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Korean immigration to the US can be summed up to three main periods: the early 20th century, the mid-20th century, and the later half of the 20th century.
The first wave of immigration can be tied to the conversion of many Koreans to Christianity by American Presbyterian and Methodist missionaries.
Converted Koreans were able to explore more streamlined avenues of immigration. In fact, during the first immigration wave, over 50% of immigrants were Christian. An additional 50% of the first group of immigrants who were not Christians were subsequently converted.
When Hawaii was colonized by the United States at the end of the 19th century, plantation owners sought cheap labor. Koreans first came to the United States via Hawaii in 1903, as they were brought to work on sugar and pineapple plantations. Koreans replaced Chinese immigrants following the issuance of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.
The Japanese annexation of Korea in 1905 made immigration an attractive objective of Korean communities, seeking to escape political turbulence.
Due to challenging political circumstances in their native home, thousands of Korean immigrants began arriving. In just two years, more than 7,200 Korean immigrants had made it to American shores.
During this time, over 1,000 Korean “picture brides” were also brought to the US to marry Korean immigrants. Their role was critical in building community among immigrants.
The aspect of religious participation was a key factor in Korean-American immigrant life, as their churches functioned as cultural centers as well.
Once recent immigrants’ contracts began to expire, about half of the immigrants in Hawaii moved to mainland states. Many established their own businesses. The other half returned to Korea.
The Korean diaspora community in the US was a key group during the Korean independence movement of 1919. Indeed, a notable amount of students were in the US in an attempt to escape the Japanese occupation. In fact, the first president of South Korea, Syngman Rhee (pictured), belonged to this group.
In 1924, Congress passed the Oriental Exclusion Act. Put into law by President Chester A. Arthur (pictured), it banned all immigrants from Asian nations. The only exception to the act was students.
Following the end of Japanese occupation, Korea became a site of Western and Soviet interests. In 1948, Korea split into two distinct political entities: North and South Korea. North Korea was supported by the Soviet Union, while South Korea was backed by the US government.
The Korean War, which took place from 1950-1953, served as an extension of the Cold War. Tens of thousands of people were killed, wreaking havoc. This period ushered in the second wave of Korean immigrants to the United States.
In 1952, the McCarran and Walter Act, passed by President Harry Truman, overrode the Asian immigration ban. Following the issuance of the Act, 15,000 Koreans made their way to the US.
Many of these immigrants consisted of “war brides,” referring to the Korean wives of American soldiers, facilitated specifically by the War Bride Act of 1946. Others were adoptees by American military families, mostly Christians. This group is sometimes referred to as “GI babies,” the majority of which were fathered by American soldiers.
Approximately 27,000 additional Korean immigrants were largely comprised of higher education students and business people who also made their way to the US.
Both war brides and GI babies faced major impediments in American society. The former were largely confined to military bases, left to feel culturally isolated. The children faced a great deal of stigma in American society.
Pictured is a mass wedding in Seoul.
The Korean students and business people who made their way to the United States were part of a highly educated, professional class, also consisting of physicians, lawyers, and professors. They, too, faced racism and cultural challenges upon their arrival, but were nonetheless considered “model minorities.”
By the 1960s, the United States recognized a need for a larger professional class, recruiting educated professionals from Asia. The political instability in South Korea made the United States attractive.
Between 1941-1998, nearly 780,000 Korean immigrants had entered the United States. By the 1990s, Koreans became the largest group of immigrants in the country, although numbers have subsequently declined.
It is the children of the immigrants who arrived during the third wave of immigration that comprise contemporary Korean-American communities.
Pictured is Korean-American actress and comedian Margaret Cho.
Korean Americans are known for their entrepreneurial spirit. In fact, a study conducted within the major metropolitan areas of New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Atlanta found that one-third of Korean immigrants were self-employed.
The majority of these businesses consist of a family-owned structure. Family labor, long working hours, and a lack of vacations or days off are characteristic of the labor conditions that many Korean businesses operate under.
The emergence of K-pop culture, as well as K-beauty, has also had an influence on the perceptions of the Korean-American community, given its growing popularity around the world.
K-pop is a genre of music that has made a significant cultural splash worldwide. In the United States, K-pop has undoubtedly achieved mainstream success.
With its massive US following, Korean language, culture, TV series (K-dramas), fashion, among other cultural products, have also become increasingly popular among American audiences.
With the emergence of viral skincare movements, Korean skincare has also become highly sought-after in the United States. With the promise of anti-aging qualities, Korean skincare has been recognized as innovative and effective.
In fact, it is Korean beauty trends that influenced the movement of “flawless skin” in the United States, including the viral trend of “glass skin,” which refers to a smooth and bright complexion.
With the trend of interest in gut health, fermented foods like kimchi have also introduced American mainstream society to the diversity of Korea’s flavor profiles. Korean BBQ, a social way of eating that involves grilling food at the center of a shared table, has also become popular.
Sources: (Boston Korean Diaspora Project) (Korean American Historical Society) (Asian-Nation) (BBC) (The New York Times)
See also: Effective antiaging practices from East Asia (without injections)
Korean-American chronicles: a look back into a rich history
Tracing the footprints of a vibrant culture
LIFESTYLE Immigration
The immigration of Koreans to the United States largely took place in three waves. The first wave took place in the beginning of the 20th century, the second during the mid-20th century, and the most recent wave of immigrants during the later half of the 20th century. In this gallery, we explore the rich history of Korean-American culture. Click through for more.