Gov. Gregoire addresses the KOAM TV grand opening

May 28, 2008

*As Written*

Good Morning, and thank you Sooyoun for that kind introduction.

I�m truly honored to be invited to share this happy day with you.

K-O-A-M TV has been an important voice in Washington since 1983 � and not just with the Korean-American community, but with other immigrant groups and with the state as a whole.

Now, with this new state-of-the-art building and equipment, your voice will be even stronger.

I�m told that this facility � which is equipped with digital and other sophisticated gear � makes it -- hands down -- the best station of the many Korean-language stations across the United States.

I was moved to hear the story of how K-O-A-M first came to be.

When K-O-A-M President Chong Cheh Ko (Chong � Jay � Ko) came here in the early 1980s from Los Angeles, he found that the Korean-American community was served by just one weekly newspaper. He thought that was terrible, and he was right.

So using money from his own pocket, Mr. Ko started this TV station on a shoestring.

It was such a shoestring, that the station didn�t even have its own equipment to edit videotape, and drove to KING 5 in Seattle every Friday night to do the editing there.

Over the years, Mr. Ko, and his wife, Shelly Ko, worked 24/7 to make this station what it is today, and they did it with the financial help of the community!

I respect so many of K-O-A-M�s qualities.

I respect your mission to build a healthy community by being a bridge to not only Korean immigrants, but to other immigrant communities � and that you broadcast with English subtitles to reach the wider culture.

I also am very pleased that newcomers to our state look to this station for all kinds of information that can ease their journeys from other cultures into this one.

I respect your programming � which, by design, is wholesome and family oriented.

I know your philosophy is to broadcast only programs that can be seen by even the youngest children � and that you have taken a very principled stand by rejecting any and all alcoholic beverage and gambling advertising.

Given my own work to protect children from the plague of another danger -- tobacco � this especially touches me.

In the past 25 years, K-O-A-M has grown into a cable channel broadcasting 24 hours day.

From day one, you have been a positive force for community building, and I salute you for your great work.

As Shelly Ko told us � this station was built with God�s help.

Congratulations on your new facility and your commitment to our community.