Ex-politician becomes rights activist

Tina Park

A cover image of Just Live! by Tina Park

By Kim Hyo-jin

“You need to adjust your life by having a moment to look back; this is how I got here.”

Human rights activist Tina Park, 39, has experienced many changes in her life, yet her beliefs remain the same.

Park first moved to America when she just was six and was regarded as a rising star in U.S. politics.

In 2009, she became the first Korean-American and youngest ever woman to be elected to a Los Angeles education board.

She became a trustee of the L.A. Community College District, winning her seat from an African-American incumbent, who had widespread support from minority voters.

However, when the Republican Party asked her to run for a second time, she refused. “Some didn’t understand why. It’s true that once you have power, it is hard to let go. But I had other dreams I really wanted to pursue.”

She gave up her high-ranking job to pursue human rights campaigning after her term finished in 2013, and organized a campaign to raise awareness for efforts by Assyrian and other minorities to establish a safe haven in Iraq.

The Assyrians have been persecuted for years by Islamic State, which forced Park to contact the United Nations to help them.

The Assyria Community, an NGO she established, sent a letter to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon asking to support the victims in Iraq and find them a safe haven. This resulted in a group meeting with the U.N. where it promised full support on the issue during a meeting held last September.

While fighting for human rights, Park also works as a marketing consultant, and is now thinking of setting up her own company.

“I want to be at a level where I can influence people and help,” Park said, adding that she believes it is better to be financially secure to achieve this goal. “One day I hope I can do more for human rights.”

She has recently published a book, entitled “It’s Now, Just Live!” to share her life lessons with more people. In the book, she advises that making the most of the present will bring us happiness and a chance to pursue our dreams.

“If you only go for goals, until you get there you will never be happy. I wanted to give people a moment to look back on how they are living,” she said. “Be happy now and just live life.”