Queens Rep Linda Lee Becomes First Korean-American On NYC Council

QUEENS — Linda Lee is New York City's first Korean-American member of City Council, having been sworn in Monday at City Hall, according to a news release.

Lee will represent District 23, which includes Bayside Hills, Bellerose, Douglaston, Floral Park, Fresh Meadows, Glen Oaks, Hollis, Hollis Hills, Holliswood, Little Neck, New Hyde Park, Oakland Gardens, and Queens Village. She is the first woman and first Asian-American to hold the seat, the news release said.

Julie Won, the councilperson-elect for District 26 in Queens, is also Korean-American. She was beside Lee at Monday's swearing-in.

“I was incredibly humbled to stand today in the City Council Chambers and affirm in front of my family my commitment to serving our community to the best of my ability,” said Lee in the news release. “I can’t tell you how meaningful it was for my parents to see their lifetime of tireless work fulfilled beyond their wildest dreams, for my kids to see that there’s no limit to what they can achieve, and for my husband to see that the sacrifices he’s made for me have been worth it. But the reality is that this is only the beginning, and everything done until now has been the easy part. We have so much work ahead of us to finally defeat this pandemic, rebuild our city, and build a more equitable society for all our neighbors, and I can’t wait to get to work."

Lee was president and CEO of Korean Community Services before she was elected to City Council in November.