Korean+American+Artwork

Korean American

= ﻿﻿Korean Immigration  = ==== ﻿﻿﻿by Erin An   The contributions of Korean immigrants to American culture are significant. The first generation __contributed labor to America’s economy.__ The second and third generations __expanded Korean cultures in America by opening Korean American cuisine food restaurants and Tae Kwon Do studios.__ The Korean culture has become more Americanized, but it remains distinct in American society ====



==== Kim Whanki, a Korean immigrant artist, studied in both Seoul, the capital of South Korea, and in New York. One of his paintings called “Rondo” portraits the spirit of Korean nature and different cultures. “Rondo” is filled with geometric shapes. There are small human forms occupying the right side and a larger human form occupying the left side. Kim Whanki uses different colors for different geometric shapes and each human form is filled with different colors, too. I think the overall asymmetric shape represents American society and every small geometric shape symbolizes different cultures that exist in American society. Also, each human form represents people from different nations. I think two red human forms represent Korean Americans because red is one of the traditional colors of South Korea. Therefore, “Rondo” shows the theme that America is a “nation of immigrants” and a mix of different cultures, but each remains distinct. It is truly a representation of multiculturalism in America. The theme that conributed to the overall American artistic voice is multiculturism of American society. ====



KoreAm Journal is a monthly magazine that covers the news, culture, and people of Korean America. This specific magazine cover is a photograph taken by a third generation of Korean American, Nathan. It shows both distinct Korean culture and Korean culture melting in American society. It depicts mixture of Korean culture and American pop culture. It shows that the generations of Korean immigrants are still Korean on the outside but at the same time American. The patriotism of America painted all over the Korean American boy’s face shows how two cultures melt together. Also, the word “KoreAm” tells that both Korean and American cultures are equally important and meaningful for Korean immigrants. This picture shows two distinct cultures, but it shows how these two are melting together at the same time. The themes of this art piece that contributed to the overall American artistic voice are patriotism and assimilation of different culture.

= General Information on Korean immigrants : =

==== Korean immigration __started in the early 1990s__. In the early 1900s, Hawaiian sugar plantation owners needed cheap laborers. American missionaries and plantation owners advertised Hawaii as a delightful place where the work is pleasant. Many Koreans were __desperate for food, freedom, and Korean identity__ because Korea was under siege by the Japanese occupation at that time. Many poor people from the north left for these reasons. A few people from the higher class left in order to __practice Christian faith, pursue education, and resist Japanese control.__ Many Korean immigrants believed themselves as sojourners who would work for a period of time and return to Korea with money to support their families. Therefore, owners and missionaries tried to convert Korean’s religion to Christianity because they believed Christians would fit well in America and would not leave. ====

==== Many labors __donated their month’s wages to the Korean Independence Movement__ and they even moved to the U.S. mainland since there were more opportunities and higher wages. These first generation immigrants are mostly from the north before the Korean War. The Korean War motivated South Koreans to immigrate for __economic opportunity.__ The United States hired a lot of South Korean __medical workers and engineers__ after 1965. Also, many Korean immigrants opened __small businesses like grocery stores and dry cleaning.__ Korean American labor helped build the American economy from the sugar plantations to professional works such as electrician and physicians. The most populated Korean community regions are California, Hawaii, New York, Illinois, and New Jersey. ====