Korean American :: essays research papers

The Korean Experience in the States, 1903 1924The Korean experience in America during the years 1903 to 1924 is very unique. When compared to other East Asian immigrants, Korean immigrants were relatively small. Most of them were students and agricultural laborers who emigrated to Hawaii as plantation laborers. Many of them decided to capture to America due to constant invasion by Japan and also to earn lot of money. Those immigrants happen to be an important factor on Korean history.During the years 19031905, 7226 immigrants came to Hawaii. These immigrants hoped to earn enough money in 3 or 4 years and open a business in their homeland. Of the 7,226 immigrants, roughly 6000 were young-begetting(prenominal) adults, 600 were women, and 500 children. Just about 60% of them stayed and rest went back to Korea or moved to the continental United States. Within less than a decade, the Korean immigrants found themselves in danger of losing their homeland to Japan. This would mean that they wouldnt have their own country to go back to. In 1910, Japanese took over Korea. Thats when numerous Korean immigrants started to get involved in the Korean independence movement. After nine years of Japanese Annexation of Korea in 1910, around 540 student were admitted for bring at American schools. Most of these students were semipolitical refugees so they became an addition to the Korean community. Korean immigrants started to form anti-Japanese programs to free their country. This was a great concern to Japan. Japanese political relation decided to grant Korean women who were willing to move to America as marriage contracts to calm Korean immigrants from contributing to anti-Japanese programs. This decision didnt change Korean immigrants from involving in Korean independence movement but make them more desperate to get their country back for their daughters and sons. By the time 1915 1920, Korean immigrants made enough money to start small business like laundry, barber , restaurant, shoe repair services, and so on. This meant that they were able to donate more to political activities. Korean immigrants strengthened school for their children and churches. Korean immigrants were getting settled in America. They even had Korean newspapers to tell people what was going on with Korea.On the other hand, Korean political activists started to rise to start a movement, like Syngman Rhee, An Chang-ho and Pak Yong-man. These leaders tried to free Korea by trying to attract the attention and support of the American public.