Freshman, Fresh Face Vie in 21st Congress District : THE CHALLENGER

By almost any measure, Sang Korman, already an inspiring immigrant success story, is an unconventional congressional candidate.

Start with the fact he came to the United States from South Korea only 16 years ago and has neither held public office nor been active in the 21st Congressional District. He has mounted a high-profile primary campaign with a $300,000 budget drawn from his own wealth and big bucks from fellow Korean-Americans--but with minimal financial support from within the district.

There is his choppy, heavily accented English and lack of familiarity with such major issues as the Middle East conflict. He dismisses questions about his knowledge gaps by pledging to learn whatever else he needs to know from his highly paid campaign consultants or after he is elected.

Finally, there is his energy, determination and conviction, bordering on the mystical, that he belongs in the 101st United States Congress as its first Korean-American member. However quixotic his campaign may appear to political professionals, Korman’s friends describe his passion to serve in Washington--which he has harbored for several years--as a near obsession.

“I have a feeling,” Korman said during an interview, his eyes closed, both hands held to his temples. “There is no reason I cannot be a second Founding Father. I have a feeling that the Founding Fathers in the heavens are calling me to run for Congress.”

Korman, a millionaire commercial real estate developer and resident of Newbury Park, says he is opposing Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) in the GOP primary because he wants to upgrade his adopted nation’s education and trade policies so it can successfully compete in the world economy. His knowledge of Asian culture and business and his willingness to buck the political establishment would quickly make him a national figure, Korman insists.

Much of his agenda has nothing to do with legislating. Among his stated priorities are teaching students such moral values as honesty, compassion, fairness and justice and instilling in them respect for teachers, encouraging teamwork between management and labor in the work place and urging American companies to look for opportunities in Asian markets so the United States can reduce its trade imbalance.

“If I can be in Washington, D.C., I can make a big deal for America,” says Korman, who will be 51 on May 29. “We need a brave guy, an outspoken guy, a man of action. I am an action guy.”

He is also, like Gallegly, a staunch conservative who supports President Reagan’s positions on most major issues. Both, for instance, back military aid to the Nicaraguan Contras, deployment of the Strategic Defense Initiative and a tough line with the Soviet Union. Both support a balanced-budget amendment, a line-item veto for the President and additional cuts in social programs and so-called pork-barrel projects to reduce the federal deficit.

The difference, Korman says, is that “if I see something wrong in Congress, I will not eat. If I see something wrong with pork-barrel spending, I will point out somebody’s name.”

This extends even to his own district. He extols the view of J. Peter Grace--who headed a controversial private commission appointed by Reagan to pinpoint government waste--that the Defense Department needs only 326 of its 4,000 military bases.

Asked whether either of the two bases in his 21st District would be eliminated under Grace’s proposal, Korman replied: “Maybe Point Mugu military base,” referring to the Pacific Missile Test Center.

(Pentagon spokesmen say it is unlikely that the center, used to test and evaluate missiles, would be closed under any circumstances because of its unique geographic attributes. It employs 8,900, most of whom live in Ventura County, and directly generates $261 million for the local economy, center spokesman Ray Lucasey says.)

Another distinction is Korman’s pledge to seek to personally persuade Asian companies to build plants, offices and other facilities in his district if he is elected. Well-connected to political and business leaders in South Korea, Korman has scheduled a meeting Tuesday in Thousand Oaks with 15 chief executive officers from Korean corporations to highlight this promise.

Korman’s campaign has a bifurcated nature. To the growing Korean-American community in Los Angeles and elsewhere nationwide that has financed his candidacy, Korman sells himself as an ethnic pioneer blazing the way toward a new era of participation in American politics. As he stumps door-to-door in his largely white, conservative district, he does not raise this theme. He acknowledges concern with possible anti-Asian sentiment.

But for three months, a determinedly upbeat Korman has been methodically visiting the homes of registered Republicans to seek their support, registering scores of new voters in the process. Meanwhile, his campaign consultants churn out news releases attacking Gallegly or advancing Korman proposals. Korman said he approves everything that goes out.

Yet for all the money that the campaign has spent on consultants, staff, speech training and overhead--$190,219 as of March 31--it has not sent out any districtwide mailings to communicate directly with voters. Bob Lavoie, who is managing Korman’s race for the Los Angeles firm of Marathon Communications, said that phase of the campaign will begin shortly but declined to elaborate. Marathon generally runs Democratic campaigns.

As he forcefully recalled recently at a Republican Women’s Candidate Forum in Studio City--where he was warmly received--Korman has beaten the odds before. He came to the United States in 1972 with $75 in his pocket and no job or prospects, temporarily leaving his wife and three young sons behind. He spent his first night in this country on the floor of Los Angeles International Airport.

Worked as Deliveryman

Korman at first lived with another Korean immigrant and worked for him as a deliveryman. He established a small sporting goods store in Los Angeles and then moved to West Lake Industrial Park, where he imported sports equipment. In addition to working long hours, he lived in the warehouse to save money. He saw his family once in four years.

His wife and three sons joined him in 1976, but he was still struggling. A bid to manufacture gold golf clubs failed because of lack of capital. Then a friend advised him to get involved in real estate, and he joined Lucky Realty, which caters primarily to Koreans, in 1979. The following year he applied for his broker’s license and set up his own firm, Goldwell Investment, in downtown Los Angeles.

He became a naturalized citizen in 1980 and says he changed his surname from Suh to Korman. He says he sought to make it easier for Americans to remember and remind others of his roots because Korman sounds like “Korean man.” Fellow immigrants are ambivalent about this: Some respect the lengths to which Korman has gone to enter the American mainstream, and others wonder if he has tried to obscure his heritage rather than highlight it.

Working with one partner, he systematically acquired eight houses in a concentrated area. In 1985, he arranged to raze the buildings and construct a 25,000-square-foot shopping center, Goldwell Plaza I. The next year, he built a second center, Goldwell Plaza II. He has sold both for a handsome profit and plans to develop apartment buildings if his congressional bid fails.

“I am not satisfied making monies,” Korman says, explaining his desire to seek office. “I’m always trying to do something with my knowledge, my abilities, returning something to society. Having money is nothing. It’s how you use it that’s important.”

He has invested generously in the campaign, which he describes as “a kind of honorable sacrifice.” In addition to putting his business interests on hold to stump full-time since late January, he has lent the campaign $125,000, which he says may never be repaid. Campaign manager Lavoie says Korman will lend more money if needed.

Korman’s past civic involvement has been in the Korean-American community. He was a director of the Korean Federation of Los Angeles, an organization of first-generation Korean-Americans that helps newcomers get settled. His political experience has been as a financial contributor--to Los Angeles City Councilman Michael Woo, Assemblyman Mike Roos (D-Los Angeles) and the Republican National Committee, among others.

Associates and even his political consultants had advised him to lower his horizons and run for local office or the Legislature, and to do so in an area with a larger Asian-American base than exists in the 21st District, Korman recalls. But his friends describe him as confident he can win election to Congress if he simply meets enough residents, shakes their hands three times and urges them to spread the good word.

While GOP activists view Korman’s dream as impossible, he is so buoyed by voter feedback that he insists he will win overwhelmingly. And he is impressing voters, even those he doesn’t win over.

“I admire what he’s doing, but I think he’s a bit naive,” said substitute teacher Sharon Custer after a chat with Korman on her doorstep in Thousand Oaks. “I’m really for Gallegly, and I’m going to call him and tell him to get on the ball ‘cause this guy’s going for it.”

SANG KORMAN

Personal History

Born May 29, 1937, in Kyngsan, near Taegu, in the southern part of South Korea. Had five older sisters. His parents, who were poor and illiterate, farmed rice and vegetables. Graduated from Korea University, one of nation’s three top schools, with a degree in political and diplomatic science. Came to United States seeking economic opportunity in 1972. Brought wife and children here in 1976. Says he changed name from Sang Rok Suh to Sang Rok Korman when he became a citizen in 1980 because it was simpler and sounded like “Korean man.” He is Protestant.

Work

Worked for Korean trading company Dae Han. Established own company importing logs from the United States but went bankrupt during a West Coast dockworkers’ strike. Arrived in United States with $75 in his pocket and struggled in various jobs and businesses. Joined a downtown Korean brokerage firm, Lucky Realty, in 1979. Applied for broker’s license and established own firm, Goldwell Investment, in 1980. Bought homes in downtown Los Angeles and razed them to build a 25,000-square-foot shopping center, Goldwell Plaza I, completed in 1985. Built a second one, Goldwell Plaza II, in 1986. Has sold both shopping centers. Puts total assets at $1 million.

Political Career

Was active with leftist anti-government groups in Korea as a youth. Had supported both major opposition candidates, Kim Dae Jung and Kim Young Sam, at various times. Registered as Republican in 1984 in Ventura County but has not voted in primary or general election since that year. Involved with Korean-American groups. Has made campaign contributions to Republican and Democratic candidates supported by Korean-American community. Seeks to become first Korean-American member of Congress in his first run for office. Lent campaign $125,000; nearly all other contributions are from Korean-Americans.

Home Life

Married to the former Myung Ha for 21 years. Has three sons: Yeun, 20, a sophomore at Cal State Irvine; Hyuk, 18, a senior at Newbury Park High School, and Yong, 16, a 10th-grader at Newbury Park High School. All are involved in campaign. Has lived in Ventura County for 12 years. Lives in four-bedroom house in Newbury Park. Avid golfer (his handicap is 12 to 18). A member of the National Rifle Assn. who engages in target shooting as a hobby.