“It’s against the South Korean merchants.”
I have a feeling you are correct. I can see at least three reasons the Koreans would be hated: They are intelligent, they are industrious, and they own a business.
He is correct. The black city council in Los Angeles did the same thing in the 80s and 90s. It contributed to the King riots. The rooftop Koreans prevented more of their stores from being looted and burned after the LAPD deserted them.