Candidate for
Member of the State Assembly; District 15

Sam immigrated to the United States from Korea thirty years ago and grew up working in his family's motel business. His parents barely spoke English, and his family didn't have much, so everyone had to step up. By the time he was 10 years old, he started writing his family's business letters. By the time he was in high school, he was filling out applications for government permits and licenses. Watching his family struggle made him realize just how precious and fragile the American Dream is. This experience motivated Sam to attend law school to help other working families.

During law school, Sam was recruited by the Greenlining Institute, a prominent civil rights advocacy organization that fights redlining, the illegal practice of keeping wealth out of diverse communities. After law school, Sam became a consumer protection attorney at Greenlining, winning several cases that prevented billions of dollars in utility and insurance rate hikes. Currently, Sam leads Greenlining's legal team as its general counsel, and organizes Greenlining's statewide coalition of community organizations, churches and business leaders. Some of his biggest accomplishments include writing and successfully passing legislation promoting opportunities for small businesses, fighting cuts to higher education, and defending laws that protect the health and environment of underserved communities. Sam's also led several innovative campaigns at both the state and national levels. In 2011, Sam led a national campaign to successfully block the biggest telecom merger in U.S. history. In 2012, Sam successfully led the effort to make California the first state to offer utility bills in Spanish and Chinese. He has testified before Congress and regularly gives testimony before California's state legislature to defend the rights of working families.

Due to his community leadership, Sam has been appointed to various boards and commissions at the county, regional, and state levels. He currently serves on the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)'s Civil Rights and Environmental Justice Committee. In 2012, Sam was appointed by California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones to serve on the State Insurance Diversity Task Force. He previously served on the Alameda County Parks, Recreation and Historical Commission. Outside of Greenlining and government service, Sam serves on the board of AnewAmerica Community Corporation which trains immigrant entrepreneurs on how to start sustainable and socially responsible small businesses. Due to his work in the community, Sam has been recognized as one of the top, young Korean American leaders in the country by the Network of Korean American Leaders. He is also an alum of the New American Leaders Project which seeks to train immigrant leaders for elected office.

Prior to law school, Sam was a Coro Fellow in Public Affairs in New York City and helped provide disaster relief after the 9/11 attacks. He also worked at the United Nations to facilitate delivery of humanitarian assistance in the Middle East, started the first Individual Development Accounts program in Harlem, New York, and registered newly naturalized voters for the Asian American Legal Defense & Education Fund.

When Sam is not on the campaign trail, you might see him running along the beautiful San Francisco Bay Trail near the Berkeley Marina. He spends his precious free evenings watching movies with his wife and partner, Akiko.