Koreans in Washington, D.C.

There is a Korean American community in the states of Virginia and Maryland in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. It is the third-largest ethnic Korean community in the United States.[1]

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Ethnicity in Washington, D.C.

    In 1949, the Embassy of South Korea opened in Washington, DC. In 1960, there were about 400 to 500 ethnic Koreans in that city. Most of them were wives of former U.S. soldiers, students, and embassy staff.[2]

    In the 1990s, the Korean population in Fairfax County, Virginia increased sharply. From 1990 to 2011, the Korean population in Fairfax County increased by over 200%. From 2001 to 2011, the Fairfax County Korean population increased by 13,000, or almost 50%.[2]

    Demographics

    The 2010 U.S. Census stated that 41,356 ethnic Koreans live in Fairfax County, Virginia, making up 3.8% of the county's population,[3] and over 60% of Virginia's ethnic Koreans.[4] Korean-American Association of the Washington, D.C., Metro Area president Steve Choi stated that because some Korean residents of Northern Virginia are illegal immigrants and because many are "very private people" the Korean population was in fact under-counted. As of 2010, the Koreans are Fairfax County's third largest immigrant community.[3] As of the 2000 U.S. Census, 62% of the Koreans in Virginia were in Fairfax County.[2]

    Almost 25% of the ethnic Koreans in Fairfax County live in Annandale and Centreville. Annandale houses a Koreatown in the city center,[4] which was active since the late 1980s.[2] University of Maryland Asian American studies professor Larry Shinagawa stated relatively more Koreans in Fairfax County are engaged in business.[4] Dave Seminara of the Fairfax Times stated that area Korean community leaders, including Steve Choi, credited the reputation of the Fairfax County Public Schools and the establishment of nonstop flights between Washington Dulles International Airport and Incheon Airport circa 2001 to the growth of the Fairfax Korean community.[3] Pyong Gap Min, author of Asian Americans: Contemporary Trends and Issues, stated that the suburban lifestyle and proximity to Washington, DC made Fairfax County an attractive destination for the ethnic Koreans.[2]

    As of the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 39,155 Koreans in the State of Maryland; 40% of them were in Montgomery County, Maryland in the Washington DC area.[2] Shinagawa stated that Koreans in Maryland are more likely to have high education compared to those in Virginia and that they tend to work in banking, government, law, and science.[4]

    Economy

    As of 2006, many Koreans in Fairfax County, Virginia operate businesses in Washington, D.C. and work for the Federal Government of the United States.[2]

    After Korean immigration began, many ethnic Koreans lived in northern Virginia while owning businesses in Washington, D.C. Liz Farmer of the Washington Examiner stated that during the early 1990s there were not very many Korean businesses in Annandale, Virginia. After the early 1990s increasing numbers of Korean businesses opened in Virginia. University of Maryland Shinagawa stated that more Korean businesses opened in Virginia than in Maryland due to differing tax rates.[4]

    Institutions
    Embassy of South Korea, Washington, D.C.

    The South Korean government maintains the Embassy of South Korea, Washington, D.C..

    Politics

    The Washington Post printed an editorial arguing that Virginia state officials who were promising to take pro-Korean actions regarding the Sea of Japan (East Sea) dispute and the Fairfax County government establishing a World War II comfort women memorial were "pandering" and were not appropriate.[5]

    Media

    As of 2011, four Korean-language newspapers, three Korean-language television channels, and one Korean-language radio station are in Northern Virginia.[3]

    Education

    Fairfax County Public Schools offers Korean language classes at Fairfax High School Academy and at four elementary schools, open to both ethnic Koreans and non ethnic-Koreans. As of September 2010 the school district had 6,387 students who natively speak Korean.[3]

    Recreation

    The Montgomery County, Maryland government has established Korean-American Day.[6]

    Religion

    For Protestants, the Korean Central Presbyterian Church is in Centreville. For Catholics, the St. Paul Chung Korean Catholic Church is in Centreville.

    Notable residents
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    See also
    • History of the Koreans in Baltimore

    References
    1. Paarlberg, Mike. "Mappers' Delight Archived 2014-09-03 at WebCite" (Archive). Washington City Paper. March 7, 2014. Retrieved on September 4, 2014.
    2. Min, Pyong Gap (editor). Asian Americans: Contemporary Trends and Issues (Volume 174 of Sage focus editions). Pine Forge Press, 2006. ISBN 1412905567, 9781412905565. p. 238.
    3. Seminara, Dave. "Koreans make their mark in Fairfax" (Archive). Fairfax Times. Wednesday October 5, 2011. Corrected October 6, 2011. Retrieved on September 4, 2014.
    4. Farmer, Liz. "Koreans, Indians lead Northern Virginia's Asian population boom" (Archive). Washington Examiner. July 21, 2011. Retrieved on September 4, 2014.
    5. Editorial Board. "Pandering to Northern Va.’s Koreans is going to extremes." Washington Post. August 19, 2014. Retrieved on September 4, 2014.
    6. "Korean-American Day" (Archive). County of Montgomery. Retrieved on September 4, 2014.
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