Korean American Experience : Ethnic Mobilization as a Mode of Incorporation

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study examines and analyzes pending issues of the Korean American community, such as the history of immigration and settlement, the state of social and economic adjustment, race and ethnic relations with other groups, and the nature of ethnic identity and attachment. In particular, I investigate the mode of incorporation of Koreans in U.S. society and propose a theory that can adequately explain the Korean American experience.
The primary data for this study is from a mail-out survey conducted in eleven cities of the United States from February to April 1996. 3,040 questionnaires (written in either English or Korean) were sent to survey agents (individuals as well as Korean ethnic organizations, like Korean churches, newspapers, and Korean language schools) and 1,315 were returned, a response rate of 43.3 %. Supplementary statistical data was gathered from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service and the U.S. Bureau of Census. This data was used to analyze trends in Korean immigration to the United States as well as the socioeconomic characteristics of the Korean American population.
The Korean experience in the United States contains complex, multifarious, and sometimes contradictory aspects, which cannot adequately be explained by assimilation theory or pluralism. Instead, ethnic mobilization theory can best explain Koreans' incorporation into U.S. society. Societal disadvantages and discrimination provide Koreans with the impetus to mobilize ethnic resources and solidarity to protect and advance their safety and welfare. Korean immigrant businesses represent Koreans' collective response to societal discrimination and rejection. Ethnic organizations, particularly Korean churches and mass media, play important roles in providing Koreans with social support and recognition and in maintaining ethnic pride, identity, and traditions. By creating protected niches in the ethnic Korean community and economy, Koreans establish a solid economic foothold and lay a stepping-stone for future generations to pursue upward mobility in mainstream American society.
Because of their physical distinctiveness, Koreans are recognized individually but rather as members of a particular ethnic minority group. As a result, second and later generation Koreans maintain strong levels of ethnic identity and attachment even when they are culturally and structurally assimilated to the society at large. Korean ethnicity remains an important criterion of lifestyles and life chances of Koreans in areas as friendship, marriage, church affiliation, and career development. This illustrates that for Korean-Americans, ethnicity is not simply a symbolic cultural expression but an important base of social relationships.