Paull Shin
Encyclopedia
Paull Shin (1935 - ) is a Korean American
member of the Washington State Senate
, the first Korean American ever elected to the Washington State Legislature. He is a member of the Democratic Party
, elected from the 21st Legislative District, in southwest Snohomish County. Edmonds
, Mukilteo
, Lynnwood
and portions of Everett
and Mountlake Terrace, Washington
are the communities that encompass the 21st. Senator Shin currently serves on the Senate committees for Higher Education, Agriculture & Rural Economic Development, Economic Development, Trade & Innovation, and chairs the International Relations subcommittee.
Shin was born in Korea
in 1935. Orphaned at the age of four, he lived on the streets of Seoul
begging for food until the outbreak of the Korean War
in 1950, at which point he became a houseboy to a group of U.S. Army officers. In 1954, one of them, a dentist named Ray Paull, adopted Shin and took him home to Salt Lake City, Utah
. Despite never having been educated in Korea, and knowing little English, Shin completed a GED
in 18 months. Shin went on to earn a BA in political science from Brigham Young University
, an MPIA from the University of Pittsburgh
, and an MA and PhD from the University of Washington
.
After being elected to the Washington State House of Representatives in 1992, Shin ran for the United States House of Representatives
in Washington's 2nd district in 1994 and for Washington lieutenant governor in 1996, losing by a thin margin in each race. He was elected to the Washington State Senate in 1998.
He and his wife Donna have two children and five grandsons. Paull's sister in-law has a son that named their youngest little girl after Donna.
Korean American
Korean Americans are Americans of Korean descent, mostly from South Korea, with a small minority from North Korea...
member of the Washington State Senate
Washington State Legislature
The Washington State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Washington. It is a bipartisan, bicameral body, composed of the lower Washington House of Representatives, composed of 98 Representatives, and the upper Washington State Senate, with 49 Senators.The State Legislature...
, the first Korean American ever elected to the Washington State Legislature. He is a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, elected from the 21st Legislative District, in southwest Snohomish County. Edmonds
Edmonds, Washington
Edmonds is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Edmonds has a view of Puget Sound and both the Olympic Mountains and Cascade Range. The third most populous city in Snohomish County after Everett and Marysville, the population was 39,709 according to the 2010 census...
, Mukilteo
Mukilteo, Washington
Mukilteo , which means "good camping ground", is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. The population was 20,254 at the 2010 census. It is on the shore of the Puget Sound, and is the site of a Washington State Ferries terminal linking it to Clinton, on Whidbey Island.Mukilteo is...
, Lynnwood
Lynnwood, Washington
Lynnwood is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. The population was 35,836 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest in Snohomish County and twenty-ninth largest in Washington State. The city is a mix of urban, suburban, small city, crossroads and bedroom community to many...
and portions of Everett
Everett, Washington
Everett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 103,019 at the 2010 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...
and Mountlake Terrace, Washington
Mountlake Terrace, Washington
Mountlake Terrace is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. It lies east of Edmonds, Washington, south of Lynnwood, Washington, and west of Brier, Washington. Its southern boundary runs along the King County line. Interstate 5 runs north-south through the city, and services the city...
are the communities that encompass the 21st. Senator Shin currently serves on the Senate committees for Higher Education, Agriculture & Rural Economic Development, Economic Development, Trade & Innovation, and chairs the International Relations subcommittee.
Shin was born in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
in 1935. Orphaned at the age of four, he lived on the streets of Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
begging for food until the outbreak of the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
in 1950, at which point he became a houseboy to a group of U.S. Army officers. In 1954, one of them, a dentist named Ray Paull, adopted Shin and took him home to Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
. Despite never having been educated in Korea, and knowing little English, Shin completed a GED
GED
General Educational Development tests are a group of five subject tests which, when passed, certify that the taker has American or Canadian high school-level academic skills...
in 18 months. Shin went on to earn a BA in political science from Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
, an MPIA from the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
, and an MA and PhD from the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
.
After being elected to the Washington State House of Representatives in 1992, Shin ran for the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in Washington's 2nd district in 1994 and for Washington lieutenant governor in 1996, losing by a thin margin in each race. He was elected to the Washington State Senate in 1998.
He and his wife Donna have two children and five grandsons. Paull's sister in-law has a son that named their youngest little girl after Donna.
External links and references
- Senator Shin's speech to 1999 KAAN Conference
- Official State Legislature website
- http://www.dil.aber.ac.uk/dils/Research/RFocus9/html_a_k.htm
- http://nwlink.com/~scpnwan/articles/06-20-98/shin.html