Driving through Los Angeles you can’t help but notice how much this city owes to its diverse cultural counterparts. Russians, Italians, Chinese, Japanese, Mexicans, Koreans are just a few of the dominating ethnic influences this city should thank. The streets, shops, restaurants and nightlife take on a fantastic new twist as they revel in their own home away from home identity. Living close to Koreatown I got curious about its history and cultural relevance and impact it has on our society.
The start of the 20th century witnessed the first Korean immigrants arriving in the U.S determined to work on the Hawaiian sugar plantations. Unfortunately discrimination also traveled with them…Asians were prohibited from marrying whites (California Anti-Miscegenation Law, 1901) and were unable to own land in California (1913 Alien Land Law). They were banned from white schools and faced more direct racism with the onslaught of WWII. Up until 1989 any foreign characters written on business’ needed to have at least half that amount written in English; a law later revoked due to its’ infringing the 5th (free speech) and 14th (equal protection) amendments.
Starting in 1965, the abolishment of the Immigration Act no longer restricted the previously established quota of Asians allowed to enter the United States. With large numbers of Koreans now able to immigrate, Korea quickly became and has remained, one of the top five countries of origin to immigrate to the United States since 1975. There are many reason for immigration including the desire for increased freedom (especially for women) and the hope for better economic opportunities.
The saddest bit of news is that South Korea (roughly the size of Maine) suffers from an oversupply of college graduates including many engineers, nurses, and doctors. Because of language and cultural barriers many have not been able to work in the fields in which they were trained. Instead, based on a highly disciplined culture, they use networking and kye rotating credit associations, which allows many to start their own small businesses. The willingness to sacrifice for the future by working extremely long hours and not taking vacations led to the accomplishment of many highly successful enterprises.
The state with the largest Korean population is California with 33% of the total; New York is second with 12%. Currently 44% live in the West, 23% in the Northeast, 19% in the South, and 14% in the Midwest. Even in California the population is scattered with only 20% of the Koreans in Southern California living in Koreatown, Los Angeles. Because of the changing demographics in Los Angeles, and as a result of Koreans losing almost 50% of their businesses in the 1992 Los Angeles riots, 68% of the people living in Koreatown are Latinos, but Koreans are the predominant business owners, and the area none the less, serves as a cultural, business and social center for Korean Americans.
Located about five miles west of City Hall Koreatown is roughly bounded by Beverly Boulevard and Pico Boulevard to the north and south and Hoover and Crenshaw on the east and west. The historically rich neighborhood, offers beautiful Spa’s, a mall (Koreatown Plaza www.koreatownplaza.com), museums (Korean Cultural Center http://www.kccla.org)
and amazing restaurants. They even make phenomenal pizza…WHO KNEW!
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