Korean Job Discussion Forums

R. S. Refugee · Joined: 29 Sep 2004 Location: Shangra La, ROK

where is the best place? I have no idea because I'm not a Korean.

I have a Korean acquaintance who I've started having a cultural exchange with. He's a regional manager for a multinational corporation.

His son has been attending boarding school in Canada since middle school and will be starting at a Canadian university in Sept. with a plan to transfer to a US uni in a couple of years. He's actually grooming him to make a career in the US or in Korea.

He's wants to know more about what places in the US are good for a Korean like his son to go to make a career. He's interested in such questions as racial discrimination and where Koreans are likeliest to be well-accepted, happy, and successful.

Not having lived in a "red state" in over 20 years, I'm not in a good position to offer un-biased opinions about places outside the Pacific Northwest. I think it would be great if I could find a discussion forum where Koreans in the US go to discuss their lives in the US. That would probably be a good place for him to study such issues.

Anyone know of any?

Junior · Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Location: the eye

Tell him he can only go there to teach Korean, and he must on no account consider staying there or stealing one of your local women.

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

I'd recommend Portland, maybe Seattle, or most of the New England states. It really depends on what he wants. Big city? Mid-sized town? Country? Urban?

Discrimination happens non-stop in the US, and it's really not possible to say one particular area is better for Koreans. It's more a matter of what kind of lifestyle you want to live.

I know a Korean woman, for example, who's quite happy in a smallish city near Atlanta, Georgia. I knew a couple Koreans who were well-treated in Charlotte, NC.

Just depends on what he wants.

heydelores · Joined: 24 Apr 2006

From this site: http://www.capaa.wa.gov/koreanamericans.html

"Today, Korean Americans rank as the fourth largest Asian group in the US with a population of over one million, of which 150,000 are Korean adoptees. The state with the largest Korean American population is California with 33%, followed New York with 12%. Washington State currently has approximately 43,600 Korean Americans, of which, 67�/a reside in Seattle area and 19% live in the Tacoma area."

It doesn't talk about quality of life, but it does say where the population centers are, though I'd imagine that Korean communities can be found in/around most large US cities.

endo · Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Location: Seoul...my home

Tell him to also consider Canada. Toronto or Vancouver would be great cities to make a living in.

hatter · Joined: 02 Jun 2006

I think that there is a large number of Koreans in Los Angeles, a strong Korean American community. I also know there is a neighborhood in Chicago that is very Korean, but in general Asians are widely accepted here in Chicago.

I also would recommend west coast, Portland or Seattle...

Beth

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

I would suggest he stay away from the larger concentrations of Koreans. The fewer (of any outside group), the more likely it is he will be seen as a cool curiosity, rather than a member of an invading horde.

SuperFly · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Location: In the doghouse

Arizona (Phoenix) has a growing population, ASU has always had a small but steady population of students. Not too many, but enough to have a support network.

My company employs about 45 Korean Americans and graduates. There are a LOT of big companies here, including some Korean ones like HANJIN shipping along w/some others...they're always looking to hire Koreans (smart ones, not stupid people) They train them in International trade and they do an internship of some sort in Korea and the USA, then they get to travel. That's the short version...I'd have to ask my wife for more details.

This area has had tremendous growth in it's job and housing markets.

Milwaukiedave · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Location: Goseong

I agree, either Portland or Seattle. At the same time, I'm bias as heck since I'm from Portland.

My wife and I are moving back to Portland next year. I searched on the internet and found quite a few organizations centered around Korean or Korean-Americans. I would guess is there would probably be even more in Seattle.

Portland is a beautiful city!