Chetoff

BACKGROUND

Love Korean Church is a non-profit religious organization affiliated with the Korean Presbyterian denomination. The Church was originally established in the 1980s to meet the spiritual needs of the growing Korean-American community in the Los Angeles area. The Church views religious music as a form of worship and an integral component of its ritual cele- brations.

Since 1994, the Church has benefitted from the work of Dae Song Park, a native and citizen of the Republic of Korea. Park was originally admitted to the United States as a tempo- rary visitor in January 1994. Shortly after his arrival, he became a member of the Church and began serving as its choir director on a volunteer basis. In 1995, Park successfully adjusted his immigration status to that of a full-time student, so that he could attend English language courses at a local school. In January 1997, Park transferred to California Union University, where he enrolled in music classes and began pur- suing a Master’s degree in music. Throughout this time and until September 1998, Park continued serving as the Church’s volunteer choir director. In October of 1998, when Park’s application for adjustment of…