Koreans in Canada
A short introduction to the history of Korean Canadians
Junkyu Lee
Okanagan Korean Culture and Knowledge (OKCK) Society
In the context of Canada’s immigration history, Korean Canadians are relatively newcomers to the country. Prior to the 1960s, there were only 70 Koreans permanently settled in Canada. In recent years, however, the Korean-Canadian community has become one of the fastest growing visible minority groups in Canada. According to the 2006 national census, more than 150,000 Koreans were residing in Canada, accounting for 2.8 % of the total population of visible minorities. The majority of Korean Canadians are recent immigrants. At the time when the census was conducted, more than a third of them came to Canada between 2001 to 2006. 91 % of the Korean-Canadian population were first-generation immigrants who came directly from Korea. 8 % of the population were of second-generation. Only 1 % accounted for third-generation Korean Canadians.
Bienvenue! Why are Koreans moving to Canada?
A major reason why Koreans decide to move to Canada is that they want their children to receive better education. It is thus not a surprise to see a large presence of Korean students and their families in major Canadian cities. In fact, foreign students of Korean origin make up the largest international student group in Canada, accounting for more than 18 % of the total foreign student inflows in 2008. Data from Citizenship and Immigration of Canada (CIC) show that between 1998 and 2003, about 100,000 Korean students applied for or renewed their study permits. Around 15,000 young Koreans were living in Canada with temporary resident permits in 2008. Several factors account for this trend, including the negative aspects of the education system in Korea, Canada’s geographic location, and the learning opportunities the country offers. Similar to other East Asian countries, South Korea is known to have a highly competitive education system, which has produced a very stressful environment. In addition, higher education in Korea is very expensive. Many parents therefore opted to send their children abroad to study instead. It is also interesting to note that there are more Korean international students in Canada than in the United States partly due to the lower cost of living and easier access to ESL classes in Canada. British Columbia is often chosen as the best place to study due to the good reputation of its educational programs, the province’s close proximity to Korea and its natural beauty. Among Korean international students and their families, there is a strong interest in permanent migration. Indeed, whether the children are doing well in Canada has become an important determinant of whether a family will immigrate permanently.
The pattern of Korean migration to Canada has been heavily shaped by both political and economic conditions in South Korea. For instance, in 1997 South Korea experienced a severe financial crisis. The government was forced to approach the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for relief funds. The economic hardship caused a temporary drop in the number of Korean visitors to Canada. At the same time, it drove many Korean families to look for better opportunities in other countries, including Canada. An immigration rush was marked by an increased inflow of immigrants from the professional classes from South Korea to Canada.
History of Korean immigration to Canada
While Korean Americans have an immigration history that dates back to the late 19th century, very few Koreans settled in Canada during this period. As late as 1965, the total number of permanent residents of Korean descent in Canada was estimated at only 70. The late 19th century saw the beginning of Canada-Korea relations. In 1888 the Canadian missionary James S. Gale from Toronto entered the Korean Peninsula. He established a mission in Wonsan and opened work in remote areas. He was also a prolific writer and an industrious translator. He participated in translating the Bible and Christian literature into Korean, wrote a book about Korean grammar and a dictionary, and translated Korean literature into English. Since it was too costly to send missionary workers back and forth from Canada, the Canadian Christian society decided to educate and train Korean missionary students in Canada instead. These students became the first Korean migrants to Canada.
The Joseon dynasty’s strict isolationist policy and the country’s unwillingness to modernize, coupled with Japanese military expansion, resulted in the annexation of Korea in 1910. Poverty and discrimination experienced by many Koreans under Japanese oppressive rule forced many people to leave the country. Most of them settled in northeast China and Russia across the Tumen River. Some moved to the United States. After 35 years of brutal colonial rule, in 1945 Korea was liberated from Japan. This sparked new diplomatic relations with Canada. For instance, in 1947, Canada participated in a United Nations Commission supervising free elections in South Korea.
Following its liberation, the country was divided into two regions, North and South, with separate governments due to ideological differences and the cold war between the Soviet Union and the United States. As a result, a civil war ensued and eventually escalated into open warfare when North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950. More than 26,000 Canadians participated in the war over the course of 3 years. During this period, Korea’s presence in Canada was mostly limited to missionary students who were permitted to stay on a temporary basis only.
In 1962, the government of Canada abolished national origin as a criterion for immigration, hence eliminating overt racial discrimination from the immigration policy. Skill and education, rather than race or national origin, became the main criteria for determining admissibility. However, an element of discrimination remained: immigrants from East Asia were not permitted to sponsor children over the age of 21, married children and other members of their extended family. There was no significant change in the pattern of Korean immigration to Canada. In the following year, Canada and South Korea initiated official diplomatic relations. Koreans then could consider Canada as a destination for permanent settlement.
As part of immigration policy reform, in 1967 Canadian government introduced a point system for admitting immigrants. Under this system, those who applied in the category of intendent immigrant were assessed by points in specific categories such as education, occupational skills and employment prospects. For instance, individuals receiving more than 50 out of 100 points were granted entry, regardless of their race, ethnicity or national origin. During this time period, the South Korean government also encouraged people to disperse via an emigration policy, which was a result of increased population in South Korea due to the decreasing mortality rate, the post-war baby boom and an influx of North Koreans. In addition, the South Korean government wanted to secure foreign currencies crucial to economic development. It saw exporting Korean labours overseas as a way to generate foreign currencies. Despite these changes, the number of permanent Korean immigrants in Canada remained low in the 1960s. The majority of Koreans in Canada were students or temporary workers.
In the 1970s more than 26,000 Korean immigrants came to Canada. The first large wave of Korean immigrants occurred after 1973, when Canada opened its first embassy in South Korea. Socioeconomic and political situations in South Korea also played a huge role in shaping the Korean migration pattern in Canada during period. Between 1961 and 1979South Korea was under military dictatorship. This created political and economic instability, resulting in a surge of permanent migration from South Korea. It peaked in 1975 with 4,311 immigrants to Canada. The South Korean government subsequently revised the country’s emigration policy to restrict the movement of wealthy Koreans, including individuals owning properties worth more than a hundred thousand USD, military officers, retired generals and high-ranking government officials. The government also restricted the amount of money each person could take when emigrating from South Korea. This change in policy, coupled with a recession in Canada, caused a rapid decline of permanent Korean migration to Canada.
Those who immigrated to Canada in the 1970s came through two main avenues: sponsored family members and independent immigrants with educational and occupational qualifications. More than half of the immigrants arriving in Canada between 1980 and 1985 were family class immigrants. The second largest group consisted of independent class immigrants. The majority of the new immigrants held a technical, skilled or paraprofessional occupation before immigration. 13 to 22 % of them had at least a university degree. In addition, about half of the adult immigrants were over 50s. The new immigrants mostly settled in Ontario and western provinces such as British Columbia and Alberta. Theyformed the foundation of the Korean-Canadian community today.
Development in Canada during the 1970s and 1980s continued laying a good foundation for future Korean immigration to Canada. The Immigration Act of 1976 represented a significant shift in Canadian immigration legislation. It was the first immigration act that clearly outlined the objectives of Canadian immigration policy, defined refugees as a distinct class of immigrants and mandated the federal government to consult with other levels of government in immigration planning and management. Another development is the introduction of the policy of multiculturalism in 1971 by the federal government. The policy recognized the cultural contribution of diverse ethnic groups in Canadian society. Then the Multiculturalism Act of 1988 provided a legislative framework for the existing policy of multiculturalism, which reflected Canada’s increasingly diverse racial and ethnic composition. The Act sought to protect the cultural heritage of all Canadians by reducing discrimination and encouraging the implementation of multicultural programs. The policy of multiculturalism was welcomed by many in the Korean-Canadian community.
The Seoul Summer Olympic Games in 1988 marked the beginning of a new era of economic stability and growth in South Korea. Following two decades of military dictatorship, the country finally established a fully functioning democratic government and experienced rapid economic development known as the “Miracle on the Han River.”
The trade between Canada and South Korea increased and was booted in the 1990s by the creation of “Special Partnership” between the two governments in 1993. In 1994 Canada granted visa exemption privileges to South Koreans. Under this agreement, South Korean visitors could stay in Canada for a period of up to six months without obtaining a visa. This led to an increasing number of South Korean international students and visitors in Canada. The inflow continued until 1997 when South Korea went into a financial crisis.
The economic growth in South Korea and the expansion of the business-class immigration program boosted Korean immigration to Canada. Between 1986 and 2003, permanent migration from South Korea to Canada steadily increased, reaching 9,600 in 2001 and then down to 7,000 in 2003. There was a growing numberof business-class immigrants, whose admission into Canada was largely based on their financial viability as entrepreneur and investors. The majority of the immigrants were relatively young,well-educated and financially successful. Most of them settled in Toronto and Vancouver. Montreal also saw the rise in the number of Korean immigrants during this time.
Since the early years of the new millennium, various changes in the patterns and composition of migration flows have occurred due to changes in Canada’s immigration policies. The Provincial Nominee Program or PNP is an example. Under this program, each province and territory is allowed to have its own immigration programs that target specific groups, such as students, business people, skilled or semi-skilled workers. This period is marked by another rise in migration flows from Korea. Many who arrived after 2003 are highly educated and relatively young. It is also interesting to note that the number of transnational families have grown. In fact, gireogigajok or goose family has become a national phenomenon in Korea. Similar to the “lone mother” of an astronaut family of Hong Kong immigrants, agireogi mother accompanies her children while they attend schools in Canada in the absence of their gireogifather, who stays in Korea, working and financially supporting the wife and children. Gireogi, literally meaning a goose, refers to the seasonal visits reuniting the separated family – like the way geese migrate each year. These parents believe that sending their children abroad at a young age will give them an opportunity to learn English and gain the ability to understand other cultures.
Another factor that attracts Korean immigrants to Canada is the currency exchange rate. The weakness of the Canadian dollar relative to the United States dollar means that South Korean immigrants bringing savings to Canada would be relatively richer than those who move to the United States. Social networks also often play a key role in choosing a destination. Quite often, first-generation immigrants have friends or relatives in Canada. They rely on these networks for information about the city and the settlement processes. In other cases, immigration agency and consultants act as mediators and help with immigration processes.
Korean Canadians in British Columbia
Historically, the province of Ontario hosted the largest Korean community in Canada. In 2008, half of the Korean Canadian population lived in Ontario, and the majority resided in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). 35 % of Korean immigrants were living in BC, forming the second largest Korean Canadian community in the country. The introduction of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) by the Canadian government in an effort to disperse immigrants across the country has led to a slow decline of immigration inflow into Toronto. In Vancouver, however, the number of Korean immigrants has steadily increased. Since 2003 Vancouver has become the number one destination place for Koreans landing in Canada, partially due to the well-established network of people of Korean heritage in the city.
Korean Canadians in Okanagan
The Korean community in the Okanagan region is relatively small compared to that in major Canadian cities. Prior to 1970 there was no landed immigrant of Korean heritage living in the region. In the 1990s the number of Korean immigrants reached a hundred. The community grew from 165 members in 2001 to 580 in 2011. The first business run by Korean immigrants in Kelowna is believed to be a gas station located in the Black Mountain area, which is still operating under the ownership of a Korean family. Most of the Koreans in the region are self-employed, working in various business sectors, including hotels, restaurants, convenient stores and orchards. As the community grew, Kelowna has attracted both young professionals from Korea and second- and third-generation Korean Canadians; some are employed in education and health care. In addition, the number of international students from Korea has increased in recent years after the opening of the UBC Okanagan campus in 2005.
Religious institutions, especially Korean Protestant churches, often facilitate multiple sociocultural and economic functions in the Korean immigrant community. These include retention of Korean cultural traditions, providing fellowship and social services for their members. The Korean community in the Okanagan is no exception. In 1996, Kelowna Korean Presbyterian Church, the first Korean church in the region, was founded, which has served as the gathering place for Korean immigrants.
In 2012, the Okanagan Korean Culture and Knowledge (OKCK) Society was found by the local Korean community leaders for the purpose of preserving and promoting Korean culture and heritage in the region. Since then, the society has participated in various community events, including Taste of Home festival, Asian Heritage Month (AHM) events, and Canada Day Folkfest.
Conclusion
Despite its relatively short history, Koreans in Canada form a vital part of a culturally diverse and vibrant Canada. From an international student learning English at the local university to an owner of a small Korean restaurant, members of the Korean-Canadian society are adding flavours to the large community. It is, however, unfortunate that the contribution made by Korean Canadians to the Okanagan region is often underestimated and even dismissed. George Santayana once famously said, “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”. Compared to other ethnic groups in the region, there are only a handful of written resources reflecting the history and culture of the local Korean-Canadian community. As a proud member of multicultural Canada and a link between two cultures, I believe that now is the time to build a strong foundation of cultural identity for the future generations to come.
References
Noh S, Kim A, Noh M, et al. Korean immigrants in Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto Press; 2012.
Van Dyk L. Canadian Immigration Acts and Legislation. Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21.
Anderson GH. Biographical Dictionary of Christian mission. New York: Macmillan Reference USA; 1998.