First Asian & Asian American Studies Student Research Symposium
Location
Center for Scholarly Communication
Start Date
4-11-2018 1:00 PM
Keywords
Korean Americans, Korean churches, Koreatowns, Flushing (New York)
End Date
4-11-2018 1:30 PM
Presentation Type
Poster
Description
As of 2010, the Korean population living in Queens, NY was 64,107 (US Census). A majority of these Koreans live in Flushing, NY, which is also known as New York City’s Koreatown. A key characteristic of the Korean American community is the importance of the Korean church. Not only does it serve as a place of worship, but it also serves as a community center. Korean churches provide Korean language classes, Pre-K classes, visa workshops, opportunities to go on missionary trips, and meals for the elderly. While this seems like an ordinary occurrence, the Flushing area stands out in one key way: the amount of Korean churches. The amount of Korean churches in Flushing, NY is 104, 58% of them being Presbyterian. This sheer number poses several issues for not only Korean Americans but also the surrounding community. When there are churches next door to each other, and even some churches that share the same space, the decision of what church to attend no longer becomes an easy choice. For the community, Flushing’s parking situation is only escalated whenever there is a service, causing frustration towards the growing number of churches. The language barrier between the two only heightens the animosity.
Included in
The Impact of Korean Churches on the Korean American Community in Flushing, New York
Center for Scholarly Communication
As of 2010, the Korean population living in Queens, NY was 64,107 (US Census). A majority of these Koreans live in Flushing, NY, which is also known as New York City’s Koreatown. A key characteristic of the Korean American community is the importance of the Korean church. Not only does it serve as a place of worship, but it also serves as a community center. Korean churches provide Korean language classes, Pre-K classes, visa workshops, opportunities to go on missionary trips, and meals for the elderly. While this seems like an ordinary occurrence, the Flushing area stands out in one key way: the amount of Korean churches. The amount of Korean churches in Flushing, NY is 104, 58% of them being Presbyterian. This sheer number poses several issues for not only Korean Americans but also the surrounding community. When there are churches next door to each other, and even some churches that share the same space, the decision of what church to attend no longer becomes an easy choice. For the community, Flushing’s parking situation is only escalated whenever there is a service, causing frustration towards the growing number of churches. The language barrier between the two only heightens the animosity.