by Amy Williams Royal New Zealand Airways

The local South Korean community is alarmed by a possible link between the deaths of two children and immigrants from their home country.

Relatives of two children found in luggage in Oakland are likely to be in South Korea, the Associated Press reported.

The woman, a South Korean-born New Zealander in her 40s, arrived in South Korea in 2018, an official with the Korean National Police Agency told The Associated Press.

South Korean leaders in Oakland have been taking calls from concerned members of the community about the recent discovery.

Diane Lee, co-chair of the Korea-New Zealand Cultural Association, said: “When we heard the news, we [felt] Shocked, we just see it as a tragedy. “

She contacted police, expressing concerns and willingness to assist with any investigation.

She said police showed willingness to support the community as the investigation unfolded

“If our community needs any support, they’ll be happy to support us, which is great.”

Korean community leader Joy Kim runs safety education programs through the Asia Safety Education and Promotion Charitable Trust, covering topics from road rules to domestic violence.

She said the community is waiting for more information and praying for those involved.

“Some of the leaders connected and we started to pray because what we could say and what we could do.”

Knowing that immigrants from South Korea were highly educated was all the more shocking, Kim said.

King said the community is willing to help police with their investigations if needed.

“As long as they need help, we can get involved, but we’re in shock what we can say.”

Human rights lawyer Tony Ellis said it would be simpler to extradite people believed to be involved in New Zealand criminal cases from South Korea if they were not South Korean citizens.

If the person is a South Korean citizen, the country may reject it, he said.

New Zealand police declined to comment on the investigation.