Senator Paul Shin: From Korean Orphan to U.S. Success

Washington state Senator Paul lived a harsh childhood as a Korean War orphan before an American couple adopted him as a teen. (photo: NEKorean.com)

STATE SENATOR PAUL SHIN OF WASHINGTON

State Senator: 1999-present

Term Expires: January 2011

Leadership:
Vice President pro tempore, 2001-2002, 2005
State House of Representatives, 1993-1994

Committees:
Higher Education (chair)
Agriculture & Rural Economic Development
Economic Development, Trade & Management

source: senatedemocrats.wa.gov/shinbio.htm

--list compiled by EthnicNewz.org editor

The following edited article was first published by Korean American Press.

State senator Paul Shin (D-Washington) was in town to give a speech at Wellesley College.

While in Boston, he also met with Boston city Councilor Sam Yoon along with several Korean community leaders and members of the press. The image of Shin, an elder statesman, sitting next to Yoon, a young promising politician, was striking.

At the meeting, Shin gave a brief interview with the press. Although he must have heard many of the questions before, he seemed genuinely interested in answering them. His responses seemed earnest with clear messages about pursuing life's dreams regardless of difficulties.

Shin said that he has a weak spot for education, having spent about 30 years as an educator before becoming a politician.

He has such a weak spot that when colleges call with a request for him, he cannot say no, said Shin. He even curtailed his family vacation in Hawaii to come to Wellesley to give the speech.

Shin's personal history is fairly well known, so only a brief summary will be given.

Shin was left orphaned during the Korean War. As a teenager, he was adopted by an American couple. Bitter memories of harsh life as an orphan were etched in his psyche.

"When I left the port city of Busan to come to the United States, I literally spit on the ground, vowing never to return," said Shin.

With a loving family environment, Shin worked hard to get a good education, getting his GED in 18 months and eventually receiving advanced college degrees.

Shin feels his adoptive parents' positive encouragement was key to his future successes.

Shin was asked why he decided to pursue a political career, at what some would say is late in life.

Shin recounted an incident in 1958 when he joined the US Army. While in basic training, he and his training buddies went out to a nearby town, Waco, Texas.

At the time, segregation was still the norm in the South. Although the sign clearly stated "For whites only," he went into a local restaurant/bar at the urging of his military buddies who were with him.

No sooner did he sit down at a table was he grabbed by the shirt collar and thrown out by the owner, said Shin.

At that moment, he felt a similar anger towards the United States to what he had felt about his homeland. He vowed then that someday he would help make changes to the laws to eliminate racial discrimination.

And the rest, shall we say, is a history.

Source: NEKorean.com

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