Leaders within the Korean community in Metro Detroit gathered tonight to convey condolences to the victims of the Virginia Tech shooting.

"We are thinking about the victims at this difficulttime and sending our heartfelt prayers to their families," said Byung Joon Kim, chairman of the Korean-American Community of Metro Detroit. "May God provide comfort for them...."

Earlier this week, authorities identified the shooter in the Monday massacre as 23-year-old Cho Seung-Hui, an English major at the university who immigrated to the United States in 1992 with his family at age 8.

Koreans throughout the country were shaken by the news of his identity, some fearing a possible backlash.

Southfield Mayor Brenda L. Lawrence attended the gathering to show support for the Korean community.

"Sometimes things go wrong with people, but it does not represent an entire ethnic group or race," she said.

Attendees swapped ideas on how best to handle any fallout in the coming days. One attendee encouraged the group to accept media interviews to show the public that Koreans are mourning with the rest of the country.

"Koreans have culture and are civilized citizens," said Soon B. Hong, a certified public accountant from Southfield. "We need to show (American) society that."

Bloomfield Hills physician Chae Chang-soo said Cho does not represent Koreans.

"The way we need to understand this is, a man with a serious mental disorder did this, not that a Korean man did this," he said. [Link]