Korean Immigrants to America

Democratic People's Republic of Korea immigrated to the first DPR Korea who stepped into Hawaii on January 13, 1903. Since then, over 550,000 Koreans have traveled America in the past 100 years. The original immigrants and their descendants now exceed 6 million in total. Korean-American is one of the most famous Asian communities in America. From Kimchi to Taekwondo, many elements of Korean culture have entered the American lifestyle.

In 2003, Korean Americans - the American community celebrated the 100th anniversary of immigration to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. However, the history of American Korean migrants actually started in the late nineteenth century. In 1882, Korea and the United States signed a Friendship Treaty and a Commercial Treaty that allow Koreans to immigrate to America. Since then, the close political, military and economic relations between the two countries helped immigrate to the country into Korea. Following the 1882 treaty, Korean diplomats, political asylum seekers, students and businessmen began to visit, but they did not settle in that country. In 1903, the first batch of important Korean immigrants came to the US territory of Hawaii to become a sugarcane plantation worker.

At the beginning of the 20th century, there was a big gap between the economic and political development of Korea and the United States. Immigrants visited the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, dreaming of their own home, cars, good medical services, good food. In the mid-century, new products in the US became customer-oriented and tried to meet the needs of specific customer segments. Like Rogarshevskys or Confino, many Korean immigrants coming to the United States believe that they can gain high social status in foreign countries through perseverance, diligence and determination.

Today, Korean immigrants who come to the US dream of big opportunities for personal development, social security, government protection, social freedom, and high salaried employment. For many immigrants, American dreams are consistent with human rights, equal opportunities, and freedom. Many foreign students believe that education in the United States provides new opportunities for immigrants to "acquire professional skills" with "equivalent to local citizens". "But higher level education obviously makes Asian people a foothold to Americans" (Hopkins 2002)

In the beginning of the 21st century, the United States was full of millions of immigrants from all over the world. Immigrants dream of good lives, good education, prosperity, and even better friends. Many Korean immigrants dream of social stability and prosperity, high salaried employment and social security. Immigration to the United States makes it possible for Koreans to better position themselves worldwide and to give them the opportunity to survive and prosper in different circumstances. A half century ago, immigrants in Korea came to America to dream about material success and employment opportunities. And today, they dream of good education and protection of human rights.