The Korean community of Fairfax County has one resounding question for Virginia's leaders: Will the Virginia Tech shootings reflect badly on Koreans as a group?

Governor Tim Kaine did his best to allay those fears in a town hall meeting called on short notice in Annandale, along with the ambassador of the Republic of Korea, Tae Sik Lee. Lee also met with members of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors last week.

"Will there be a backlash?" several community members stood to ask the governor. "Will this damage the relationship between Korea and the United States?"

Because they believe people are responsible for caring for each other, local Koreans feel much personal shame and sorrow because a Korean murdered people, according to Young Chan Ro, Department Chair of Religious Studies at George Mason University.

Some have also expressed fear that their community would experience a backlash similar to what Muslim-Americans encountered after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

"I can only reassure you that this will not, in any way, tarnish or fray the relationship," Kaine answered. "No one views you as culpable in the least degree."

Speaking in grave tones, Lee said that the reaction to the Virginia Tech shootings morphed from "shock, dismay and disbelief" to "sorrow and anguish" upon the news that the responsible person, Seung-Hui Cho, was Korean. [Link]