Daniel (or Mr. Kim), first off, I'd like to say that you're a great actor and a great guy, and the work you've been doing on LOST, in addition to what you've done on Angel and 24 (also one of my favorite shows) really is quite exemplary

Now I have a question to ask

Have you ever felt that you've been typecast into your acting jobs, and how do you feel about typecasting?

Awhile ago, I recall an interview that Lucy Liu once did where she won an award (I forget which at the moment) for her work in the Asian-American community, but she said that she didn't want to be awarded simply for being an Asian in the entertainment industry; and that she would prefer to received awards based on her quality of acting alone.
Do you feel the same way that she does? I ask this because I'm sure that you've often been praised purely on the basis of your race, and not necessarily your skills

And just so you know, I feel that you're both: a great actor and a great ambassador for the Asian-American community. I'm a Korean-American teenager, and it's really helped having role models like you, so thank you

Great question, thanks for asking.
Yes, I have felt the effects of typecasting and I think every Asian actor runs into it eventually. The key to overcoming it though is perserverance, preparation - and a little luck never hurts. : )
Whenever someone thanks me for being a role model though, all I can do is thank the producers and writers for having the mindfulness to consider casting a truly diverse group of people whose characters go well beyond stereotyping. I think we all benefit as a result.
I hope you agree!