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The Assimilation of the Korean America

admin — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

While some Korean Americans have found assimilation less of a hurdle, still for some, the process can be very difficult. With language and cultural barriers in place, making assimilation much more difficult, as well as certain traditions steeped in the Korean class structure, it is possible for Korean Americans to live and work within their communities without having to learn English. However, to many immigrants, true assimilation comes only with socioeconomic status and language attainment.

Korean Americans come to America for the very same reason all immigrants come here. They want the freedom to choose those things in their lives that make a life worth living.The whole story can be found at http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/07/fort_lee_breakfast_sunday_hono.html Freedom is that reason. For freedom welcomes all that make a good life. Citizenship is one of the most significant factors in assimilation.

Socioeconomic status is also an important issue, with educational attainment, occupation and income being its main factors. Language attainment will be the first step to full assimilation, as this opens many of the closed doors that many immigrants will face on a daily basis.

Chicago, a city of immigrants, continues to attract immigrants from all over the world. With its large Korean population, Chicago continues to be a favored landing point for Korean immigrants.

The Korean American Work Ethic in the United States

admin — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Korean Americans have a long history in the United States of America. In the America of today, their work ethic is highly valuable in the American workplace. Korean Americans have a work ethic that is admired by Americans of all backgrounds. What helps set Korean American workers apart from other Americans? Let’s take a closer look what makes their work ethic so outstanding.

Korean Americans tend to be very value conscious and are fiscally conservative. They also put a high value on education. These factors help to explain their work ethic, not only in America, but in Korea as well. They tend to understand the value of a dollar and the hard work that goes into earning that dollar. Korean Americans are less likely than other Americans to spend their money on items they don’t need. This allowed many Korean Americans to survive the recent economic downturn that has greatly affected the rest of the country.

Dedication to fiscally conservative principles, value and education help explain why Korean Americans are so successful in American business and in the American workplace. They have helped create many jobs in the Asian American community and they look to have an even greater impact on the American economy as time goes on.

Korean American Culture in the United States

admin — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

For many immigrants to the United States and for long-term, multi-generational citizens alike, finding harmony between preserving traditional cultural norms while acclimating to new and exciting cultural norms can be both challenging and exciting. Thankfully, the United States as a nation prides itself on its melting pot of cultures, ethnicity, races, beliefs and practices and eases the transition for many new citizens as well as providing many opportunities for preserving and celebrating traditions and practices from peoples all around the world. In particular, the United States is home to many citizens of Korean descent as well as many new citizens seeking exciting opportunities in the land of freedom.

The density of persons of Korean descent in the Chicago area in particular allows for residents both new and old to enjoy the traditional cultural practices of their countries of origin alongside the myriad and diverse cultures of peoples from many other nations as well. Chicago features many restaurants and opportunities for dining featuring traditional Korean dishes and meals, as well as many houses of worship catering to the spiritual belief systems dear to many persons of Korean descent. Communities in the Chicago area rich in other residents of Korean descent can ease efforts to preserve traditional cultural, spiritual and culinary practices, and the close-knit communities of residents sharing similar beliefs can aid in carrying on valued family traditions, easing the tensions many immigrants may experience when they find themselves in a new nation, surrounded by values not traditional to their own lives. Likewise, new residents finding themselves living in communities with citizens of similar descent and origin can provide valuable assistance in adjusting to a lifestyle, economy and often-confusing culture that is vastly different from anything experience in their country of origin.You thought this was good? Brace yourself: Dear Great Leader

Korean American Communities from Sea to Sea

admin — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Koreans and their descendants forms one of the largest groups of Oriental Americans, of which they form about 11 percent. Up until a point, there were very few of them indeed in the United States. But since the Korean War, thousands of refugees have poured in from Communist North Korea (which does not normally allow its citizens to leave the country). They, and their offspring, have included such professors as MIT’s Sebastian Seung; “Simpsons” co- producer Daniel Chun; R & B singer Lena Park; comedian Esther Ku; and innumerable others.

In the Chicago area, most Koreans live in the area just north of the city. They have formed an organization of over 600 members (not all of them Korean) called the Chicago Korean Language Meetup Group for people who want to improve their knowledge of the Korean language (which, incidentally, is not related in any way to Chinese, nor to Japanese, as was long thought). They also discuss such issues as the Constitution of South Korea and Korean music. Koreans in Chicago have also set up restaurants like Han Bat, which also offers take out. One satisfied customer has praised the soup and kimchi (a Korean vegetable dish) made here.