My mom was born in Korea - Seoul, Korea, during the '50s, '51. She was abandoned; her and my uncle were abandoned. My grandfather was a Seabee and adopted my mom and my uncle, and brought them to Compton in the '50s. That's where she was raised.
My wife was born in Korea, and we met in music college; she was there for vocal, and I was there for drums.
People ask where I'm from, and I say 'Los Angeles.' Then they ask again. 'Well, my parents are from Korea.'
I feel like I have this unique opportunity to represent both Korea and the U.S.
I'm proud of my Korean heritage, but I want people to know I'm American. It's not important to be the Korean Taylor Swift.
I feel like I have this different opportunity that not a lot of athletes may have. It's the fact that I'm Korean-American, and the Olympics are going to be in Korea, but I'm also riding for the States. I feel like I got really lucky that it got all pieced together - my first Olympics, being in Korea where most of my family is.
I'm so used to America, used to the traffic in L.A., and I don't really feel it click with the Korean culture. But obviously, I have a Korean face, and I feel like that's just - you know, I can't walk around people like I'm, like, straight-up American. It's like, I'm Korean American. My parents are from Korea.
I feel like I can represent both countries, in a way, because I have a Korea face, but I was born and raised in the States.
It's super cool - I have this link to Korea, and with the Olympics, I have this opportunity to represent the U.S., Korea, and my family.
I have two aunts and three cousins in Korea as well.
