CHURCHES HOLD JOINT SERVICE TO EASE RACIAL SPLIT.

Byline: Marni McEntee Daily News Staff Writer

A church sanctuary became a place of reconciliation Sunday as Korean-Americans and African-American Methodists gathered to soothe racial wounds still unhealed since the Los Angeles riots.

Meeting at Pacoima's First United Methodist Church, the two congregations prayed and pledged to continue their fight to end the conflicts that drove a wedge between African-Americans and Korean-Americans during the deadly 1992 conflicts.

``We are coming together to show the world that we can lay aside our differences,'' said the Rev. Terry Mulkey, pastor of First United Methodist.

The riots were sparked by the April 29, 1992 acquittals of four Los Angeles Police officers in the beating of motorist Rodney King, and resulted in devastating losses to many businesses owned by Korean-Americans in South Central Los Angeles.

Many merchants blamed African-Americans for the looting and fires.

On Sunday, the Rev. John Parker of the Woodland Hills Korean United Methodist Church, told the African-American parishioners that he was sorry for the racial animosity.

``I come before you today to apologize because an apology is where we must begin,'' Parker told about 50 members of the Van Nuys Boulevard Church.

``If we cannot apologize, then everything else is on false ground.''

Parker said Korean-Americans and African-Americans now must build a foundation for future cooperation.

Mulkey had invited Parker and his tiny congregation of 20 people to the Pacoima church to mark the fourth anniversary of the riots. The three days of burning, looting and rioting left 55 people dead and $1 billion in property damage.

Dean Lee, 23, a member of the Woodland Hills congregation, said it is the responsibility of young people to eliminate the prejudices of their parents.

``We as young adults are trying to inspire more communication,'' he said.

After sermons by both pastors lasting about two hours, members of the two congregations mingled and exchanged promises to meet again.

``I want to go to their church,'' said Mattie Moore, a member of First United.

Yun Kim, 23, of the Korean United congregation, said she was encouraged by the meeting.

``I think it's the beginning of a dialogue,'' she said.

First United member Ed Kussman agreed.

``It's a start. It's way overdue,'' Kussman said. ``Being strangers, we don't know what to expect from one another.''

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PHOTO African-American and Korean-American Methodists met i n Pacoima on Sunday to try to curb tensions between the ethnic groups spurred by the 1992 Los Angeles riots.

David Sprague/Daily News