The Zweig List reports on the December 11, 2025 groundbreaking ceremony for the transformation of the Young Korean Academy into a multiuse cultural center. Located on South Catalina Street in the Expo Park neighborhood, the property dates to 1910 and served as the headquarters of the Young Korean Academy, also known as Hung Sa Dahn, from 1929 to 1948. It was founded in 1913 by Korean independence activist Dosan Ahn Chang Ho and designated Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 1274 in 2023. The project is led by Korea's Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs with Heritage Smart Consulting Group as project leader, Page & Turnbull as architect and preservation lead, and Landmark PM as the local construction manager.
The article details Page & Turnbull's preservation approach, which protects the building's historic interior and exterior attributes while introducing new outdoor spaces with traditional Korean plants, a water feature, and gathering areas. A new interior space is dedicated to personal reflection and educational exhibits on the Korean American experience. Accessibility improvements include a two-sided, ground-level elevator connecting the annex and main buildings. An existing garage is being converted to a catering kitchen, the annex building reconfigured with a multipurpose room and office suite, and a new "Wall of Remembrance – Wall of Us" added at the campus perimeter to mark significant dates in the history of founder Ahn Chang Ho. The groundbreaking drew a delegation of descendants, Korean dignitaries, California State Senator Steven Choi, Consul General Kim Young-wan, and Los Angeles City Councilmember John Lee.