Koreatown
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Koreatown (Korean: 코리아타운 Koriataun [a loanword from the English vocabulary] or 한인촌/韓人村 Haninchon) is a term to describe the Korean ethnic enclave within a city or metropolitan area.
[edit] Australia
[edit] Sydney, New South Wales
Sydney's primary Korea Town is located in the heavily immigrant populated sub-urban areas of Campsie, Eastwood and Strathfield. These suburbs and surrounding areas are famous for their Korean population which have created a strong cultural identity for the community. These areas are home to a number of Korean speaking business and retail stores which include the commonly found Korean restaurants, video stores, hairdressers and supermarkets.
Other important Korean commercial areas are located the suburbs of Parramatta and Chatswood which are relatively in the West and North CBDs of Sydney. The intersection of Bathurst Street and Pitt Street in Sydney City CBD (Central Business District) is also becoming a popular area for Korean commercial activity which once again include restaurants, karaoke, supermarkets and hairdressers.
Australia's Korean Population estimated more then 150,000.
[edit] Canada
[edit] Toronto, Ontario
Toronto's primary Korea Town is located on Bloor Street, roughly between Bathurst and Christie Streets, very few Koreans, however, actually live in this area. The first Korean store in Toronto was situated on Palmerston Avenue just north of Bloor in this area in the early 1970s, eventually leading to more stores and restaurants concentrating in this area. The first Korean restaurant, Korea House, is still located on 666 Bloor Street West.
A secondary concentration may be found on Yonge Street, between Sheppard Ave. and north of Steeles Ave. A grand and impressive Korean supermarket is located on Yonge and is now developing into a Korean Cultural Centre as well.
[edit] Vancouver, British Columbia
The major Korean shopping enclave is located along North Road, on the border between Burnaby and Coquitlam. Other important Korean commercial areas include Kingsway in Vancouver, Robson Street in the West End and Guildford Mall area in Surrey. (104th Avenue and 152nd Street.)
[edit] China
[edit] Beijing
Prominent areas include Wudaokou and Wangjing.
[edit] Hong Kong
The Koreatown is located in Kimberley Street in Tsim Sha Tsui.
Also there is a Korean settlement in Lei King Wan, Shau Kei Wan
[edit] Shenyang
Shenyang has a large Koreatown known as Xita (Chinese: 西塔, Korean: 서탑) meaning Western Pagoda.
[edit] Shanghai
Longbai in the Minhang district, to the west of the city, has a Korean oriented neighbourhood.
[edit] Germany
[edit] Frankfurt
Approximately 7,000 Koreans (over 20% of Germany's Korean population) live in this banking city.
[edit] Japan
During the 1910 to 1945 colonial period, approximately 2.4 million ethnic Koreans emigrated to Japan, some brought over forcibly during the Second World War to work as laborers. While most departed after the war, many chose to remain in hopes of better economic prospects, and were joined in the 1950's by a wave of refugees from Jeju Island. Today, Koreans, known as zainichi chosenjin (who on paper retain the nationality of the old undivided Korea) or zainichi kankokujin (who have adopted South Korean nationality), are the largest ethnic minority in Japan, amounting to 620,000 in 2002. Those with North Korean ties are a key source of remittances to North Korea. There is a separate group of more recent migrants from South Korea with strong links to their home country, and there is a considerable cultural gap between these so-called "new-comers" and Zainichi Koreans.
[edit] Osaka
The Korean enclave in the city of Osaka, numbering over 90,000, is by far the largest in Japan, concentrated in the Ikuno Ward, where 25% of the inhabitants are of Korean origin. Tsuruhashi in the Ward is the most famous Koreatown in Japan, and is dominated by Jeju Islanders. Imazato-Shinchi is an area increasingly dominated by recent South Korean "new-comers". The total Korean population in Osaka prefecture amounted to 150,000 in 2002.
[edit] Tokyo
According to official statistics in 2002, the Korean population in Tokyo amounted to 80,000, which was the second largest following that of Osaka.
Unlike other Japanese Koreatowns, the Korean-oriented commercial district around Shin-Okubo Station in Shinjuku Ward developed after World War II, and is dominated by "new-comers" - recent immigrants from South Korea who have retained their ethnic and cultural identity, as can be seen from the ubiquitous signs written in hangul. Other immigrants from China, Taiwan, South East Asia and various other nationalities makes this one of the most colourful and multicultural areas in Tokyo.
The area around Mikawashima station on the Jōban Line, to the north of the city, is a Koreatown dominated by Zainichi immigrants from Jeju island.
Also noteworthy is a smaller-scale Zainichi Korean quarter to the southeast of Ueno station, and to the southwest, a community of South Korean "new-comers".
[edit] Kawasaki
Approximately 60,000 ethnic Koreans live in Kawasaki. Although most have assimilated, it remains one of the largest concentrations of Korean-Japanese in Eastern Japan.
[edit] Kyoto
A small Koreatown has developed in the Gion neighborhood (the Geisha district) of Kyoto. Kyoto prefecture is home to approximately 38,000 ethnic Koreans in 2002.
[edit] Malaysia
[edit] Kuala Lumpur
Ampang is an area long known for its large number of Korean expatriates. It has recently seen a huge increase of Korean restaurants, churches, and groceries, specifically around the area of Ampang Point. Mont Kiara located southwestern of downtown Kuala Lumpur also houses a significant number of Korean businesses.
[edit] Thailand
[edit] Bangkok
A few blocks of Sukhumvit Rd, one of Bangkok's main streets, is filled with Korean Restaurants, Stores, PC rooms and Karaoke lounges.
[edit] United Kingdom
[edit] London, England
New Malden has probably the largest expatriate community of South Koreans in Britain. According to the Korean Residents Society, the Korean population in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames is about 3,500 to 4,500, mostly in New Malden; some sources cite the population as high as 20,000 to 32,000.
[edit] United States
A Korean American is a person of Korean ancestry who was either born in or is an immigrant to the United States. Most ethnic Koreans in the United States tend to be scattered about the general population, although concentrated enclaves certainly exist.
[edit] Atlanta, Georgia
A small Korean commercial district has developed around Buford Highway in suburban Doraville. However, the area is not exclusively Korean; in the area are also many Chinese and Vietnamese businesses. A second center for ethnic Koreans has recently arisen in the Duluth district. Even here, there are over 45 other dialects spoken. Other areas are developing rapidly along South Cobb Drive in Smyrna, the suburb of Norcross, and Memorial Drive in Stone Mountain.
[edit] Bergen County, New Jersey
A significant number of Korean immigrants and their descendants now live in Bergen County, the county located immediately next to the George Washington Bridge. The Korean population is largest in the cities of Cliffside Park, Edgewater, Englewood Cliffs, Fort Lee, Leonia, and Palisades Park.
During the 1990s, several cities in Bergen County passed ordinances that discriminated against the Korean newcomers. In addition, existing zoning laws were enforced so as to impact only the Korean immigrant population.[1] After a period of conflict, community leaders persuaded local legislators and mayors to repeal the discriminatory ordinances and to cease the biased enforcement of existing laws.
[edit] Chicago, Illinois
Chicago's Koreatown is located along Lawrence Avenue in the Albany Park neighborhood on the city's Northwest Side. The city of Chicago, along with various corporations, sponsors an annual Korean Festival on Bryn Mawr Avenue, between Kimball and Kedzie.
There is also a significant Korean commercial area located on Lincoln Avenue south of Peterson and north of Foster.
[edit] Dallas, Texas
A sizeable Koreatown can be found in Dallas, though this mostly commercial area of the city has not been officially designated as such. Instead, large signs situated at the intersection of Harry Hines Boulevard and Royal Lane proclaim the area as the "Asian Trade District." The signs also feature depictions of a red and blue "taeguk," a symbol that is prominently featured on the national flag of South Korea, thereby acknowledging the specifically Korean affiliation of the district. This area in the northwest part of the city is characterized by a large number of Korean-owned businesses serving the city's sizeable Korean American community.
Very few Korean Americans actually reside in the Dallas Koreatown, despite the concentration of Korean American commercial enterprise there. Most of the Korean Americans in the Dallas/Ft. Worth metropolitan area reside elsewhere in the two cities or in their many suburbs. As a result of this, there are relatively few Korean churches, often considered the social centers of Korean American communities, in the Koreatown area. Instead, one can find a large number of Korean restaurants, cafes, Korean-style karaoke bars (noraebang) featuring song selections in Korean and English, bars serving soju and fried chicken, Korean grocery stores (including the large Komart grocery store on Royal Ln.), gift shops featuring popular Asian cartoon paraphernalia, and discount retail stores.
The influx of these Korean-owned businesses into the area within the past two decades has been credited with revitalizing a once-deteriorating Dallas neighborhood, previously characterized by adult entertainment centers and prostitution. Some remnants of this past can still be seen in the area today. The Sam Moon shopping center, specializing in leather goods and household items, is one Koreatown establishment that proved remarkably popular with non-Korean Americans. Its proprieter has since opened store locations in outlying Dallas suburbs, such as Frisco.
In addition to Koreatown, smaller concentrations of Korean businesses can be found in the Dallas suburbs of Garland (most notably at the intersection of Walnut St. and Plano Rd.) and Richardson (more notable for its large Chinese and Vietnamese American shopping centers along Greenville Ave. between Arapaho Rd. and Belt Line Rd.), Irving, and the Ft. Worth suburb of Arlington, among others.
[edit] Denver, Colorado
Located just east of Denver proper in neighboring Aurora, Denver's Koreatown (though not officially named as such) contains Korean restaurants, shops, churches and grocery stores.
[edit] Fairfax County, Virginia
Fairfax County is a suburb of Washington, DC and is home to the vast majority of Korean Americans in Northern Virginia.
[edit] Annandale, Virginia
Although not officially titled a Koreatown, it is considered the "Korean Town" of the Washington, DC metropolitan area, which hosts the third highest number of Korean Americans in the United States after Los Angeles and New York City. There is a significant number of Korean-owned businesses along Little River Turnpike, mainly restaurants. Annandale has just under 1,000 Korean operated businesses. 90% of the Korean business in the Washington DC Area is conducted in this town.
Terming this area "Koreatown" offends some members of the area's civic associations who are mostly non-Asian and who protest whenever their hometown is referred to as a Korean enclave. Although there was a significant number of Korean Americans living in the area in past decades, it has declined in proportion to the rapidly increasing Hispanic population since the 1990s.
Congressman Thomas M. Davis, Republican Congressman, who administers the district in which Annandale exists, has recently supported a bill in Congress that allows the creation of "National Korean Day." This day of honor to the Korean-American community will be celebrated on January 13th.
[edit] Centreville, Virginia
There are a significant amount of Korean Americans who live in Centreville, located in the southwestern part of Fairfax County which has increased fivefold since 1990. Shopping centers surrounding the State Route 28 and U.S. Route 29 intersection have recently acquired many small Korean businesses as well as large scale Korean supermarkets, such as Grand Mart. Centreville has recently become a shopping option for Korean Americans who live in western Fairfax, as well as Koreans who live west of Centreville in Loudoun County which has a small Korean American population and thus has very few Korean-targeted businesses.
[edit] Indianapolis, Indiana
Not officially considered a Koreatown, although one part of the city has had a strong Korean influence since the late 1980s. It is located in the northeastern part of Indianapolis. Korean churches are spread out and scattered throughout the Lawrence and Warren township areas.
The intersection of Pendleton Pike and Post Road (just a block from Fort Benjamin Harrison) is considered the heart of "Koreatown" because of the many Korean businesses consisting of popular restaurants, grocery stores, and Korean video stores which specialize in the rental of imported tv shows and films. These stores also combine as gift shop selling imported Korean items. Since the early 2000s, the Hispanic community has made a growing presence in the "heart" of "Koreatown" making the area much more ethnically diverse.
[edit] Houston, Texas
A Koreatown can be found in Houston along Long Point intersecting Gessner, north of Interstate 10. There are many restaurants, grocery stores, bakeries and other businesses there.
[edit] Los Angeles, California
The Greater Los Angeles Area is home to the largest number of ethnic Koreans outside of Asia. Koreatown, also known as Wilshire Center (and including neighborhoods formerly known as Harvard Heights and Pico Heights), is an officially recognized district of the city. Koreans began to move into the area in the late 1960s, establishing numerous businesses although never outnumbering Latino residents. The borders of Koreatown were previously defined as being between Vermont and Western Ave, but today the area extends far beyond those streets.
[edit] Miami, Florida
There are two Korean Towns. The larger Korea Town is located around Hollywood Boulevard and U.S. Route 441 in Hollywood, Florida (near Florida's Turnpike). There are Korean grocery markets, hair salons, video stores, karaoke, and restaurants in the area, as well as several nearby Korean churches.
A smaller Korea Town is located in downtown Miami, just north of north of Overtown. It is predominately an industrial area, with many warehouses and Korean import/export businesses. It also has a selection of Korean eateries.
[edit] New York City
The area around Sixth Avenue (Avenue of the Americas) and 32nd Street in Manhattan has emerged as an enclave of Korean restaurants and businesses. It is this neighborhood, near Herald Square, which is usually named as New York's Koreatown. However, a significant Korean population and commercial center can be found in Queens, especially in neighborhoods such as Elmhurst and Flushing. Another large concentration is located just over the George Washington Bridge in Bergen County, NJ. Although commonly referred to as Koreatown, the proper nomenclature for the Sixth Avenue/32nd Street area is "Korea Way," as evidenced by the street signs there.
[edit] Oakland, California
A strip of Korean businesses along Telegraph Avenue near the MacArthur BART station has developed into a genuine cultural center for the 60,000-odd ethnic Korean Americans in the San Francisco Bay Area. The emergence of this area has coincided with urban renewal and gentrification in downtown Oakland, provoking some conflict with the more established African-American population.
Another center is 14th Street, between Franklin and Jackson Streets next to Chinatown.
[edit] Orange County, California
Orange County's Koreatown (known as Little Seoul) is located in Garden Grove along Garden Grove Boulevard between Brookhurst Street and Beach Boulevard. Other significant Korean enclaves in Orange County include Buena Park, Cypress, Fullerton, Irvine, and La Palma.
[edit] Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Olney neighborhood in Philadelphia is recognized as the largest Korean American enclave in the city. Korean businesses are congregated on 5th Street, north of Roosevelt Boulevard. There are also other Korean business strips along Cheltenham Avenue, Tabor Road, and Castor Avenue. In the suburbs, Cheltenham, Pennsylvania (which is on the other side of the city line from Olney) and Upper Darby, Pennsylvania have significant Korean American populations and businesses that target the Korean American community. Koreans constitute one of the largest Asian groups in the Philadelphia region. Korean citizens can be found just about anywhere in the area, and have a very significant role in the communities.
[edit] San Diego, California
Korean businesses in San Diego are most concentrated in the Kearny Mesa area, particularly along Convoy Street between Clairemont Mesa Boulevard and south of Balboa Avenue.
[edit] Seattle, Washington
There is a high concentration of Korean businesses along Washington State Route 99 in Tacoma, Federal Way, Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace, and Lynnwood.
[edit] Santa Clara, California
The strip of El Camino Real between Fremont Ave. and San Tomas Expressway has a large amount of Korean owned shops. Korean residents of the Santa Clara County often congregate to this area, as all three Korean markets in the South Bay are located within this strip of El Camino. Even though it is not designated as such, this area can be defined as a Koreatown.
[edit] References & External Links
- Ordinances discriminating against Korean immigrants.
- Asian-Nation: Asian American Ethnic Enclaves & Communities by C.N. Le, Ph.D.
- An article in the Washington Post about Washington, D.C.'s unofficial "Koreatown" in Annandale, Virginia.
