Do you remember the Rooftop Koreans?
Here’s a look at who they were, why they took to the rooftops, and how they defended the communities!
Quick Summary
- Korean American business owners and residents defended Koreatown during the 1992 Los Angeles Riots.
- With the Gakjadosaeng mindset, mandatory military service, and strong community combined, you get rooftop Koreans.
- Koreans took positions on top of buildings for visibility and tactical advantage to protect themselves.
The Birth of the Rooftop Koreans
Rooftop Koreans refer to the armed Korean American store owners and workers who defended Koreatown during the LA riots from April 29 to May 4, 1992.
In the midst of social unrest following the Rodney King verdict, law enforcement largely pulled back, leaving many areas, especially Koreatown, unprotected.
With police, fire departments, and emergency services failing to respond effectively, Korean immigrants had to organize into self-defense groups.
Some took to their rooftops with firearms to protect their businesses, families, and communities.
That’s how the iconic image of the Rooftop Koreans was born.
Koreans had to find their own paths to survival. It’s built into the culture or it wouldn’t exist. Gakjadosaeng is such a strong force that it reached the other side of the world. The “rooftop Koreans” were business owners and residents who armed themselves to defend Koreatown during the 1992 Los Angeles riots.
In my book, “A Korean Girl Explains“
Why Were Koreans Targeted?
It’s not a coincidence that Koreans were targeted.
According to LAist, “Tensions between blacks and Koreans in L.A. were high by the 90s. But Latasha Harlins’ death in 1991 assured that Koreans would be targeted when the time came.”
So, by the second day of the 1992 riots, violence began spreading north to Koreatown.
As the riots expanded, Korean businesses became vulnerable, and about $350 million in damage was done to 1,000-2,000 businesses.
The LA Times article has quoted a Korean American marcher, “We felt we were abandoned. The most humiliating thing was to see the police just standing there as businesses were burning. I knew there was a buildup (of tension). They should have known.”
How Did It Work?
The idea of calling employees back to help defend a workplace might sound strange to many Americans, but not so much in Korean culture back then.
One iconic anecdote involves David Joo, who rushed to defend his boss’s jewelry/gun store after hours.
For Koreans, a workplace is related to our survival. It’s also our community.
So, it was about defending the livelihood, more than saving merchandise.
Another note is that most of the Korean men have military experience.
In 1992, some were veterans of the Korean War or even Vietnam, in their 40s to 60s.
The ROK Marine Corps Veterans Association also helped form organized patrols, which operated like makeshift militias, while monitoring neighborhoods and responding to calls for help.
Local Korean radio station Radio Korea also served as their base of communications, directing volunteers to places in need of help.
Why Did They Take to the Rooftops?
Roof Koreans used everything from shotguns to pistols, taking up rooftop positions not just for visibility, but for tactical advantage.
Rooftops gave them both a clear line of sight and a defensive barrier.
One of the most iconic images is the shop owners in front of the Gaju Market (California Market), armed and actively firing back to defend their store.
Roof Koreans Are More Than a Meme
Rooftop Koreans have become a symbol of self-reliance and courage.
Despite the memes online, the reality was far from fun. Bullets flew. Real lives were at stake.
Roof Koreans weren’t vigilantes looking for a fight. They were people abandoned by the system, defending everything they had.
This moment forged a deepened identity for Korean Americans.
The story of the Rooftop Koreans is about what people will do when no one else comes to help.
It’s about courage, community, and the powerful bond between immigrants fighting for a piece of the American dream.
