Jisoo Yoo
Jisoo is a student at Rise Kohyang High School. Born in Seoul and raised in Koreatown since the age of 2, she considers the neighborhood her home. Through her internship at KYCC, she’s learned about the impact of opioids and stimulants on her community. Witnessing the normalization of drug use among local youth has motivated her to raise awareness and advocate for education around substance misuse and recovery. Jisoo hopes to continue helping her community by combining social work and outreach to promote a safer, more informed Koreatown.
The Silent Struggle in Our Community
Interview by Siyeon Kim
Please start with your name, age, and where you go to school.
My name is Jisoo. I am 16 years old and attend Rise Kohyang High School in downtown Los Angeles.
What’s it like at Rise Kohyang High School?
It's very small because it's a charter school. But I feel like that allows the teachers to be more connected with the students.
Where is your hometown?
My hometown is Koreatown, Los Angeles.
Do you still live in Koreatown?
Yes, I've been living here since I was 2 years old.
That's nice. Where were you living before you moved to Koreatown?
I was born in Seoul, South Korea, but then we immigrated [to the United States].
Do you also work in Koreatown? If so, what kind of work do you do?
I do not work but am doing an internship at KYCC in Koreatown.
What’s the internship like?
I like it a lot. I have learned a lot in the short time I've been [working there].
Can you give us an example of what kind of things you learned from the internship?
Well, I learned about substance abuse, specifically opioids and stimulants.
Can you share some facts that you've learned about opioids and stimulants?
I'm not an expert, but I do know that opioids and stimulants are very active in the Los Angeles community, so they affect a lot of us, both students and adults.
What are your thoughts on Koreatown?
I consider this place my home. I've lived here for a long time, and a lot of my friends also live here.
Do you have a significant memory of Koreatown?
I guess just hanging out with my childhood friends and eating Korean food.
What are your favorite Korean foods to eat in Koreatown?
I really like kimchi fried rice!
What is your favorite place in Koreatown?
It's this park in front of Los Angeles High School. It's dangerous now, but a long time ago, I used to play there, and it's where I met one of my childhood best friends.
What makes that park dangerous now?
Well, I would say the community at Los Angeles High School — a lot of the students are actually involved in drug use. Some people even got stabbed there, so now the area is dangerous.
Why did you join KARS?
I joined KARS because I was interested in social work. I was previously [part of] another KYCC group dedicated to mental health.
Can you explain more about the group you were in and what kind of work you did?
Well, it was really similar to what we're doing now in KARS. We just learned about some mental health topics, and we focused on spreading awareness to the teen community here in Los Angeles.
You were part of another KYCC group, where you guys focused on mental health and spreading awareness, right? What made you switch from mental health to drug misuse in terms of spreading awareness and social work?
I was introduced to the group at an annual event held by KYCC, and I found myself interested in this. I feel like there is a high amount of drug use in Los Angeles, and it affects every single one of us. We see people being affected by it every single day. I just feel pulled toward this direction.
Can you explain how you were affected by substance use in your community?
Some of my friends are involved with it. It really hurts me because it's so damaging. It’s so normalized in my school.
How does the normalization of drug use affect your school environment and community?
Well, there's a lot of marijuana use. It’s just so active [in my community], and people don't really understand the dangers of it.
Do you feel like people are using drugs without knowing what they do to [their bodies]? How do you plan on trying to better your community by doing the KARS program?
Yes. I think going to outreach events and educating ourselves on drug use and using the knowledge to educate others in our community will be really helpful because it'll help them understand the dangers of drugs.
What are some of the dangers that you think caused the most damage to your community?
Well, there are a lot of overdoses, specifically among high schoolers. I think that's very concerning. Also, I would say I believe homelessness is also somehow connected because a lot of the homeless population experiences drug misuse — a lot of fentanyl and other things.
Why do you think that homelessness and drug misuse are connected?
I feel like those two overlap. I would say homeless people are more exposed to drugs since it's very easy to [access] things like stimulants and opioids in Los Angeles.
How do you feel about people who have become homeless due to drug misuse?
Well, I do believe that some people have become homeless because of drug misuse, but I do not think that's the main reason. The main issue is the normalization of drugs and the stigma of people [seeking] recovery from substance misuse.
Do you think you'll be able to introduce resources to your peers and those in your community who are suffering from addiction?
Yes, through knowledge, education, and support, I can make a difference along with my peers.