Lift Korean American Voices With National Survey

On January 13, 2021, the Council of Korean Americans celebrated Korean American Day with our landmark publication The National Korean American Community: Promises, Perils, and Paradoxes authored by noted political scientist Dr. Taeku Lee of UC Berkeley. 

Although highly educated and economically thriving as a whole, this revealing report also contests the myth that Korean Americans are a “model minority” group. The community faces many systemic inequities, including broad socio-economic discrimination and large pockets of poverty, especially among older generations. Many Korean Americans regularly experience racial microaggressions in their neighborhoods and suffer from high levels of substance abuse.

“In addition to detailing the progress and challenges of the community, this important research highlights the critical areas that Korean Americans need to work more intentionally to address, such as actively building bridges with other racial groups and encouraging fellow members to be more civically engaged,” shares CKA Executive Director, Abraham Kim. 

 This report is part of a multi-year project to provide national and local leaders––as well as civic organizations––with data and trend analysis to help identify Korean Americans’ critical needs and priorities. This published analysis is the first step in this project.

On behalf of the Council of Korean Americans, we sincerely thank you again for your generosity as we continue this necessary effort. We hope that you will continue to invest in the future of the Korean American community.