Korean American 2

Changgo (Hourglass-Shaped Drum) Rehearsal

  • Purpose: To entertain Korean American elderly.

  • Instrument Description: Changgo is the most frequently used instrument in almost all forms of Korean music.

    • Left Side: Thick skin produces a soft, low sound.

    • Right Side: Thin skin produces a hard, crisp sound.

  • Musicians’ Attire: Dressed in traditional clothing.

  • Credit: Courtesy of the Korea Times Chicago.

Korean Immigration to the United States: A Historical Overview

  • Census Data Overview:

    • 1970 Census: Approximately 70,000 people of Korean descent in the United States.

    • 1990 Census: Number increased tenfold to 798,849.

    • Current Estimate: Korean American population exceeds one million.

Three Waves of Korean Immigration

  • First Immigration Wave (1903-1905):

    • Arrival: January 13, 1903, 101 Korean immigrants (55 men, 21 women, 25 children) aboard the SS Gaellic arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii.

    • Cumulative Total: By 1905, 7,226 Korean immigrants arrived in Hawaii on 65 different ships.

  • Reasons for Immigration:

    • Historical Background:

    • Political and economic turmoil in Korea.

    • Labor shortage in Hawaii due to previous immigration policies affecting Chinese laborers.

    • Categories: Divided into laborers, picture brides, and family immigration.

  • Changes in Immigration Policy:

    • Impact of Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and Gentleman's Agreement of 1908.

U.S. Immigration Laws Affecting Asians

  • Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882:

    • First law to explicitly forbid a specific nationality from entering the U.S.

    • Economic and cultural factors led to the exclusion of Chinese laborers from U.S. immigration.

    • Renewed several times; significant until 1943.

  • Gentleman's Agreement of 1908:

    • Restraint on Japanese immigration led to similar restrictions for Korean immigration later.

  • Impact on Korean Immigration:

    • Immigration Act of 1924 limited immigrants to 150,000 per year and imposed a discriminatory quota system based on existing populations, effectively halting Korean immigration.

  • McCarran-Walter Act of 1952: Removed racial barriers to immigration, allowing for family reunification and skilled laborers.

Korean Immigration Statistics and Trends

  • Korean Immigration Overview (1903-1996):

    • 1903-1905: 7,226 immigrants.

    • 1910-1924: 1,100 Picture Brides.

    • 1951-1964: New Wave due to Korean War, including wives of American servicemen and war orphans.

    • Immigration Act of 1965: Transformative in increasing the number of immigrants, allowing for family reunification.

Causes and Characteristics of Korean Immigration

First Wave Immigration (1903-1905)

  • Diplomatic Relations: Established in 1882 with Korean-American Treaty, opening pathways for Korean immigration.

  • Pull Factors: Labor demand for sugar plantations in Hawaii.

  • Push Factors: Political turmoil, heavy taxation, and calamities affecting ordinary Koreans.

  • Characteristics:

    • Majority were laborers seeking temporary work.

    • Most immigrants aimed to return home after earning enough money.

    • Young bachelors traveling from port cities; introduced picture brides for arranged marriages.

Second Wave Immigration (1951-1964)

  • Characteristics: Primarily constituted of war brides, orphans, and some professionals; a direct outcome of the Korean War.

  • Populations: Included 28,205 Korean wives of American servicemen and 13,000 orphans adopted by American families.

  • Demographics: Outcome of this phase displayed a significant shift in the sex ratio to about 1 male to 3.5 females.

Third Wave Immigration (1965 and After)

  • Immigration Reform: U.S. Immigration Act of 1965 led the third wave of Korean immigration, favoring family reunification.

  • Trends:

    • Increased immigration from Asia; significant rise in Korean population within the U.S.

    • Chain migration enabled by family reunification policies significantly enhanced the Korean American community.

Economic Adjustments and Settlement Patterns

  • Significant economic growth in South Korea in the 1960s encouraged many to migrate due to political instability.

  • Characteristics of Recent Immigrants:

    • Majority report higher educational levels and mid-career disruption upon immigration.

  • Settlement Patterns:

    • Urban middle-class backgrounds; high mobility and majority are home owners in places like Chicago, New York, Los Angeles.

  • Return Migration:

    • Impact was noted with a significant return flow of Korean Americans, especially due to the expanding economy of South Korea.