KOREA

"Live righteously, know your roots, live in harmony."
— Yoon Han Bong

In 2003, Korean Americans celebrated their 100th anniversary of Korean immigration to the United States. From contract workers on Hawaii's plantations, to refugees escaping political persecution and economic downturn, to immigrants who sacrificed to establish themselves on foreign land, they have made important contributions to mainstream American society in the areas of finance, medicine, technology, and various others. As Korean Americans continue to make new history, we must remember the courage and values their forefathers displayed in their journey to get here.

Hawaii Korean Farmer's Music Association. — Taken by Daniel Ramirez in Honolulu on June 10, 2021. (CC BY 2.0)

Korean American Day Celebration. — Taken by Jay Baker at Annapolis, MD (CC BY 2.0)

TIMELINE OF EVENTS

1903

Korean Laborers in Hawaii

Screen Shot 2023-03-06 at 10.39_edited.jpg

1905

The Picture

Brides

1932

Japan's Comfort Women

1945

The War Brides

1950

KoreanWar

1953

The

Refugee

Relief Act

1965

Immigration and Nationality Act

1976

Korean

Diaspora

2020

COVID-19 Anti-Asian Sentiment

CLICK ON AN EVENT ABOVE TO LEARN MORE...

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The Picture Brides

1905-24

Arranged to marry men they only knew through photographs, these women did anything they could to fulfill familial, traditional obligations, and to escape a life of poverty. Learn more about the picture brides. 

Go to Event

Korean Laborers in Hawaii

1903-06

The story of Korean Americans begins with the immigration of thousands of Koreans who came to Hawaii as contract workers on the sugar plantations. Learn more about the Korean laborers in Hawaii.

Go to Event

Japan's Comfort Women

1932-45

Stolen, kidnapped, and forced from their homes to become military sex slaves, these` women's stories are some the most underrepresented atrocities that came out of the World War II era, Learn more about Japan's comfort women.

Go to Event

The War Brides

1945-48

To escape the devastation left behind by war and military occupation, many women married American servicemen and immigrated to the United States. Learn more about the war brides.

Go to Event

Korean War

1950

North Korea and South Korea clash at the 38th Parallel as the former sought to reunite them as a single country under communism. Learn more about the Korean War. 

Go to Event

The Refugee Relief Act

1953

The United States provides the first crucial opening for Korean refugees and orphans. Learn more about the Refugee Relief Act. 

Go to Event

Immigration and Nationality Act

1965

In response to the growing sentiment of the civil rights movement, the quota system based on national origin finally came to an end. Learn more about the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965.

Go to Event

Korean Dispora

1976

Korean immigrants were the third largest group to enter the United States, no longer as refugees but as individuals seeking opportunity inspired by the American Dream. Learn more about the Korean diaspora. 

Go to Event

COVID-19 Anti-Asian Sentiment

2020

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the spread of the coronavirus was accompanied by discrimination and xenophobic violence against Asian Americans. Learn more about the COVID-19 anti-Asian sentiment.

A TRAUMA-INFORMED EXPLORATION of ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORY

KOREA

"Live righteously, know your roots, live in harmony." — Yoon Han Bong

TIMELINE OF EVENTS

CLICK ON AN EVENT ABOVE TO LEARN MORE...

The Picture Brides

1905-24

Arranged to marry men they only knew through photographs, these women did anything they could to fulfill familial, traditional obligations, and to escape a life of poverty. Learn more about the picture brides.

Korean Laborers in Hawaii

1903-06

The story of Korean Americans begins with the immigration of thousands of Koreans who came to Hawaii as contract workers on the sugar plantations. Learn more about the Korean laborers in Hawaii.

Japan's Comfort Women

1932-45

Stolen, kidnapped, and forced from their homes to become military sex slaves, these` women's stories are some the most underrepresented atrocities that came out of the World War II era, Learn more about Japan's comfort women.

The War Brides

1945-48

To escape the devastation left behind by war and military occupation, many women married American servicemen and immigrated to the United States. Learn more about the war brides.

Korean War

1950

North Korea and South Korea clash at the 38th Parallel as the former sought to reunite them as a single country under communism. Learn more about the Korean War.

The Refugee Relief Act

1953

The United States provides the first crucial opening for Korean refugees and orphans. Learn more about the Refugee Relief Act.

Immigration and Nationality Act

1965

In response to the growing sentiment of the civil rights movement, the quota system based on national origin finally came to an end. Learn more about the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965.

Korean Dispora

1976

Korean immigrants were the third largest group to enter the United States, no longer as refugees but as individuals seeking opportunity inspired by the American Dream. Learn more about the Korean diaspora.

COVID-19 Anti-Asian Sentiment

2020

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the spread of the coronavirus was accompanied by discrimination and xenophobic violence against Asian Americans. Learn more about the COVID-19 anti-Asian sentiment.

"Live righteously, know your roots, live in harmony."
— Yoon Han Bong

Arranged to marry men they only knew through photographs, these women did anything they could to fulfill familial, traditional obligations, and to escape a life of poverty. Learn more about the picture brides. 

North Korea and South Korea clash at the 38th Parallel as the former sought to reunite them as a single country under communism. Learn more about the Korean War. 

The United States provides the first crucial opening for Korean refugees and orphans. Learn more about the Refugee Relief Act. 

Korean immigrants were the third largest group to enter the United States, no longer as refugees but as individuals seeking opportunity inspired by the American Dream. Learn more about the Korean diaspora. 