LOS ANGELES (CNS) — Hung Sa Dahn, the headquarters of a civic organization that was the local site of the protest movement for Korea’s independence from Japan, was named as a Historic-Cultural Monument Tuesday by the Los Angeles City Council.

Constructed in 1910, the South Los Angeles property on South Catalina Street served as a key social and cultural hub for a group dedicated to promoting Korean independence and Korean culture in America. It was established by Ahn Chang-ho, who relocated Hung Sa Dahn (the Young Korean Academy) to Los Angeles from San Francisco.

The Korean government purchased the building on Jan. 31 after fears that the property would be subject to demolition for redevelopment by its previous owners. A local developer had purchased the property in 2020, but preservation groups fought to have it nominated as a Historic-Cultural Monument in 2021 — which temporarily halted demolition.

Councilman John Lee said the building taught early Korean immigrants how to advocate for themselves and become politically active.

“The Korean community has long thought of this as a Historic-Cultural Monument,” Lee said.