Cheyenne Kim
Cheyenne is currently a junior at New Covenant Academy. She is the student council secretary and co-runs the school newspaper with her friend, Jadyn, who is also a participant in the Koreatown Storytelling Program. A journalism elective sparked Cheyenne’s interest in journalism during the summer of her sophomore year. She has lived in Koreatown for most of her life and hopes to learn more about it through KSP. She also loves art and tries to paint as much as possible.
Everybody Knows Each Other
Interview by Abigail Eun and Rebecca Louie
What has been the most challenging part of the COVID-19 experience?
The most challenging part is wearing a mask outside. That, and not being able to go into dressing rooms and [try on] clothes before buying them, is a hassle. I also like putting on lip products, but it’s covered if I put a mask on.
A lot of people would say that the most challenging part of the COVID-19 experience is not being able to meet people, but since there are a lot of people in my family, I never miss human interaction. It’s always loud in my house. I have three younger siblings, and they’re all girls, so it’s super loud. We’re always fighting at the dinner table, and my parents are always like, ‘Why do you fight while eating dinner? Can’t you guys fight any other time? Why does it have to be at the dinner table?’ [Not having social interaction] is not a big deal [for me].
Where is your hometown? What links you to the community?
I’ll definitely say it’s Koreatown because I’ve been here almost all my life. But I did live in Japan for a year or two because of my mom. [She] wanted to spend some time in Japan, so I followed her there when I was pretty young. I remember it was really fun because Japan is pretty chill, you know. The neighborhood and the people there were very nice compared to people in L.A.
I live in the heart of Koreatown — right in the middle. I also go to high school at New Covenant Academy in Koreatown. Everything that I do is nearby, so that’s what links me to Koreatown. Everything that I do has been so intimate.
What are your thoughts on Koreatown?
I think Koreatown is really nice. It has a nice community, and if you live in Koreatown, you eventually get to know everybody in Koreatown — especially if you go to a public school. Everybody knows each other. I’m scared when I’m walking down the street because I might meet somebody I know that I haven’t talked to in a while, and then it’s just really awkward. But it happens all the time because everybody knows each other. It’s a very tight-knit community.
Where’s your favorite place in Koreatown?
My favorite place in Koreatown would be Gaju Market (California Market). There’s a bakery there called Dirigido. I really like bread, and I got a loaf of their bread, and it’s so fluffy.
