VTMBH Article: Body
A young Korean-American former gang member imprisoned in 1991 for kidnapping will be released on parole, thanks to the petitions of Korean-Americans. Soon-ho Lee (not his real name), will begin his new life on September 3.
Lee, whose parole was approved last September by the New York State Board of Parole, said, I regret the past years. I will do my best to repay the kindness of the Korean-American community by dedicating my life to the prevention of juvenile delinquency.
Lee was sentenced to a minimum of thirteen years and a maximum of twenty-one years. Considering the gravity of his crime, Lees parole is unprecedented, especially under the Pataki administration.
Lees imprisonment first became known last July, when this newspaper published an article on the problem of juvenile delinquency. At the time, Lee was serving his sentence in the Woodburn Prison in New York. He joined a Chinese gang as a freshman in Forest Hills High School, in Queens, and, later, was arrested for kidnapping. The article reported that Lee was sincere in repenting his past mistakes and leading the life of a model prisoner; he passed the GED, completed a two-year college course, and acquired welding and plumbing licenses.
In last years article, Lee said, Juvenile delinquency in the Korean-American community is largely due to the parents inability to keep an eye on their children, who have to face the hardship of adjusting to the new surroundings.
After reading Lees story, various Korean-American organizations began to plan ways to help him.
A number of community leaders, including Suk-joo Lee, president of the Korean Association of New York, Ji-young Kim, vice-consul of the Korean embassy in New York, and Sonya Choi, president of FM Korea Radio, sent petitions to the parole board, and Sang-sook Lee, head of Family and Youth Focus, volunteered to vouch for Lee after his release.
The Parole Board, touched by the support of the Korean-American community, finally decided to approve Lees parole.
Suk-joo Kim said, Lees release is only the beginning. From now on, the Korean Association will do its best to properly guide Korean-American prisoners.
Lee, whose mother is Korean and whose father is Chinese-Korean, immigrated to the United States with his family in 1984; Lee spent his days at home alone while his parents worked, until he was approached by Korean-American gang Korean Power. He later joined Chinese-American gang Green Dragon, and was arrested at a gambling establishment run by the gang; he had been working collecting debts from the customers.
At the time of Lees arrest, Lees parents said, Considering the fact that Lee has no relatives in Korea, he will not be deported but serve three to six months in jail. Were sure that once he learns his lesson, he will grow to be a positive influence in the Korean-American community.
Lee, whose parole was approved last September by the New York State Board of Parole, said, I regret the past years. I will do my best to repay the kindness of the Korean-American community by dedicating my life to the prevention of juvenile delinquency.
Lee was sentenced to a minimum of thirteen years and a maximum of twenty-one years. Considering the gravity of his crime, Lees parole is unprecedented, especially under the Pataki administration.
Lees imprisonment first became known last July, when this newspaper published an article on the problem of juvenile delinquency. At the time, Lee was serving his sentence in the Woodburn Prison in New York. He joined a Chinese gang as a freshman in Forest Hills High School, in Queens, and, later, was arrested for kidnapping. The article reported that Lee was sincere in repenting his past mistakes and leading the life of a model prisoner; he passed the GED, completed a two-year college course, and acquired welding and plumbing licenses.
In last years article, Lee said, Juvenile delinquency in the Korean-American community is largely due to the parents inability to keep an eye on their children, who have to face the hardship of adjusting to the new surroundings.
After reading Lees story, various Korean-American organizations began to plan ways to help him.
A number of community leaders, including Suk-joo Lee, president of the Korean Association of New York, Ji-young Kim, vice-consul of the Korean embassy in New York, and Sonya Choi, president of FM Korea Radio, sent petitions to the parole board, and Sang-sook Lee, head of Family and Youth Focus, volunteered to vouch for Lee after his release.
The Parole Board, touched by the support of the Korean-American community, finally decided to approve Lees parole.
Suk-joo Kim said, Lees release is only the beginning. From now on, the Korean Association will do its best to properly guide Korean-American prisoners.
Lee, whose mother is Korean and whose father is Chinese-Korean, immigrated to the United States with his family in 1984; Lee spent his days at home alone while his parents worked, until he was approached by Korean-American gang Korean Power. He later joined Chinese-American gang Green Dragon, and was arrested at a gambling establishment run by the gang; he had been working collecting debts from the customers.
At the time of Lees arrest, Lees parents said, Considering the fact that Lee has no relatives in Korea, he will not be deported but serve three to six months in jail. Were sure that once he learns his lesson, he will grow to be a positive influence in the Korean-American community.