197606175-8-21-2025-28-AS-DSIS-DKWVDC-20250826162028

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 197606175
Report Date: 08/21/2025
Date Signed: 08/21/2025 10:17:01 AM

Unsubstantiated

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
GREATER LA AC/SC, 1000 CORPORATE CNTR DR. ST 500
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754

This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
02/16/2024 and conducted by Evaluator Tena Herrera

PUBLIC

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 28-AS-20240216083741

FACILITY NAME:	MUGUNGHWA SILVERTOWN		FACILITY NUMBER:	197606175
ADMINISTRATOR:	ESTHER HONG		FACILITY TYPE:	740
ADDRESS:	1423 S. MANHATTAN PLACE		TELEPHONE:	(323) 373-1980
CITY:	LOS ANGELES	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	90019
CAPACITY:	56	CENSUS: 42	DATE:	08/21/2025
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	09:40 AM
MET WITH:	Hyun Joo (Jessica) Watanabe - Administrator		TIME COMPLETED:	10:30 AM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Facility only admits residents based on race.

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Tena Herrera conducted an unannounced complaint visit to deliver findings on the above-mentioned allegation. LPA met with Licensee Eugene and Administrator Jessica and explained the reason for the visit.

The investigation consisted of:
On 2/22/24 LPA Alma Gonzalez conducted the initial 10-day visit and requested a copy of Staff and Resident rosters, LPA conducted a phone interview with Licensee Eugene Choin and an interview with Administrator Jessica Watanabe, and toured entire facility inside and out with Administrator.
On 3/4/24 LPA Gonzalez conducted a subsequent visit to gather information pertaining to allegation and obtained copies of Staff and Resident Rosters. LPA conducted interviews with Staff 1-3 (S1-3) and Residents 1-5 (R1-5). LPA additionally requested copies of documents pertinent to the investigation.
On 8/21/25 LPA Tena Herrera conducted a subsequent visit to deliver findings for the above allegation.
(Continued on the LIC9099-C page)

Unsubstantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

NAME OF LICENSING PROGRAM MANAGER: David Sicairos
NAME OF LICENSING PROGRAM ANALYST: Tena Herrera
LICENSING PROGRAM ANALYST SIGNATURE:	DATE: 08/21/2025

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/21/2025

This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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Control Number 28-AS-20240216083741

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
GREATER LA AC/SC, 1000 CORPORATE CNTR DR. ST 500
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754

FACILITY NAME: MUGUNGHWA SILVERTOWN	FACILITY NUMBER: 197606175
	VISIT DATE: 08/21/2025

NARRATIVE

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The investigation revealed the following:

Allegation: Facility only admits residents based on race.
It is alleged that the facility turned away individuals that were interested in moving in for not being Korean. LPA Gonzalez conducted 5 staff interviews in total, and each denied the above allegation, all 5 Staff stated that they have never discriminated against anyone for any reason, including race. Each staff confirmed they have been provided with non-discrimination training and have never observed another staff discriminating towards any of the residents or potential residents. All 5 staff additionally stated that there are other races besides Korean that live at the facility. LPA Gonzalez obtained a list of Non-Korean residents that have resided at facility from 2017-2023 (3 of which are still currently residing at facility). LPA Gonzalez interviewed 5 Residents and 5 out of 5 Residents denied the above allegation and stated that they have never felt discriminated against, interviews with R3 and R4 stated that there are individuals that are not of Korean descent that live at the facility. Interview with Licensee Eugene Choi explained that although the facility is known in the Korean community this is mainly because many of the facilities residents used to live in Koreatown and preferred to stay close to the neighborhood, a google search to see how far facility is from Koreatown it confirmed there is a 1.7 mile distance from facility location to Koreatown.

Based on statements and interviews conducted with staff/residents and facility file records, there was not enough supportive evidence to concur with the reported allegation. Although the allegation may have happened or is valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violation did or did not occur, therefore the allegation is UNSUBSTANTIATED.

Exit interview held, and a copy of this report was emailed to mugunghwasilvertown@gmail.com

NAME OF LICENSING PROGRAM MANAGER: David Sicairos
NAME OF LICENSING PROGRAM ANALYST: Tena Herrera
LICENSING PROGRAM ANALYST SIGNATURE:	DATE: 08/21/2025

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/21/2025

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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