In lieu of not being present at your group presentation on Wednesday, October 15, I have read through your project at your
website. I apologize for not being there to comment you then since I was at my own research presentation in New Orleans. I have commented on each part of your project. In (DELETE or ADD "word(s)") is where I saw simple grammatical errors that should be corrected. In italics are my comments and suggestions. I hope this critique will help you make a more polished product to present on the WWW.
In 1904, Japan had become more and more dominant in Korea. Japanese forces moved through Korea to attack China. One year later, Japan declared Korea was to be a dependent state with Japan. It was one of the reasons that a large group of Korean came to the U.S. (DELETE "It was") (ADD "There were") approximately 7,000 (ADD "s"-"Koreans") with most of them (DELETE "were") (ADD "being") male. They left their country behind to seek for job opportunities, and freedom. These group of people were laborers, ex-soldiers, political refugees and students. Around that period for the first immigrants, they did not stay in the sugar plantations for long. They moved into other businesses such as docks and tailoring. Eventually, they began moving to the Mainland and settled in Seattle and Montana areas, engaging in farming. By 1922, there were only 442 Korean remained in the sugar plantations.
For the recent Korean history, the U.S. military role in South Korea has played a decisive role in shaping Korean American life in other fundamental ways. Between 1962 and 1983, 85,000 Korean women immigrated to the U.S., many of them as brides of American GIs. During the same period, 50,000 children, many of them Ameriasian, were adopted by Americans. These subgroups helped form links in the kin-based chain of migration between South Korea and the U.S. in the postwar period. As the population growth of Korean American community in the U.S., the LA Koreatown and the Orange County Koreatown began to take shape during the early 1970s and early 1980.
Very good history and background of the Koreans. Were there
any major conflicts or wars in Korea at the time?
As we mentioned there (DELETE "is") (ADD "were") significant numbers of Koreans in American and Korean Americans who (DELETE "living") (ADD "lived") in the United States (PERIOD) Their cultural habits or ideas also could let us know them better. There are three main cultural aspects (ADD "which") include cultural identity, Korean Americans' goals and (DELETE "analyze") (ADD "analysis of the") roles of Korean women.
The first cultural aspect is cultural identity; it means how Koreans define themselves. They think themselves (DELETE "are") (ADD "as") Americans or still Koreans even after they immigrated (DELETE "to") here long time ago(DELETE "? ") (ADD PERIOD) Culturally, Korean immigrants remain very strong ties. Most of them are very attached to their traditional ethnic heritage. From the source that we found, there are about 50% -60% of Korean Americans (ADD "who") are still non-citizens. They thought that Korea is their home. In an article "They Armed in Self-Defense" written by Elaine H. Kim, she talked about how her parents feel after they immigrated to America. They both never became U.S. citizens. Her father always believed he would return to
Korea someday. However, he died in Oakland when he was 88 years old. Kim buried her father in Korea accordance with his father's wishes.
The second cultural aspect is Korean Americans' goals. In America, a lot of Korean Americans think that education is very important. They think that this is the way that they could succeed in their businesses. They always like to start their own business. Small businesses that are owned by Korean Americans are all over the country. In an article "Conception of Ethnicities by Koreans: Workplace
Encounters" written by Kyeyoung Park. He told us small businesses that owned by Korean Americans include people (ADD "who") run a dry cleaner, Western grocery store, fish market in Washington Heights, a drug store and a Korean supermarket, etc. In another article "Korean Immigrant Small Businesses in Chicago", it tells us the
(ADD "s"-"foreign-borns") have shown a higher level of self-employment than the native born has. Korean Americans usually have a very strong desire to be entrepreneurs.
In the previous time, it was Korean tradition that women should not work outside of the house. Most of them would stay at home and take care of her children. However, because time has changed, a lot
of Korean women who live in America are very independent. Most of them work outside and support the family. In an article "A Korean Immigration Story" written by Stevekyoo Young Chang, he says his mom's life (DELETE "is") (ADD "has") changed after she immigrated to America. Her mother has to work more than twelve hours a day to support the children. Even though she (DELETE "is") (ADD "was") very busy, she still (DELETE "use") (ADD "used") most of her leisure times to take care (ADD "of") her children because she knows this is her main responsibility.
What kind of education backgrounds did the Koreans have? Did
many possess a college degree or beyond? Maybe statistics could be shown in this section.
Korean emigration to the Americas began in 1902, when representatives from Hawaiian sugar plantations came to the port of Inchon (DELETE "seening") (ADD "seeking") agricultural workers. Christian missionaries in Korea encouraged their converts to emigrate, which the Korean Government also became interested in emigration as a possible solution to the distress caused by a drought in northwest Korea. The first group of 93 contract laborers arrived in Honolulu early in 1903. By the end of 1904, 6,647 Koreans had been admitted to Hawaii. when the Korean Government put an end to emigration late in 1905, about 8,000 had already come to Honolulu. Until 1945, Koreans in America constituted a small and largely isolated minority with about 6,500 in Hawaii and about 3,000 scattered about on the North American mainland.
Korean is one of the fastest growing ethnic minorities in the United States. This is mainly due to the heavy influx of immigrants since 1965, when the racially-biased immigration law was changed in
favor of family ties and occupational skills. The volume of Korean immigrants has grown larger every year since 1965, exceeding 30,000 per year since 1976. (see the table below) The 1970 U.S. Census estimated the total number of Koreans in the United States at about 113,000. From the 1990 Census, only in San Francisco,Oakland, and San Jose, there were about 42,277 Koreans.
Korean and Total Immigration to U.S. for Fiscal Years 1965-1977
===============================================================
Year Total Korean Percent Korean
---------------------------------------------------------------
1965 296,697 2,165 0.7
1966 323,040 2,492 0.8
1967 361,972 3,956 1.1
1968 454,448 3,811 0.8
1969 358,579 6,045 1.7
1970 373,326 9,314 2.5
1971 370,478 14,297 3.9
1972 384,685 18,876 4.9
1973 400,063 22,930 5.7
1974 394,861 28,028 7.1
1975 386,194 28,362 7.3
1976 398,615 30,803 7.7
1976(July-Sept) 103,676 6,887 6.6
1977 462,315 30,917 6.7
-----------------------------------------------------------
Now, there are about 6,240 Koreans (DELETE "live") (ADD "living") in San Francisco (ADD CAPITALIZE "County"). Compared to the other Asian (ADD "s"-"Americans"), there are about 127,140 Chinese, 42,652 Filipino, 12,047 Japanese, 9,712 Vietnamese, and 1,490 Cambodian live in San Francisco (ADD-CAPITALIZE-"County"). The Korean (DELETE "is") (ADD "are") the fifth (DELETE "larger") (ADD "largest") Asian group in San Francisco Bay (ADD CAPITALIZE "Area"). Most of them live in Richmond, Japantown, Sunset, and Ocean districts.
Good analysis. Are there any reasons why the Richmond, Japantown, Sunset, and Ocean districts were chosen as places for the
Koreans to live upon arriving in San Francisco?
The living (ADD "s"-"conditions") of Korean immigrants in their early days in America was terrible. Korean workers were exploited by their plantation owners because the owners (ADD "were") only concerned about the growth of its profit. The daily average wage of a Korean plant worker was only sixty-five cents. This income was barely (DELETE "cover") (ADD "enough") (ADD "to keep") them from starving. Racial discrimination, cultural conflict and English deficiency were also barrier which (DELETE "preventing") (ADD "prevented") Korean immigrants from getting more meaningful jobs or promotion.
Because the Korean traditional social norms consider the merchant on the bottom and the scholar on the top, most
(ADD CAPITALIZE AND ADD "s"-"Koreans") had no experience in business operation. As a result, opening businesses in U.S. was impossible for the early Korean immigrants. It took the first and second world wars to change the Korean immigrants lives. These war years were economic boom years for the Korean. Korean economic and social patterns improved greatly. Lots of Koreans became tailors, carpenters, store salesmen and so on. Also, the Korean community began to move into a more progressive and prosperous community. Communities increased with the establishment of more schools and churchs. Besides, many Korean immigrants walked away from the plantations and moved into the urban cities. Some of them opened family operated businesses, such as laundry and shoe repair shops. The living (ADD "s"-"conditions") of (ADD "s"-"Koreans") began to improve.
As financial (ADD "s"-"conditions") improved, the (ADD "s"-"Koreans") had more money to put on their children's education. They published newspapers, magazines and books about Korea for children. The education level of Korean is one of the highest among the ethnic group. Except in import and export businesses, the Korean has done very well in other types of businesses, especially in medical, legal and law enforcement fields.
Today, the Korean are better educated and have more skills than their ancestors. Many of them are professional, such as medical doctors, scientists and school teachers. In addition, many small businesses established in the Korean community cross over the country. According to "Korean in America," about 10 percent of the Korean population in U.S. is associated with some kind of businesses. Some of the classifications are:
In general, Korean business in (DELETE "American") (ADD "America") still grows in terms of capital investment, mostly in small family-typed (ADD "es"-"businesses"), marketing, services and management. In San Francisco, the majority of Korean business is operated mainly in Richmond area. Most of these business are small size, such as (ADD "s"-"restaurants"), grocery and liquor stores. For the other (ADD "s"-"Koreans") who do not have their own businesses, the majority of them are in sales, technical and administrative positions. Lots of them are earning good money. Since the Korean are (DELETE "so hardworing") (ADD "hardworking") and educated, they have been a strong force in today's U.S. competitive market.
Very interesting. Any statistics on the growth income of Korean Americans?
The San Francisco Korean United Methodist Church was established in 1904 by some of the earliest Korean immigrants to America. The church then, as it is to some extent now, served as the focal point of the national Korean community.Their ministry started in 1990 when we were still in the old Powell St. building.
Much of the Church's history can be seen in photographs, artifacts and documents on display in the Historical Resource Room, located on the bottom floor of the Church building. You are invited to view these any Sunday during regular worship hours, or by appointment on weekdays.
On Oct 3,1997, we visited the San Francisco Korean United Methodist Church on Judah Street (ADD COMMA) (DELETE "is") one of the oldest in the country. According to the Youth Director, Steven Seung, the church has been standing for 97 years. (DELETE "As") (ADD "In") our (ADD "s"-"observations"), the church is very bright, warm, and furnished with very comfortable chairs. We feel very comfortable and warm. We (ADD "were") invited (DELETE "with") (ADD "by") Steven Seung, (DELETE "he gave") (ADD "to give") us an overview of the church. The church is a very close community, as the members know each other well, like a giant family. He also talked about the church (DELETE "plays") (ADD "playing") an important role in the Korean American society. The San Francisco Korean United Methodist Church is a place that the Korean Americans spend a great time.They use bible as reference book and their lecture based on content of the bible only. When they attended Bible Study class, they have a chance to share their feelings. It makes them closer and closer from studying bible. Also, it (ADD "s"-"lets") them open their minds. The members of the English language ministry is marked by the people with diverse (ADD "s"-"backgrounds"). They gather to worship and serve the Lord without any regards to race, sex, age, and other usual things that some (DELETE "poeple") (ADD "people") worry about. They are the ministry of the English speaking believers and "want-to-be" believers. Their hearts, minds, and arms are wide open to welcome those who seek a spritual home.(SPACE) A few gathered to worship every Sunday for several years. Now, average of about 70 people gather on Sundays to worship together and fellowship with one another. The English worship service provides a chance for families to worship together. All adults are encouraged to attend a Bible Fellowship following the worship service, and at present, there are two: one for twenty and thirty-somethings, and another for older adults and married couples. Childcare during the worship service hour is provided downstairs in the nursery.
That's good you got the chance to conduct an interview about the church. This really shows that some Koreans have a strong belief in religion. Are the majority of the Korean American population Methodist?
Like most Asian people, Koreans were not treated well or welcomed into the United States with open arms. Su Cheng Chan detailed a example in her book "Asian Americans: an Interpretive History", "...... In June 1913 an orchard owner in Hemet, some 100 miles southeast of Los Angeles in Riverside county, arranged (DELETE "with") with a Riverside Korean Labor contracting agency to hire fifteen Korean fruit pickers. When the Latter disembarked from the train, they were met by several hundred unemployed Euro-Americans, who quickly surrounded them. A spokesperson for the crowd threatened the Koreans with physical harm if they did not leave immediately(DELETE ",") (ADD ".") Terrified by such an unexpected reception, the Koreans boarded the next train out of town." (ADD CAPITALIZE "With") such reactions by the whites in the United States at the time (early 1990's), it's no surprise most Asians, tended to stay with their own groups, and create their own communities and support groups, rather than relying on others for supports, like the Chinese, deciding to stay within Chinatown during the early days of Chinese immigration. (DELETE "Well,") (ADD CAPITALIZE "The") Koreans were no different (DELETE ",") (ADD ".") (DELETE "and I'll going to") (ADD "Now we will") take a look at how they handled their own social needs in the face of hatred and racism from the whites in the United States.
The primary social organization for Koreans at that time was the church. Many Koreans had converted in their native homeland, and thus when they came over to the United States, churches were not just places of worship, but a important community organization. According to Su-Cheng Chan "Churches not only met the religious needs of Korean Immigrants but their social and political ones as well." Chan only gives details on how churches helped Koreans politically, but in the book "Asian Americans", Charles Ryu, a minister picks up for Chan in describing the importance of the church to Koreans in a chapter called "religions and Fires within family: Koreans and Church." For people who attend church regularly, and those who don't, we have this conception of a church being a place for worship, to learn more about God and what blessings he brings is, and also to learn about the (ADD CAPITALIZE "Bible") and what is contained within it. Those are the primary goals for most, (DELETE "it") (ADD "if") not all churches. Socializing is a secondary thing. Of course, you are going to know family, friends and others that are in the church if you are attending it. And of course you are going to talk about what is happening in your life, work, school, etc. So, you will socialize at a church. At almost any place you will end up socializing. However it would appear that from Ryu's description, most Koreans, in the absence of any support from people outside their (DELETE "won") (ADD "one") community, turned to churches as their primary means of socializing. Koreans don't go to church because they want to learn more about God or anything like that, they want to go there because of social reasons. Learning more about God, the Bible, etc. just comes along with package. In a sense the church became your "family" or "community", that could support you in a way that outsiders never would have done. So, as you can see, the church was one and still is one of the most important social organizations in the Korean community. It provided much more than reachings of Christianty, but provided a sense of belonging, family and community to many generations of Koreans. Where is the introduction and conclusion of your presentation? I think this is vital since it gives the readers what you
are about to present about the Korean Americans and what you conclude about them. There are some grammatical and spelling errors throughout the context. Don't forget to proof-read each other's work or use the dictionary. It seems at the end, you put a lot of emphasis on the church. Were there any other social aspects you could have discussed?
Lastly, I think there should be more discussion of how Korean Americans established their communities and the struggles they faced in doing so.
Overall, nice discussion about the Korean Americans. Overall, I think the group could have improved in their presentation style. Content-wise, there seemed to be something
missing. Let us look into these in depth. On presentation style, Esther talked too fast and her eye
contact was directed too much at Professor Woo and not much to the
rest of the class. Also, she presented a table (I could not make it
out) and was shown briefly and taken away. I don't think many of us
were able to sufficently see what it was presenting. The next group
member after Esther, spoke softly and lacked eye contact to the class,
but was also excellent with her eye contact to Professor Woo. The part
of the presentation of the video, members knelt behind the table/podium. I understand that perhaps the class that were seated off
to the side could not see, but perhaps, you could have asked whether
or not the class could see or not and just remain standing at the
podium. One member went over to the members and started whispering, which seemed to disrupt the presentation. You must remember this is
a "formal" presentation. Video presentation was an excellent idea!
Content of presenting the Korean businesses on Geary seemed to
lack an overall objective rather than just producing numbers of how
many total businesses or affiliated Korean organizations there were.
Other than an overall comparison of total numbers from last year's
study and the behavior patterns of the business workers, was there anything else that was proved with your study? In addition, there seemed to lack important information about each of the segments that were in the video. Questions asked from the class, seemed to have been
inadequately answered. Perhaps there should have be adequate preparation in presenting the narration to the video. Obviously, there
were some time contraints since the last part of the video was not
shown and that could have been practiced before your actual presentation.
Overall Comments
Critique on Korean American Group Final Presentation
If you have any comments or questions, please send me a message at
regman@sfsu.edu