KCC Alterna-TV News
BACK to Alterna-TV Home

News Article:

The History of Korean Immigration to the United States

by Jin Soo Han


Many Korean immigrants live in the United States. They came from the eastern end of the Eurasian landmass. The Korean immigrants came at three different times to Hawaii.

The first ship to bring Korean immigrants carrying 56 men, 21 women, and 25 children (102 people), came to Hawaii on January 13,1903, aboard the S.S.Gaelic. After two years, over 7000 Koreans came to Hawaii. The majority of the early immigrants who arrived at the sugar plantation were young bachelors, largely uneducated, and engaged in semi-skilled or unskilled occupations.

Korean immigrants had different reasons for immigrating to the us but had common goals to earn money, live better lives, save money to bring their families over from Korea, and someday return to their homeland of Korea.

They worked in difficult working conditions 10 hours per pay from dawn to sunset, for 69 a day, and paid less than the Japanese worker on the Hawaiian sugar plantations.

Between1905 to 1924 different group of Korean immigrants came, students who were studying in the U.S. This time, 500 student and political refugees arrived in America. Other group was Korean picture brides. When Korean men wanted brides, they sent pictures to matchmakers to find women in Korea willing to marry then Picture brides were age 17-20, younger than their husbands. If they sent false pictures, the women would have no choice buy to marry the men when then arrived in America. During this period 800 picture brides went to Hawaii

Another large group of Korean immigrantscome after the Korean War. They were fleeing the horrors of war and the loss of family members. Also women married American soldiers during the War.

Many of the first Korean immigrants lift for different reasons from their homeland and   worked hard working condition in Hawaii Plantation, but today helping the generation immigrants to do Korean Americans society.

I researched about Korean immigrants. I realized how Korean immigrant ancestors went through difficult time to survive   in the culture and in society.  Because Korean immigrant ancestors worked so hard to make money, many Korean immigrants became wealthy and well known in Hawaii.

My brother-in-law’s grandparents came from Korea 100 years ago. They worked at the Wahiawa pineapple farm and settled down in Wahiawa. Now, their descendants have worked and studied hard to become a doctor, an engineer, a teacher, a dentist and a foot ball coach at UH Manoa. I really thank my ancestors, and I am proud that I am Korean American.

Site Menu

Video Stories

Radio Stories

News Articles

Immigrant
History Links

Student Intro

Teacher Intro

"Making of"

Bloopers

Archives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


BACK to Alterna-TV Home
© KCC - ESOL 92S-0 Students, Spring 2005