Young Kim

Young Kim
Born	Choe Young-oak 18 10, 1962
Birthplace	Incheon, South Korea
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, businesswoman
Known for	One of the first Korean-American women elected to the United States Congress
Education	University of Southern California (BBA)
Children	4
Website	[youngkim.house.gov Official site]

Young Oak Kim (née Choe; Template:Lang-ko; born October 18, 1962) is a South Korean-born American politician and businesswoman serving as the U.S. Representative for California's 40th congressional district, having previously represented California's 39th congressional district from 2021 to 2023. A member of the Republican Party, Kim made history in the 2020 elections when she, Michelle Steel, and Marilyn Strickland became the first Korean-American women elected to the United States Congress. Before her congressional career, Kim served as a member of the California State Assembly representing the 65th district from 2014 to 2016, becoming the first South Korean-born Republican woman elected to the California State Legislature. Her district encompasses northern portions of Orange County, an area with a significant Korean-American population. Kim's political career has been characterized by closely contested elections, including a 2018 loss to Democrat Gil Cisneros in the 39th congressional district race followed by a successful rematch in 2020.

Early Life

Young Oak Kim was born on October 18, 1962, in Incheon, South Korea, as Choe Young-oak. She immigrated to the United States, eventually settling in Orange County, California, a region that has long been home to one of the largest Korean-American communities in the country. Kim's path from South Korean immigrant to American politician has been described as a journey two decades in the making, shaped by her experiences as an immigrant navigating life in the United States and her engagement with the political process through community involvement and public service.

Kim established herself in the Orange County area, where she built a career in business and became involved in local Republican politics. Her background as an immigrant and businesswoman informed her political perspectives and would later become central themes in her campaigns for public office. She worked for over two decades in various capacities, including serving as a community liaison and staffer for longtime Republican Congressman Ed Royce, who represented portions of Orange County and the Inland Empire in the U.S. House of Representatives. This role provided Kim with extensive experience in constituent services and federal policy, laying the groundwork for her own political campaigns.

Education

Kim attended the University of Southern California (USC), where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree. Her education at USC, one of the prominent private research universities in Los Angeles, provided her with a foundation in business that she would apply to her career as a businesswoman before entering politics.

Career

California State Assembly (2014–2016)

In 2014, Young Kim ran for the California State Assembly in the 65th district, challenging incumbent Democrat Sharon Quirk-Silva. The race drew attention as one of the competitive Assembly contests in Orange County. Kim campaigned on issues including fiscal conservatism and education policy. During the campaign, the candidates clashed over social issues, including California's transgender student law, which became a point of contention between the two candidates.

Kim won the 2014 election, defeating the incumbent Quirk-Silva and making history as the first South Korean-born Republican woman elected to the California State Legislature. She took the oath of office at California State University, Fullerton in December 2014. During her time in the Assembly, Kim served from December 1, 2014, to November 30, 2016.

In 2016, Kim faced a rematch with Quirk-Silva for the 65th Assembly district seat. This time, Quirk-Silva prevailed, and Kim conceded the race. Kim's tenure in the Assembly, though brief at two years, established her profile as a Republican officeholder in Orange County and positioned her for future political campaigns at the federal level.

2018 Congressional Campaign

Following the retirement announcement of long-serving Republican Congressman Ed Royce, for whom Kim had previously worked, the race for California's 39th congressional district became one of the most closely watched contests of the 2018 midterm elections. Kim entered the race as one of several candidates seeking to succeed Royce in the diverse, suburban district that encompassed parts of Orange County, Los Angeles County, and San Bernardino County.

Kim's candidacy drew national attention as she sought to become the first Korean-American woman elected to Congress. NBC News described her congressional campaign as "two decades in the making," tracing her political involvement back through her years of community engagement and work with Congressman Royce. ABC News also highlighted the historic nature of her candidacy, noting her aim to become the first Korean-American woman in Congress.

The 39th district race was characterized by media outlets as one of the most interesting midterm contests of 2018. The Weekly Standard profiled the matchup between Kim and Democratic nominee Gil Cisneros, a Navy veteran and Mega Millions lottery winner who had used his fortune to fund philanthropic and political activities. The race was also noted for featuring two minority candidates in a highly diverse district, with Kim being Korean-American and Cisneros being Latino.

The Los Angeles Times reported on the key issues in the race, which included healthcare, immigration, and tax policy, in a district that had historically leaned Republican but was trending toward Democrats.

On election night in November 2018, Kim initially led in the vote count, and ABC7 reported on the early returns showing a competitive race. However, as mail-in and provisional ballots were tallied in the days and weeks following the election, Cisneros gradually overtook Kim's lead. Kim ultimately conceded the race to Cisneros, and the 39th district flipped from Republican to Democratic control. The concession was part of a broader wave in which all seven Orange County congressional seats were won by Democrats.

2020 Congressional Campaign and Election

After her narrow 2018 defeat, Kim prepared for a rematch against Cisneros in 2020. The New York Times profiled Kim in October 2019, noting that she remained a prominent figure in Orange County Republican politics and was determined to reclaim the seat.

The 2020 race between Kim and Cisneros was closely watched by national political analysts. FiveThirtyEight included the 39th district race in its 2020 election forecasts as one of the competitive House races that could determine control of the chamber.

Kim defeated Cisneros in the November 2020 general election, flipping the 39th district back to Republican control. The results were certified by the California Secretary of State. Kim's victory was part of a broader Republican resurgence in Orange County; along with Michelle Steel and David Valadao, Kim was among the first three Republican candidates to unseat an incumbent House Democrat in California since 1994.

Kim's election, together with that of Steel (who won in California's 48th congressional district) and Marilyn Strickland (a Democrat elected in Washington's 10th congressional district), marked a historic milestone as the three became the first Korean-American women elected to Congress.

U.S. House of Representatives

Kim began her service in the U.S. House of Representatives on January 3, 2021, succeeding Gil Cisneros as the representative for California's 39th congressional district. Following the redistricting process after the 2020 census, Kim's district was renumbered as California's 40th congressional district beginning with the 2022 elections, and she has continued to represent the redrawn district, which encompasses northern portions of Orange County.

In Congress, Kim has taken on roles related to foreign affairs, with a particular focus on the Asia-Pacific region. She has served as the Chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific, a position that reflects both her personal background and the interests of her diverse constituency. In November 2025, she delivered opening remarks at a subcommittee hearing examining the crisis in Burma and U.S. policy options in the region.

Kim has been active on issues related to U.S.-China relations. In January 2026, she co-led the introduction of the DOMINANCE Act alongside Democratic Representative Ami Bera, aiming to address China's influence over critical energy supply chains. The bipartisan legislation reflected Kim's work on the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee in confronting geopolitical challenges in East Asia.

On fiscal matters, Kim has advocated for government accountability and oversight of federal spending. In January 2026, she sent a letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom demanding answers regarding $1.3 billion in alleged Medicaid fraud, calling for the state to repay the funds to federal taxpayers. She also voted in favor of a Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations package, citing its provisions for national security funding and benefits for her district.

Kim has engaged in bipartisan efforts on economic development and healthcare issues. In October 2025, she and Senator Mike Crapo led a bicameral letter signed by over 100 Republicans urging the Treasury Department to support the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund), which provides financial services to underserved communities. In September 2025, she helped introduce the Bipartisan Premium Tax Credit Extension Act, legislation aimed at preventing increases in health care premiums for Californians.

During a government shutdown in November 2025, Kim voted for legislation to reopen the government, releasing a statement attributing the shutdown to Democratic opposition. That same month, she voted to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein, stating that "the American people deserve full" transparency on the matter.

Personal Life

Young Kim resides in Orange County, California. She has four children. Kim immigrated to the United States from South Korea and became a naturalized American citizen. Before entering politics, she worked as a businesswoman in the Orange County area and served in various community roles. She also worked for over two decades as a staffer for Congressman Ed Royce, gaining experience in federal government and constituent services that informed her later political career.

Recognition

Kim's 2020 election to Congress was recognized as a historic achievement. Along with Michelle Steel and Marilyn Strickland, Kim became one of the first three Korean-American women to serve in the United States Congress, a milestone covered by the Los Angeles Times and other national media outlets. Her 2014 election to the California State Assembly was also noted as a first, as she was the first South Korean-born Republican woman to serve in the California State Legislature.

Kim's congressional campaigns received extensive national media coverage. NBC News, ABC News, The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and other outlets profiled her candidacy, focusing on the historic nature of her campaigns and the competitive dynamics of Orange County politics. Her 2018 race against Gil Cisneros was described by The Weekly Standard as one of the most interesting midterm races of that cycle.

Her 2020 victory, along with those of Steel and Valadao, was notable as part of the first successful Republican effort to unseat incumbent House Democrats in California since 1994, representing a significant shift in the political landscape of a state that had been trending Democratic.

Legacy

Young Kim's political career has been significant in the context of Asian-American political representation in the United States. As one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress, her election in 2020 expanded the representation of Korean Americans and Asian Americans more broadly in the federal legislature. Her career trajectory—from South Korean immigrant to state legislator to congresswoman—has been cited in coverage of the growing political engagement of Korean Americans in the United States.

Kim's electoral record in Orange County reflects the evolving political dynamics of the region, which shifted from a long-standing Republican stronghold to a competitive battleground in the late 2010s before seeing Republican gains in 2020. Her back-and-forth contests with Sharon Quirk-Silva in the 65th Assembly district and with Gil Cisneros in the 39th congressional district illustrate the closely divided nature of suburban Orange County politics during this period.

As Chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific, Kim has positioned herself as a congressional voice on U.S. policy in the Asia-Pacific region, addressing issues ranging from the crisis in Burma to U.S.-China competition over critical resources. Her legislative work has combined Republican priorities on fiscal responsibility and national security with bipartisan efforts on healthcare and community development.