Hello, Everyone!

Dallas, Texas' Koreatown has received an official state designation after years of advocacy by Charles Park, an 86-year-old advocate for the Korean American community.

Governor Greg Abbott signed a resolution granting a 10-year statewide designation for Dallas Koreatown and allowing for signage on the highway and cultural arts designations. While Park sees this as a dream fulfilled, he acknowledges that there is more work to be done. Efforts will now focus on working with city officials and the Texas Department of Transportation for highway signage.

The designation signifies the resilience of Korean Americans in North Texas who have faced challenges and tragic incidents in recent times. Despite setbacks, the community remains determined to rebuild and prosper.

• Yerin Kim, an editor at PopSugar best known for her cover story about Olympian Suni Lee, has ventured into the world of BTS fandom with her new book "I Love BTS." The guided journal serves as a creative outlet for fans to express their love and obsession for the South Korean boy band, featuring trivia questions and a scrapbook section. Released last week, it reached no. 1 on Amazon’s journal writing chart. 

• Vietnamese Americans have the highest share of Republican or Republican-leaning registered voters among the five largest Asian origin groups in the United States, with about half identifying as such, according to a Pew Research Center survey. Overall, 62% of Asian American registered voters identify as Democrats or lean towards the Democratic Party, while 34% align with the Republicans. The survey also revealed that younger Asian voters are more likely to tilt Democratic, women tend to be more Democratic than men, and Asian voters born in the U.S. are more likely to affiliate with the Democratic Party compared to foreign-born Asian voters. The majority of Asian American eligible voters reside in California, followed by New York, Texas, Hawaii, and New Jersey.

• Chinese archaeologists have made a chilling discovery of an underground bunker in Anda, China believed to have been used by Japanese scientists of Unit 731 for conducting inhumane experiments on humans during World War II. The Heilongjiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology conducted extensive research on the site since 2019, leading to the unearthing of tunnels and chambers. The bunker offers potential evidence of war crimes against the Chinese.

• Netflix unveiled the official trailer for its upcoming Korean drama series "Bloodhounds," featuring popular actors Woo Do-hwan and Lee Sang-yi. Directed by Jason Kim, known for his work on "Midnight Runners" and "The Divine Fury," the eight-episode show revolves around two boxers who unwittingly get entangled with predatory loan sharks targeting the financially vulnerable. Together with a retired moneylender played by Huh Joon-ho, they join forces to dismantle the operations of the ruthless loan shark portrayed by Park Sung-woong, known for his roles in "New World" and "The Deal."

• The official soundtrack for the highly anticipated Greta Gerwig-directed film "Barbie," titled "Barbie the Album," has been unveiled, featuring a star-studded lineup of artists including K-pop girl group FIFTY FIFTY. 
   
• Indian Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra is now the no. 1 javelin thrower in the world. 
   
• Adeline Rudolph, known for her role in Netflix's “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina,” has joined Tati Gabrielle in “Mortal Kombat 2” where she will portray the iconic character Kitana.
   
• Oscar-winner Chloé Zhao directed the live-action trailer for the upcoming “Diablo IV” video game. 
   
• McDonald’s is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its chicken nuggets by launching a gaming device shaped like the iconic McNugget.