Drive for Rebuilding Aid Bridges 2 Cultures : Activism: A Chinese-American and a Korean-American unite to circulate a petition calling for government assistance. They say areas must develop economically or looting may return.

One is Chinese-American, exasperated by delays in government aid since the riots destroyed his small Los Angeles shopping center. The other is Korean-American, concerned for his safety even if he rebuilds his Compton grocery store.

Joseph T. Kung and Jin H. Lee probably never would have met, if not for the riots. But Sunday they stood side by side seeking signatures on a petition calling for better government programs to aid riot victims.

Separated by more than two decades in age and different cultures, the pair now share a friendship based on a newfound activism. “Come and sign up,” Lee, 27, the Korean-American, called out like a circus barker to hundreds of Oriental Mission Church parishioners on Western Avenue.

“Take extras, get your friends, your American neighbors to sign,” said Kung, 48, the Chinese-American, stuffing copies into the hands of anyone who would take them.

Earlier this month, the two launched the Coalition of Asian-American Los Angeles Riot Victims Assn. The group represents the estimated 3,000 Korean-American businesses, 300 Chinese-American, 148 Cambodian-American and 125 Vietnamese-American as well as Indian, Pakistani and Iranian merchants whose businesses were destroyed or severely damaged in the riots. Combined, the members employed close to 100,000 in Los Angeles, Lee said.

Dissatisfied with government help since the riots, members hope to collect 500,000 names on their petition by the end of the month. They are unhappy not only with financial aid programs, but the lack of social programs to prevent future unrest.

“Unless we have a guarantee social programs are going to change, how can we go back?” Kung asked. “Unemployment in some distressed areas is 50%. Unless people get jobs, how are we going to get them not to loot? I have done surveys of victims. One said to me: ‘How do I have the guts to rebuild?’ ”

“The most important thing is safety,” Lee said. “Why go and get killed?”

The petition calls for programs addressing social and economic needs for “all disadvantaged ethnic groups,” as well as “equal and fair compensation” for business victims.

Lee, whose family lost a total of six businesses, added: “All these programs so-called for victims, they don’t fit us.”

“We need to do some arm-twisting,” said Kung, a real estate developer who lost a six-store shopping center at Pico Boulevard and La Brea Avenue.

Kung realized soon after the unrest that riot victims would have to band together, and he broached the idea of a coalition to Lee. Their group is separate from the Asian Pacific Americans for a New L.A. formed last week to unify Asian efforts to influence political decisions.

If more aid is not forthcoming, Kung said, “most of the retail owners are ready to walk away from the ruined commercial properties, to move out of the area to safer and non-discriminatory communities.”