‘Sa-I-Gu’ Documentary Explores How Korean Women Remember the L.A. Riots

By Jorge Rivas Apr 29, 2013

Today is the 21st anniversary of the uprising in Los Angeles shortly after the Rodney King trial verdict was announced. "Sa-I-Gu", Korean for April 29, opens a window on Korean American women in Los Angeles whose stores — and lives — were devastated during in the aftermath.

Three Korean women, Dai Sil Kim-Gibson, Christine Choy and Elaine Kim started making the film "Sa-I-Gu" just three months after the uprising in Los Angeles. They interview interview several Korean women shopkeepers and use newsreel footage and family photographs to help tell their side of the experience.

Sa-I-Gu provides an important perspective for better understanding the Los Angeles riots, community studies, and ethnic relations and racism in the United States.

I was 9-years-old and living about a mile away from the epicenter of the L.A. Riots and remember the events vividly. I knew that they were other children who remembered the events like they happened yesterday and created a series of video portraits of young adults who were 8, 9 and 10-year olds during the LA Riots.

Visit "Two Decades Later, Children of the L.A. Riots Share Memories" to listen to how children who lived through the riots remember the events today.