all hate immigrants.or only certain kind
...reminds me of a friend in past who borrowed some of his guns to neighbours during this riot so they could defend themselves, their family and neighbourhood. He had the guns on table and neighbours could pick one. Pregnant young lady came over, picked an AK-47. Friend asked, "do you know how to use that?". The lady attached a magazine to the gun, cracked the slide loading the gun and said, "I used to live in Lebanon" 😊...Their street was left untouched when the rioters saw the armed people on the street.
Damn, woman doesn't fuck around.
🤣
Dang, are there any Roof top K gangs around?
Cool story bro
Very cool story! Thanks for telling it!
👍
In early 90s NK defectors was pretty rare. All rooftop Koreans were South Korean, obviously. Even today, NK defectors living in the US is very rare.
The so called 'South Koreans' derive from the Northern part of the peninsula where their own parents evacuated from the north to the South in the war. 1/4 of the South Korean population today have northern ancestral roots, and Korean Americans simply mostly derive from Koreans who have northern ancestry, as they were motivated to emigrate as they lost their hometown anyway.
You're wrong about that. I'm also S. Korean born and lived in the U.S. Since 81' You'd be surprised many N. Koreans living in the U.S. People think their Chinese Koreans, but half of them are hidden N. Koreans. Of course they're not going to admit it.
@@korcrow Taking about ethnic Koreans before the formation of S or N Korea where there is no difference but you display weird pride.
@@Wandrative No difference? I think you should research before telling me I have weird pride. North and South is completely different since the Korean War.
@@korcrow
Genetically and culturally no difference. And why would people who come from the Northern part of Korea before the Kim state formation even hide that they are from the north? Ludicrous.
길거리에 있는 아무 한국인 50명만 모여도 탱크, 장갑차, 박격포 등 대대급 이상의 전술을 운용할 수 있습니다
At the time of that riot, the police intentionally blocked only white people's areas and opened the way for rioters to enter the Korean town.
Koreans were completely isolated and others just watched and neglected as if it were not their business.
These are really shameful moments of American society. This Korean community has literally become a warrior to protect their families, jobs and lives. I have great respect for them.
That's sad fam. It's just about money and not humanity. I heard somewhere that someone who illegally shared video games would get 6 yrs+ in prison but those that hurt people or children actually get less. Weird ass laws.
Why are you blaming the cops? Their resources are thined out, its understandable that they focused on the most possible area of assult by those cowards.
Blame the once young black scholars who robbed these good people.
Technically, they were and are Americans..but cops only blocked certain category of Americans' area. that was so sad.
Fact~~
And 2022 the same happening, usa is filled with violence
I was born and raised in Korea. It was huge incident back then even in Korea. I remember that TV broadcasted about this day and night over and over, and raised a fund nationally for those Korean-Americans. Majority of Koreans would know well about this. It was such a tragic and painful year for all Koreans. Actually, one of the Korean TV channels made and aired a documentary program dealing LA riot just a few days ago. We cannot forget this. It was that painful.
Facts, I bet the cops arrested the Business defenders for illegally shootin, I bet, they didn't arrested dangerous rioters. That's not fair, where's god when we need'em?
My mom and grandparents moved to LA Koreatown in the late 1980s. My grandpa did own a shop which got looted, my granpda, his brother, and his employees protected the store.
You leave out the part were Koreans we're being rude to people,following people in stores,then killed that black girl and got off.
@@bootnazz1786 first of no. Second the store owner killed the girl who was korean but she suspected the girl was stealing something. Also were not that mean. Third, black people killed many koreans.
@@aidennam4641 that girl was buying orange juice,put the Korean owner thought,she was stealing,grabbed her,the girl hit her back,then while the girl was walking away,the Korean shit her in back of the head.im 44 years old,I remember.
Don't mess with ROK Marines 🪖
those people rioting and destroying property are disgusting
I agree
@Aragorn Yes
Lol you treat property more lucrative than a Human Life... "Asian Hate Bill" the only race in American with one, with the least amount of violence towards them, you Asians are sissies.
Who the black people?
중요한 사실은 당시 미국의 부촌이 근처에 있어서 방위군이 부촌을 지키러 가면서 한인타운이 타겟이 되었고 그것이 미국이 원하던 방식이었다.
The important fact is that at that time, the U.S. wealth village was nearby, so as the National Guards went to protect the wealth village, the Korean town became the target, and that was the way the United States wanted.
I was a teenager back then, protecting our store with my dad. I heard stories of people unloading cars full of guns and ammo. Even antique firearms that were full auto. Even hand grenades were taken away by the police. The radio keeps hearing about people pinned down and running out of ammo. It was unreal. People are high as hell stealing stuff. Local supermarket burning. We definitely earn the right to keep Korea Town.
And today 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 usa stil have a big Problem with riots. Sad, just sad.
Was literally fought with Korean blood sweat and tears. #saigu
My mom's uncle was a korean marine vietnam war veteran and he protected a korean market in Gardena with his marine brothers.
A lot of those old guys on the rooftops were former R.O.K. Marines who fought in Viet Nam. Some of the stories I've read about those guys are unreal.
Including war crimes, unfortunately. They were very effective in battle, not so much when dealing with civilian populations.
@@queuedjar4578 that could be said about every army during the war, and Korea fully acknowledges this, with Korean leaders visiting Vietnam to apologize again and again to a point where they're telling Koreans to stop coming and apologizing.
@@cloud_9429 Good for them but at this point if it's a politician that wasn't personally involved with the war crimes then it's kinda just virtue signaling. The ones responsible for war crimes should always be held accountable, and the ones left behind should learn from it.
@@queuedjar4578 that's like saying to the German PM going to the holocaust victim site to go back and bring back the actual soldiers from the war. The Vietnamese ppl are saying they forgive, so what’s your problem 🤷
@@cloud_9429 I don't see a problem with that. The current German PM has nothing to do with the holocaust. The people who committed it do. I'm sure three hundred thousand years ago my cavemen ancestors stole berries from another tribe, should I go back to the site and bow down and pretend that I'm sorry for something I already don't condone and didn't cause in the first place?
Being an old geezer from Finland I remembeer the L.A. riots well. I had visited L.A.(and the US) for the first time three years earlier. I will always remember the rooftop Koreans from the news, even in the sad context I felt that it was the coolest thing I had ever seen! A few years later I do remember black LAPD shirts with "In L.A. we'll treat you like a "King"!" which were displayed at a car show in an old CHP unit.
As a Korean, I support Finnland, your history is amazing! Loved how the Finnish managed to keep its measures from the Soviets! I'll always remember the Finno-Korean Hyper
One thing that is barely covered is why there need to be rooftop Koreans. Back then Korea town stood right in between the rich and poor areas of LA. The Korean business owners had to defend their own shops because the police line decided not to defend Korea town and set of their police line in front of the rich area.
Yep! a perimeter protecting Hancock Park and Midtown.
They weren’t defectors from North Korea…
Korean men of that generation that owned businesses were likely 40+ in age and many of them served in the Vietnam war and served 2 mandatory years in the military.
probably 3yrs instead 2yrs coz my dad served 3yrs when he was in 20s. and now we serve for 1 year and half.
Most served more then 2 at those times
actually in that time 3yrs
@@hybolk 2000년 군번인데 제가 2년 6개월 했습니다. 저당시는 백프로 3년입니다.
They were not north Koreans, 100% of them were south Koreans
@@wqlxcrtyzmwqzxf-t1l If you saw the video, it describe them as north Koreans.
@@tomchoi7293 thats why hes saying its wrong. Its south koreans living in California. Like 99% of them and very handful amounts of N korean refugee
Pretty sure it said some of them were North Koreans that defected to South Korea before immigrating to the USA.
Yeas
I was there in 1992. Some of the Koreans you see are veterans of Vietnam War. They actually had combat experience.
Plus many Korean bought firearms including Korean ladies at the time. Also, many families have lost their fathers who
worked at stores but were shot by blacks daily.
All I see is a bunch of brave rooftop Americans!
They are actually koreans whos looking for business opportunity
@@Piatos69naturalized Americans, no less American than anyone born here
@Piatos69 what does this even mean?
그런데 미국 경찰들은 백인 지역만 지켰죠? 그들은 한인들을 버렸어.
다 똑같은 미국인이라면 백인 마을처럼 지켜줬어야지!!!
Us latinos like to joke around that you don't fuck with a Korean store owner lol.
I am from a country where police are usually too late or corrupt, and only criminals have guns. I feel jealous that they are able to defend themselves instead of being sheep.
California?
Same here
@@hirotakasugi4891 could be so many countries in the west
So basically somewhere in the Bible Belt
Brazil?
I was in high school and grow up in Korea town. I remember older Koreans with full combat uniform with red marine caps with rifles and guns patrolling on western and 8th.
I am Korean, and I added correction comments on the popo's original video, but here your video came up to my recommendation, so I add this here again.
We fully understand American people's lack of information, we just hope you to get right information and remember who they actually were, and why they had to hold their guns to defend themselves despite the existence of police, instead of simply consuming Roof Koreans as internet meme in order to defend gun owning argument like many Americans do today.
The Korean immigrants to the LA, US were not North Korean defectors. NK is not where they were trained to fight. The majority of LA Rooftop Koreans were retired South Korean military veterans from Vietnam war, who were serving for SK army to defend SK against NK communists, and then were sent to Vietnam to reinforce SK's military ally, the US. Those who served as soldiers built barricades and hold guns, former officers gave commands through the community's radio broadcast. They built temporary militia using their military experience from Vietnam war.(In such situation, what is more important than shooting skill is working as a trained group, moving to right location at right moment of time according to right commands and right recon information)
And now Popo calls them communist-trained soldiers who are 'pretty cool badasses'. What would you feel if you spent many years to serve in the military to defend your mother nation against communists, and then fight in an actual war against communists, immigrate to a friendly nation who defends freedom world, and then called as 'defectors from communist nation'?
Yes, there are Korean people from NK, Soviet, and China who are living in the US, but they don't live in LA Korea town that we are talking about in this video. They create their own communities and do not mingle with South Koreans in Korea towns in America because of their difference in political stance and language dialect. Remember, the Korean war is still going on. There was no peace treaty made, SK and NK are on war until today. All they had was a temporary cease-fire agreement that unexpectedly lasted for decades, and there have been multiple military incidents that caused dozens of casualties on both sides over the decades.
I am speaking from my history education from South Korean public education, Korean media, Korea town community's stance, and as well as what I heard from my uncle who has been living in LA Korea town since then. However, I e-mailed Popo about this matter, and he answered he heard the story from his Korean girlfriend's uncle(yes, that was his research for the video according to what he says), and told me to trust him(even though I am Korean and know who those Koreans were better than the 'story' he 'heard'). Therefore, I think Popo does not actually care about those people who were actually involved in the incident, but only wants some interesting stories out of it. He wants to see tough Asian men from dangerous part of the world holding guns to protect property, but he does not care who they actually are and why they had to risk their lives.(police didn't include Korea town within its defense line, media false-reported Koreans were murdering and raping black people, making them focus on attacking Korea town instead of police defense line and rich town beyond it.)
I sincerely hope not every Americans are like him, because I was taught America is where people of diversity try to understand and respect each other and altogether pursue a shared quality. I also served in ROK army, so I assume you can also agree with me on that it is a soldier's honor to know what he is trying to protect in his motherland.
I think you missing to add a few more bits😳
@@kingkenny7393 like what?
@@곰돌슨 I think he's means about victims in vietnam war.. haihh still can't move on from that history.. when will they move on and didn't start a verbal fight 🤦♀️
@@sumayyahEr78 I thought when he said i'm missing few more bits to add, i thought he wanted to add some more things to back my side up.
@@sumayyahEr78 And I strongly disagree with your point that it's time to move on from Vietnam war. My nation Korea is for sure partially responsible for invasion on the nation, and majority of Koreans agree on this. We still struggle with specific details about each incidents during Vietnam war that are claimed to be 'war crimes' are actually true or not, but that doesn't change the fact that our military dictator sold off our loyal soldiers to the American war at cheap price and helped them destroy Vietnam, just in order to build better relationship with America and get better weapons and money. I hate anyone who blame those Korean veterans at Vietnam war, because they are really not. But it's true our national decision to the invasion did actually harm Vietnam and that really is our fault. We should NOT move on and forget.
Richard Park looked like a total boss
Whenever I hear about the Roof Koreans the only thing I can think of is "God Bless America".
Warm greetings from Poland, never give up your guns.
Legendary koreans. Respect.
This is what it means to be an American. Everything is in chaos and no one is coming to help you. You have to have to do what you have to defend yourself and your community. God bless these brave Americans.
Amen
Unfortunately Asians aren’t considered “American” enough.
....or you live in the rest of the developed world where we don't have mass riots and shootouts in the streets and you don't need to stand on a rooftop to protect your business from dozens of armed crazy people hellbent on destruction for destruction sake.......
If americais a good country, they dont have this chaos
@@borntoclimb7116 America was born out of chaos.
France needs Rooftop Koreans now!!! These guys are fantastic.
Koreans are amazing. tough as heck. very nice people if you get to know one.
That can apply to any race of people not just Koreans 🙄
@@MsEinstein1234 I'm south Korean and I agree
@@MsEinstein1234 they didnt say specificly.
koreans are plastic surgery addled whiners who are infamously untrustworthy
About their only notable military accomplishment was their navy in the imjin wars; they have otherwise been slaves of China Japan etc. for most of their history. Even today they depend on JApanese loans and western assistance to keep them afloat.
As long as you meet them outside of Korea, inside Korea it's more like "how dare you walk in to our idyllic homogeneous society you dirty foreigner"
The commend centre was organised and controlled by Vietnam war veteran officers apparently. They applied a few tactical obstacle strategies around the area that trapped riots who got into and easily killed. Proud of them defending well and its a sad story too..
Thank you for the amazing video
Korean men are all soldiers. It is amazing
한국사람으로써 당시의 한인분들이 존경스럽습니다
I had to hit the translate to English button to see what you were trying to say, because, unfortunately, that Korean sentence makes zero sense.
@@MaxPayne909 uuhh.. that sentence does make sense.. idk if you do speak korean but.. yeah
@@masqabsurdo2939 Go say that to a Korean person that only speaks Korean. They'll have no idea what you're saying. Maybe someone that also speaks English well can figure out what you're trying to say. Either way, that sentence makes no sense as written.
@@김윤석-i5j I am korean, and there is nothing that weird in his sentence
@@MaxPayne909김윤석 said As a Korean, I respect Koreans at that time.
Rodney Kings arrest/beating being video taped and the officers who beat him being acquitted was the original catalyst for everything. It was those big VHS cameras that brought everything to light.
My uncle had a gun shop in that plaza at the time of the riots. Pre-dominately Korean owned businesses, and other owners were all given access to whatever they could shoot or use to protect their livelihood. My uncle doesn't talk about it much, but he said that he doesn't regret what happened to the looters. That event was the epitomy of what anarchy would be, and it was insanity 1000%.
Just want to say that the part about most of the Koreans being North Korean defectors is a big stretch. There are very few defectors and to say those few made it all the way to the US… just not probable. But the part about the rooftop Koreans being trained is true. All south Korean born men can handle a gun and have had training. At 18 you had to join the army. And at that time they all saw combat.
Also it wasn’t callers that made radio Korea make the announcement arm themselves and protect their businesses, it was the Korean president of the chamber of commerce that came in and slammed his pistol down on the table and said you have to tell people to stay and protect themselves and businesses or koreatown would burn to the ground.
There is a very well made documentary that was made by Radio Korea it’s on UA-cam look it up, way more factual, it has actual interviews of the rooftop Koreans and the LA Korean youth task force (they were like the Guardian Angels Gang from New York)
thank you for pointing this out. Also, that generation of Korea town at that time had military experience from Vietnam War.
@@곰돌슨 that is correct. Before rooftop Koreans, there were treetop Koreans. They were feared by both the allies and the enemy in the jungles of Vietnam.
do u have a link by radio korean?
저당시는 한국에서 조차도 탈북자가 아주 적을때였는데 탈북자출신 미국인이라고? 탈북자들은 요즘도 대부분은 한국에 귀화하고 아주 특이하게 제3국 선택하는 경우가 있는데 저당시에 북한인이라고? ㅎㅎ
LAPD Police did not protect Koreatown. Shortage of Police at that time. American Korean protect themselves forming Korean Military & well organized. 95% of Korean people are Military trained people young or old men. Some are Vietnam veteran ROK Marines.
The Roof Top Koreans were not North Korean defectors, they were South Korean military veterans. Most veteran Marines and Army. North Korean defectors were not allowed to join the South Korean military at that time. It’s only recently that law has changed. The Roof Top Koreans got together and chose the Senior ranking to be the leader and operated as an active military unit.
99% of Korean men have been to the military, so in case of any actual situation, they can be made into a military organization, and operations can be performed immediately and can be put into operation.
Shows how quickly shit can go sideways, im uk and remember this. The anger was justified following the acquittal of those officers, but criminal elements jumped on board and travelled a path of greed and help yourself. Opportunists really crawled up from the gutter. Respect to the defenders. Great reaction, as always.
Let me tell you people the truth, Rodney King had record a mile long, and he was high as a kite on PCP, and the first police officers that he started shit with were black, so you damned racists assholes need to learn the truth. PCP makes people strong as hell, and he was not cooperating with the police, but the goddamned pricks who got this on video didn't show people everything, because they wanted to start riots across the country. Personally, Americans should have armed themselves and joined in taking the scum out of existence.
? The officers were there to arrest someone who committed a crime then the people escalated instead of letting the offender face their consequences. If they didn’t attack the officers who were trying to apprehend an offender who btw was fighting back, it wouldn’t have escalated that led to the 60 deaths.
@@hirotakasugi4891 He's talking about the Rodney King incident. I'm assuming you misunderstood and are talking about the incident on Florence and Normandie.
huh.. kind of like BLM... hmmmm 🧐
@Ajit Adonis Manilal I stated that the 'anger' was justified. You've misunderstood my comment and thought that I said the actions were justified.
Most rooftop koreans are from South korea not north Korea.
They’re not just marine veterans. They were Vietnam veterans.
I was about 12 when this happen. I remember listening to that Korean radio station during this event. It was pretty insane to listen what was happening minute by minute. My dad was worried because my uncle had a shop in a swamp meet. At the end, he had to go to LA to help my uncle, luckily they were able to take most the products out before the swamp meet burnt down. Some of the stories I heard were pretty crazy especially the gun fighting.
I think that if you own a gun shop and your buddy has a liquor store + a bunch of marine vets join in - 4 days ain’t that much haha
Good point 🤣
@@CombatArmsChannel I heard that, there was 1 Korean guy fighting for 3 or more country during WW2 lol.
major respect to the Korens they held off there new home
The flaw in that video is there were N Koreans. No, they're all S Korean immigrants.
The governor had sent the National Guard but there was a delay due to a lack of ammunition.
The situation got so bad that President Bush used the Insurrection Act to send in the Army and Marines. And he federalized the CA National Guard.
All of the troops were under the command of Lt. General Marvin Covault.
Some criminals tried to kill Marines by shooting them as part of a gang initiation. They missed. The Marines returned fire, they didn't miss. The Marines were not charged with a hate crime.
"This is our home".
A phrase used a lot in the more recent riots to deescalate successfully.
"You stole this place, give it back"
This is used mostly for Anti-Imperial and for rich people who took over. Why does riots exists? It's very annoying
this is crazy it literally looked like GTA5
As a Korean american US Army veteran that was born in Korea and live here in nyc, I'm pretty certain that although we are aware of this event happening, we don't celebrate it or memorialize it. Maybe if there were some casualties from the defending side, then there would be some sort of memorial, I would assume.
Agreed, none of my family or their friends celebrate it. Hard times
From everything I've seen, one korean national was killed by rioters, and one was actually killed by friendly fire in an accident by other koreans. Many more would be injured. I think the lessons learned were more important than any memorial or holiday celebration would be, ultimately.
Everybody here in California remembers the battle of los angeles 92 and the brave roof koreans lol
That gravel truck-driver was rescued by some black people who took control over his car, surrounded the drivers and stood there to they could drive it out of harms way and by that rescue the driver who was seriously injured. So not all there was looting, some where just horrified by those criminals who started to loot and riot.
thank you for pointing that out
It was an old black guy who lived down the street and ran down the block to save Denny after he saw it live in his TV
A hero no question
I think all the young blacks who attacked eventually died violently neither on the street or in the joint
I am Korean, and I have to say even Koreans in LA, the victims, they understand that, they don't hate black people as a race. Some Korean Americans and some African Americans even helped each other rebuild and recover after all that. We do know there are good and bad people regardless of skin color, and also that not all rioters were blacks, nor that not all blacks were rioters.
What's bad is not black people. In our society, some people are financially poor, uneducated, abandoned, and discriminated. That's what makes them loot whenever there is a chaos in a city. They want revenge to the entire society, they don't consider looting as a horrible behavior, and they need money to make life. That's what turns people into looters and rioters, and those poor people happened to be mostly black people(and of course that's all because of American history of slavery and racism). Koreans know this, and they feel connected as another group of minority in America.
It's like how if you see a communist in the 70s, he's more likely to be Russian or Chinese, but it's not Russian or Chinese blood that makes him agree with the communist idea, and not all Russians and Chinese are communists, and not all communists are Russians and Chinese.
The American society abandoned black people. Pushing them to a crime-friendly environment and blaming them for committing crime is irresponsible. They did it, but they were not born to do it.
Blackness is not what makes them bad, lack of things they deserve as American citizens(money, education, and most importantly, respect) is what causes them to become evil when they have a chance to be. The society grew the hate in some black people's heart, and that hate is the one committed crimes. Still, the rioters and looters are responsible for their behavior, but we have to review who's more responsible for that. I am not religious, but I know a Christian saying regarding this.
'Hate the sin, not the sinner.'
@@곰돌슨 my grandparents were poor and weren’t criminals and they had dignity
@@charlesbyrd6055 exactly. poorness makes some people bad, not all. I only mentioned it to say we can't blame poor bad people just because they are bad. they are made to be bad, and the society, as well as the bad people themselves, is also responsible for their badness.
But I totally understand your point. I apologize if I offended you, but please note i'm more on your side of the opinion. I'm only saying we have more people to blame other than the bad people themselves.
Korean people also started from the bottom, but they didn't turn bad. They came to America from one of the poorest nations on earth, and started American life as convenience store clerk, taxi driver, and construction laborer. But they didn't create gangs, or drug dealing club. Poor people can also become good and successful just like others.
It's the police that made a path to K-town
We had to deal with this last year in July in KZN South Africa. Our area blocked off all roads into it with Shipping Containers and created Checkpoints with help of Community, Police and Army. We were the only area not to be looted an absolutely incredible effort👍
The streets in U.S cities in 2020 after George Floyd's murder were exactly like this.
Black looters again.
When this happened I was a journalist covering the Yugoslav wars during the breakup of the country. I was in an old fort above Dubrovnik and it had been the communications center. There was a direct open line to the US and Croatians in LA, defending their businesses the same as the Koreans, were putting on a great show repelling the rioters. The American media sanitized what happened. The looters were really out for blood. The Koreans and the other immigrant groups were attacked by the blacks. I suspect next time this happens it will be quite a bit more violent with real military action on both sides.
I remember the riots, we saw the same thing not along ago with businesses and property being destroyed during the BLM riots...
I see my brother in the footage. It breaks my heart.
I held weapons in my hands then. I never want to do that again.
This is a part of American history, not South Korean history. There is no reason for South Koreans to observe, not "celebrate," Saigu.
On a lighter side, it made me laugh when I heard, "Wow, they have footage then." Yeah... home cameras are antique inventions from the 60s.
I am glad to see younger generations being able to see the footage of the important historical moment, although the original video is immensely misleading and misrepresenting. There are a few comments about them below, so I will not repeat them.
I've always felt that the rioters who did these things weren't those who were engaged at the injustice of the Rodney King verdict, but agitators who take advantage of civil unrest and anger throughout the community. That they use this anger as an opportunity and and excuse to do whatever they want, and then the blame falls to peaceful protestors as far as society at large is concerned.
Exactly spot on. Decades later the same with the BLM rioters
You let the police,attack,beat kill u for years.see if it won't lead to this
It's both. The agitators are empowered by the "protesters" who call for violence and justice against the officers, and then do absolutely nothing to try and stop the rioting or even condemn it. Most of the rioters are absolutely people angry about the verdict as well. Consider the video shown of the guy who threw an object and hit the police car, who then got arrested and created a mob that tried to get the police to stop from arresting him. That all stems from anger at the police because of the RK incident.
I was in LA at that time there was no peaceful protest it went 0 to 100 as soon as the verdict was announced, I would say after 2 or 3 days nobody gave af about verdict they just wanted to loot
@@562fooo7 Right. Spot on. There's a segment of the population that is always seething, looking for any excuse to 'Burn This B!tch Down', how many times do we have to see this to just call it what it is? If you live or do business in such an area, you better accept that the rioting and looting will happen again at the first opportunity, and shame on you for not getting out while you could have.
As a Korean, I must admit that I felt incredibly proud of my brothers who defended each other during these riots. Thank you for making a video about it!
I would recommend watching LA 92 it's a documentary up on on youtube that I think gives a good look at how it all went down.
I'm pretty sure "Saigu" is more of a Korean-American thing since it did take place and more of an issue in LA.
If anyone is curious of what Saigu means, it's the date in korean numerals
Sa = 사 = 4
i= 이 = 2
gu = 구 = 9
It's 419 (sa il gu), a reference to April 19, 1960 event that happened in South Korea. Students attempted an insurrection against the government due to election fraud.
The sky was raining ash for days. Friends of mine checking on family came back with their cars full of bullet holes and broken glass. It felt like the apocalypse.
It was unbelievably hot during the early 90s... usually firefighters would open the hydrants and cool the place down.. but there was a drought that year..
I remember seeing the rooftop Koreans on the news in Sydney, also the truck driver being pulled from his semi and bashed.
Thanks for this background story.
this shit is an entire lie. don't use this as a reference.
You don't want to mess with people from the country where almost every single man goes through the insane military service. If 20 Korean men gathers, they can form a full unit. They can operate tanks, shoot missiles, snipe, and hide in mountains for a month without food supply.
Hats off to the Koreans
they were south koreans, south korea was also a military dictatorship until like 1988, south korean military had the highest kill death ratio in vietnam, and every single man had to do military service (still do today, but it is much easier compared to back then).
Correction. They're all South Koreans.
i was one of those that stood on top of the roofs during the riot.
as i recall, Olympic Blvd was sort of dividing line...South of Olympic Blvd, majority of the rioters/looters were blacks and North of Olympic were Hispanics.
both blacks and hispanics took part in the riot/looting.
I live in St. Louis. I can tell you when Michael Brown was shot, and following that the 2020 police riots going into the election, the Kyle Rittenhouse situation, etc., that these sort of armed events are not figments of the past.
RIP David Dorne...
Rittenhouse was a dam criminal.
@@bootnazz1786 Not according to a jury
@@yakamen so I'm sure you agree with o.j. Simpson jury too?
@BootN Azz Only 12 opinions matter inside a court room. Agree or disagree, unless you're a jury member is irrelevant. Consequently there's plenty of video footage for keyboard warriorship.
16:00 Koreans in Korea wouldn't celebrate it because this incident took in the US and affected AMERICANS who are ethnically Korean. Many Koreans don't even know this happened at all unless they've lived in the US or are interested in Korean American matters. I think Korean Americans in LA do memorialize it.
It was mostly South Koreans who are all veterans too. In s korea you have to go to the military for 4 years after high school or college depending of your got into university.
Police abandoned the KTown.. it was race related, not running thin on police force.
흑인들의 백인에 대한 분노를 한국인에게 가도록 여론을 조장하고
백인구역을 보호하기 위해 한국인들을 버린것
정말 가슴아프고 분노한다
The police crowd controlled the looters into mostly K-town on purpose, and then refused to help any of the Korean businesses. People also forget the cops came eventually and started taking Korean owners' guns so they couldn't defend themselves. They wanted a deliberate battlegrounds for looters and better Ktown than any of the upper class areas.
@ The unfairness, that's just ridiculous. No wonder why I don't like USA.
Shame on the law enforcement agencies and their officers.
Rooftop Koreans are the explanasion why the US had to withdraw from Korea. They also explain why South Korea is prosperous, when you give these wonderful people the freedom to do business, they thrive and make excellent societies.
11:02 is that just me or is that a full auto pistol (TEC-9?)
They were bad ass. I was alive for this.
The greatest movie EVER, Falling down was filmed in L.A. during the riots.
I was in high school when this happened. This is why riots and looting never happens in Texas...almost everyone owns a gun. Not just the bad guys.
Unfortunately during the 2020 "Summer of Love" it did reach Texas. Cities like Austin and Dallas saw some damage. Best to not be complacent and know not everywhere is always safe, and always better to be prepared.
This Koreans would destroy us Marines...
@@queuedjar4578 the rest of us don't consider Austin part of Texas😄
This is EXACTLY what the 2A is for. And the "rooftop Koreans" are a perfect example of a "well-regulated militia": a group of well armed and trained citizens banding together for mutual protection.
Exactly right! LAPD(the government) was confiscating weapons from Koreans during the LA Riots preventing Koreans from defending themselves.
This type of unity doesnt exist much anymore among a people. Admirable collective of humans looking out for one another
National Geographic made a documentary about the riots a few years back. It's a really comprehensive collection on amateur and professional media of the events.
When you can’t rely on your government or your community, you rely on your own people.
Yes, that's why, North Korea named themself "People of North Korea"
All Koreans are required to join the military and receive two years of military training. It's not North Korea, it's South Korea.
Power of crowd mentally is insane, the problem with these kinds of protests is that all the scum of the earth assend and flock, useing the "cause" for their own gain. It's disgusting honestly and not only does is completely ruin people's life's it also creates more hate and undermines whatever cause the protests were about initially.
Their soul was Korean but they're now Americans.
It's all yours now USA, from Korea 👍
North Korean defector part was false. Most of the older Koreans were Vietnam war veterans.
90% American Korean people have gun and rifles in their house to protect themselves after bad experience many years ago. Again I know they are TOUGH AND WELL ORGANISE MILITARY within 2 hours . Strong network themselves. Don't mess around with Korean people. They will became mad cruel soldiers.
I remember watching it live from my college dorm room. Korean shop owners on the roof with AKs, fire and smoke in the background, picking off looters trying to take away their livelihood. I had never been so proud to be an American.
Should have been ashamed to be "american". The national guard was only a few blocks away and did absolutely nothing.
@@amduser86 말 그대로 백인들만 지켜줬어요ㅎㅎ
Thank You So Much for this video! It is a true story.
It didn't take much to see things go ape shit. Which is why it's essential to always own multiple firearms.
America strongest reserve isn't National Guard. It's Roof Korean Regiment based in LA.
No the strongest Regiment is white rouge cops who started this whole thing in the first place. Then went uptown to defend white businesses. And herding the riot in K-town
We don't really celebrate that day.
But about that incident, we learn it in school history class.
And we see about efforts to get people to remember the incident through social media.
When I learned about this story it gave me a sense of identity and pride in my heritage that I didn’t even know was missing
April 29th is not celebrated in Korea. They see it as a tragedy where they defended and resulted reduced damages, but it is not a celebratory subject. They remeber it as shitty times where they survived a violent riot disguised as a compassionate equal rights movement.
Love your channel! Subscribed
The motherland Koreans generally don't think much about Korean Americans. SoCal Korean Americans would be the ones who recognize 429, if anyone.
@@გმადლობთ 일반시민들에거 물어보면 저녀 모릅니다. 성금까지 보낸건 고맙지만. 도움보다 일반적인 지식 말입니다.
LA 92 National Geographic documentary is the best to see what really happened from start to end .. and it's doesn't have commentary ,only video clip that tells the story
Some of the national guard soldiers that were deployed to LA were actually desert storm veterans. Given how the gulf War only ended a year earlier
As a Korean, they don't celebrate as much due to Government changes, but yes; we celebrate the Liberation day, the day we were free from the Japanese, Korea is still strict, I believe this wasn't heard because we had a Korean dictator during those days, if you lived in Korea, you might've heard about the Military Coupe that happened before. But hey, as a Korean, I thank you men for helping my people. "Peace, will be an option, the greed and hatred will be forever gone."