This article by Joyce Kang is part of a yearlong youth journalism cohort between The LA Local and the Koreatown Storytelling Program.
Mental health isn't something the Korean community discusses openly. Rates of suicide are high in the Korean American community, and asking for help still carries a lot of shame. Joyce’s piece follows Soh Yun Park, who started a mental health warmline last year with her husband to give the Korean-speaking community a place to call during difficult or challenging times. Joyce’s article was published in the LA Local on July 13, 2026.