Korean American Immigrants

America has long been referred to as the melting pot of the world. People from countries all around the world seek a life in America where they look to capitalize on the opportunities available here and freedom to be the person they want to be. Immigrants bring a rich sense of culture with them in the form of myth and religious practices which have been imposed upon them in their homeland. Not all immigrants however mesh as well as others. South-Korean Americans travel here and often find a need to change the way they act in order to fit in. I will be exploring the intersection between Korean culture and that of the United States during the immigration periods of the last 75 years using Confucianism as well as myths to describe what it means
"They may ignore many of the more archaic elements of their heritage, but they still see themselves as Koreans first, and may adopt a more combative 'us against them' mentality when it comes to other groups. It makes us neither fish nor fowl. Some Koreans don't feel terribly connected to their home country, but they never truly feel like Americans either. They are somewhere in the middle, torn between the inner circles of the Korean communities and the forces of Westernization and modernization in America. It's been this way for decades, and I'm not sure it's going to change any time soon" (Kim).
Koreans have started to change the way they align with traditionalist Confucian ideas over the last 25-30 years because of their struggles with assimilation. Korea and America are obviously very different and hold a different set of values and beliefs. That being said, an immigrant to America will likely need to change something essential to themselves and their identity in order to “fit in.” Kim has noticed that a lot of Koreans are torn between a set of values that they have lived and been raised under, and the very different values held by the typical
Qualities and practices that are considered to be normal and expected while living in South Korea, are very different than those present in America. Many Korean-Americans decide to change some of the values and practices that they consider to be important while in America because the two societies are just so different. It isn’t that a Korean-American will be viewed as an outcast just because they have high standards and want to be successful, but since this is not as normal in the United States as it is in Korea. The implication of being Korean-American is that one will be committed to working hard, respect their family, and understand how hard one has to work in order to succeed. Some of the Confucian beliefs are implicit in this meaning. The typical Korean-American will value success, but will not be as harsh on him or herself as someone living in Korea. The immigration process allows one the opportunity to mutate some of their values and beliefs whether they do not agree fully with them, or if they simply want to fit in