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Getting Koreans to register to vote is sometimes an uphill battle according to John Park, particularly if they are naturalized citizens like him. Park says there is a fear of getting involved and sometimes uncertainty about the process. He's trying to change that by educating people about the power of voting.

"The voter registration is the only way we can raise our voice and make our voice strong," says Park.

Park has spent 15 years spreading that message in local Korean churches. When he first started, no Asian-American had ever been elected to public office in the city. Today there are four -- three on the city level, and one on the state level. However, none of them is Korean.

"It's time for a Korean but not enough votes. Voting time we ask people to get out to vote, whoever you vote for, you have to participate," urges Park.

Park says right now he doesn't have the desire to run for office. But he's hoping that one day a Korean will be elected.

"We have a lot of good young potential candidates so it's a matter of time," says Park.

Park moved to the U.S. in 1980 to go to college. A little more than 10 years later he caught the political action bug when he attended President Bill Clinton's inauguration.

"It was so exciting. I saw America. I saw politics," recalls Park.

Enthusiasm toward the process led Park and a friend to start the Korean American Political Empowerment Committee in 1995 with the focus of registering people to vote. Today there are dozens of members who also work on political campaigns. On average, they get about 1,000 people to sign up every year. And even though his group works closely with borough Democrats, Park says he in no way tries to influence people to register for a particular party.

"They keep asking 'Which party is better?' But you think what is better for us. If you don't vote, your voice will always be silent," says Park.