Chosen, Joseph Juhn’s new documentary about five Korean Americans running for US Congress in 2020, follows David Kim, Marilyn Strickland, Michelle Park Steel, Young Kim, and Andy Kim in an emotional journey spanning across generations about the Korean diaspora in America. The story focuses mainly on David Kim, the prominent Los Angeles attorney who shared his diasporic experience as well as his relationship with his first-generation immigrant parents and was in the running to become the first Korean American to represent Koreatown. 

The population of immigrants from the Korean Peninsula in the United States stands at around 1.2 million and is the tenth-largest immigrant population in the nation. Despite this, only two people had previously been represented in the government prior to 2020. Four out of the five candidates running in 2020 featured in the film were elected and were also able to uphold their position in the midterm elections this year. 

Director of Chosen, Joseph Juhn, previously directed Jeronimo, the story of the titular second-generation Korean Cuban who fought in the Cuban Revolution, as well as the diasporic experiences shared by Korean Cubans in the area. “I want to talk about some of the critical moments in US history that shaped a collective Korean American identity, like the 1992 LA Riots,” he said in a promotional video for Chosen. “I want to follow around and document these candidates as a way to tell a uniquely Korean American narrative and history. Each of these candidates symbolizes an element of struggle as a minority in the US.” 

Juhn also talks about how the candidates represent hope for Korea’s future and inspiration for other Korean Americans, regardless of their backgrounds and political beliefs. “I believe this election is also important because perhaps some of these Korean American politicians can take a more active role in advocating for peace for the Korean Peninsula.” 

Chosen is a film made to represent Korean Americans in addition to being an eye-opener to Korean audiences about the Korean diaspora. The film was released in theaters on November 3rd and is currently receiving positive reviews.