Korean: Data

1) How many immigrants in your group currently live in the United States?

1.7 million, making them the fifth largest immigrant group in the United States


2) How many immigrants in your group live in New York City?

15% of all Korean Americans live in NYC, 86473 Koreans


3) What is the median income, poverty rate, and English proficiency rate for your group?

Average household income of foreign-born Korean Americans: $62,064.Average household income of native-born Korean Americans: $71,550. Median Household Income of $40,183


4) List the neighborhood(s) in which this group is concentrated.

Koreatown, Flushing, Woodside, Jackson Heights, begun moving to suburbs


5) Are there professions or industries in which your group plays a niche role?

Some women have careers as lawyers, doctors, teachers, and businesswomen, but most have behind-the-scenes positions or are clerks, typists, and cashiers. Education, travel, and careers were not open to them at home.Some Koreans moved as far north as Alaska and found jobs in the salmon fisheries. The majority of those who remigrated, however, settled in California. They took jobs with low pay and little advancement potential, working as busboys, waiters, gardeners, janitors, and domestic help in cities. Outside the cities, they worked on farms and in railroad "gangs." Many Korean immigrants opened restaurants, laundries, barbershops, grocery stores, tobacco shops, bakeries, and other retail shops. With the changes in immigration laws after World War II, Korean immigrants have been able to move into more professional fields such as medicine, dentistry, architecture, and science.

They moved to America and took jobs in understaffed, inner-city hospitals. Koreans with science and technological backgrounds also were encouraged to immigrate. These new immigrants came from middle-class and upper-class families, unlike the earlier immigrants.


6) Push factors

Push factors/ something that drives someone away from their country
Few opportunities
Political fear/persecution
Poor chances of finding courtship

Pull Factors/ benefit that helps the person
Job opportunities
Better living conditions
Education
Security
Family links


9) Korean Institutions in New York:

Korean cultural centers such as The Korea Society in Manhattan, and the Center for Korean American Culture in Flusing. Institutions like these provide the people, especially young people, of Korean heritage in NYC with the opportunity to create a cultural group to that they can reflect with and relate to. Also for these people to discuss what it means to be a Korean American. Also information outlets for non-Korean Americams.

Primarily Korean Presbyterian Churches across New York City serve an extremely important role to Korean Americans where they can gather, and operate as tangible center of their communities. One example of this is the Korean Presbyterian Church of Queens, in Flushing.

Small business institutions in New York City commonly associated with Korean Americans are small general/grocery stores, nail salons, Taekwondo Studios, and laundromats. Institutions like these have played an integral role in the Korean's integration into the city.

10) Maintaining cultural connects in the US

A New Years Day (Jan 1): one year older, celebrating the western and lunar new year

Seollal, or Lunar New Year (Jan 23, 24): 2nd most important holiday, honor their elders, they give cash gifts, girls do a traditional bow in front of the elders, red envelopes are used for gifts of cash

Sam Il Jul (Independence Movement Day) (March 1)

Original (Chidren's Day) (May 5)

Jyun Choong Il (Memorial Day) (June 6)

Korean food is still very important in the Korean community and is representivive of hospitality and respect.