Koreans: a community force in Monterrey

By Rogelio Rios

It is not that I have been consistently in touch with koreans living in the Monterrey city area in Mexico. However, I have seen enough of them to get a good impression on how they work, the way they live and interact among themselves and with the "regios", and above all the way they have truly been integrated to the city life.

Now I was a witness of the way they organized themselves to protect their community and their working places, for example, in Apodaca, one of the suburbs of the city area.

In December 13th, me and my wife Paty were invited by our friend Mr. Byung Ha Lim to the announcement of the creation of the "Cuerpo de Policía Ciudadana de Nuevo León" (Nuevo Leon Corps of Citizen Police), under the direction of Mr. Kevin Lee. These "Policías Ciudadanos" (Citizen Policemen) are not armed guards but korean citizens (working men, employees at the factories) with the task, in the first place, of assisting other korean nationals in case of accidents or any other situation involving the local authorities.

Furthermore, they are going to be an additional help to local authorities in traffic and security matters, wich are two of the most pressing issues to be resolved in the areas of Apodaca, Pesquería, Guadalupe, San Pedro and Monterrey (the areas where most koreans live and work).

Our host was the pastor of the Iglesia Presbiteriana La Esperanza, located on the old road to Huinalá. After speeches were told in good spirits from korean residents, the korean Consul in Monterrey, the people from Apodaca city government, we had a moment to sit at the same table and take some refreshments and appetizers.

The list of guests is a testimony to the importance of the project: Leticia Platas (Commissioner to Fuerza Civil) and the directors of public security of Apodaca (Víctor Manuel Navarro), Guadalupe (Gerardo Saúl Palacios) and the korean Consul of Police in Monterrey, Mr. Park Sung Hun.

In Nuevo Leon there are approximately 3,000 korean residents working on some 300 small businesses, medium and big enterprises. This korean community in particular produces more economic output than any other in Mexico and our state hosts one of the leading korean firms worldwide: KIA Motors and its associates.

After the party was over, however, I realized that from now on the hard part of the task of these "Policías Ciudadanos" is only at the starting point: they are going to serve their fellows koreans but they are also going to be part of this larger commitment to wich Nuevo Leon (state and cities alike) is devoted to: the fight to prevent crime and violence in our society.

It is good that the koreans lend a hand on this issue. That shows a lot of their sense of community: they are thousands of miles away from their Motherland, but they seem to never abandon each other. I know they are very competitive for jobs and careers, but when it comes to think in bigger terms beyond one small group of persons and take in consideration the interests of others, they do it without blinking.

They are indeed a community force in Monterrey, and Mr. Kevin Lee and Mr. Ruben Kim (with the support of Consul Park Sung Hun) will surely let us know about their advancements in this new task. We will have our eyes on you because this could be an example to be replicated in other cities in Mexico by other foreign communities. The koreans will surely set up the pace, good fortune!

For emergencies you can contact:

(81) 1481 7999

(81) 1996 4646

siminpolicia@gmail.com