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Stacey Park Milbern, a Korean American disability justice activist speaks at a rally in San Francisco in2019. (New York Times)

Stacey Park Milbern, a Korean American disability rights activist, has been selected to appear on the back of the US quarter, it was announced on Friday.

Milbern (1987–2020) was one of five figures announced by the US Mint as appearing on the backs of newly issued quarters as part of its 2025 American Women Quarters Program.

The program, which was launched in 2020, has the Mint selecting women who realized significant achievements in US modern and contemporary history to engrave on the back side of its 25-cent coins.

The Mint described the late Milbern as a “visionary leader and powerful activist for people with disabilities.” She will be the first-ever Korean American figure engraved on US currency.

Born in Seoul to a Korean mother and a father affiliated with US Forces Korea, Milbern became involved in disability rights activities as a teenager with congenital muscular dystrophy.

Through her activities with human rights groups in North Carolina, she played a major part in the adoption of a state law mandating disability education as part of the high school curriculum. In 2014, she was appointed by the Barack Obama administration as a policy advisory committee member with the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities.

By Kim Mi-hyang, staff reporter

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