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Korean Canadians () are Canadian citizens of full or partial
Korean Korean may refer to: People and culture * Koreans, people from the Korean peninsula or of Korean descent * Korean culture * Korean language **Korean alphabet, known as Hangul or Korean **Korean dialects **See also: North–South differences in t ...
ancestry. As of 2016, Korean Canadians are the 8th largest group of
Asian Canadians Asian Canadians are Canadians who were either born in or can trace their Ancestor, ancestry to the continent of Asia. Canadians with Asian ancestry comprise both the largest and fastest-growing group in Canada, after European Canadians, forming ...
. Korean immigration to Canada began with seminary students in the 1940s and accelerated during the 1990s. According to the 2021 Canadian Census, there were 218,140 Korean Canadians in Canada. According to South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, there were 241,750 ethnic Koreans or people of Korean descent living in Canada , making them the fourth-largest
Korean diaspora The Korean diaspora consists of around 7.3 million people, both descendants of early emigrants from the Korea, Korean Peninsula, as well as more recent emigrants from Korea. Around 84.5% of overseas Koreans live in just five countries: the Unit ...
population (behind
Koreans in China Koreans in China include both ethnic Koreans with Chinese nationality and non-Chinese nationalities such as South Korean ( zh, s=在华韩国人·韩裔) and North Korean ( zh, s=在华朝鲜人·朝鲜裔) people living in China. For this re ...
, Koreans in the United States, and
Koreans in Japan () are ethnic Koreans who immigrated to Japan before 1945 and are citizens or permanent residents of Japan, or who are descendants of those immigrants. They are a group distinct from South Korean nationals who have immigrated to Japan since t ...
, and ahead of
Koreans in Russia Koryo-saram (; ) or Koryoin () are ethnic Koreans of the former Soviet Union, who descend from Koreans that were living in the Russian Far East. Koreans first began settling in the Russian Far East in the late 19th century. Their numbers incre ...
,
Koreans in Uzbekistan Koryo-saram (; ) or Koryoin () are ethnic Koreans of the former Soviet Union, who descend from Koreans that were living in the Russian Far East. Koreans first began settling in the Russian Far East in the late 19th century. Their numbers incre ...
and Koreans in Australia).


History

The first Koreans to live in Canada were local Christians sent by Canadian missionaries as
seminary A seminary, school of theology, theological college, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called seminarians) in scripture and theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as cle ...
students. Tae-yon Whang is largely regarded as the first recorded Korean immigrant to go to Canada. Tae-yon Whang visited Canada in 1948 as a mission-sponsored medical intern, and stayed in Toronto after his term was over. Unlike
Korean Americans Korean Americans () are Americans of full or partial Korean ethnicity, Korean ethnic descent. While the broader term Overseas Korean in America () may refer to all ethnic Koreans residing in the United States, the specific designation of Kore ...
who have relatively much longer history settling in the United States, very few settled in Canada; as late as 1965, the total permanent Korean population of Canada was estimated at only 70. However, with the 1966 reform of Canadian immigration laws, South Korean immigration to Canada began to grow. By 1969, there were an estimated 2000 Koreans in Canada. Between 1970 and 1980, 18,148 Koreans immigrated to Canada, and another 17,583 arrived in the following decade. In the late 1990s,
South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...
became the fifth-largest source of immigrants to Canada.
Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...
has the country's largest absolute number of Koreans, but
Vancouver Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...
is experiencing the highest rate of growth in its Korean population, with a 69% increase since 1996.
Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...
was the third most popular destination for Korean migrants during this period. In 2001, the number of Korean emigrants headed for Canada exceeded the number headed for the United States. The number of temporary residents has also grown ever since the Canadian government granted a visa waiver to South Korea; South Korea was the largest supplier of
international student International students or exchange students, also known as foreign students, are students who undertake all or part of their secondary or tertiary education in a country other than their own. In 2022, there were over 6.9 million international ...
s to Canada in the late 1990s. Aside from South Korea, some immigrants are also drawn from among the population of
Koreans in China Koreans in China include both ethnic Koreans with Chinese nationality and non-Chinese nationalities such as South Korean ( zh, s=在华韩国人·韩裔) and North Korean ( zh, s=在华朝鲜人·朝鲜裔) people living in China. For this re ...
. The 1990s growth in South Korean migration to Canada occurred at a time when Canadian unemployment was high and income growth was low relative to the United States. One pair of researchers demonstrated that numbers of migrants were correlated with the exchange rate; the weakness of the
Canadian dollar The Canadian dollar (currency symbol, symbol: $; ISO 4217, code: CAD; ) is the currency of Canada. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $. There is no standard disambiguating form, but the abbreviations Can$, CA$ and C$ are frequently used f ...
relative to the
United States dollar The United States dollar (Currency symbol, symbol: Dollar sign, $; ISO 4217, currency code: USD) is the official currency of the United States and International use of the U.S. dollar, several other countries. The Coinage Act of 1792 introdu ...
meant that South Korean migrants bringing savings to Canada for investment would be relatively richer than those going to the United States. Other factors suggested as drivers behind the growth of South Korean immigration to Canada included domestic anti-Americanism and the large presence of Canadian English teachers in local ''
hagwon (; ) is a Korean term for a for-profit private educational institution. They are commonly likened to cram schools. Some consider ''hagwons'' as private language centers or academies operated like businesses apart from the South Korean public sch ...
''.


Korean communities

Several Korean communities have developed in Canada since the migration after 1966. The two most concentrated areas are the Koreatown in Toronto and burgeoning Korean communities in Coquitlam and Vancouver.


Toronto

A portion of Seaton Village on Bloor St. from Bathurst St. to Christie St. was designated as Koreatown in 2004. According to the 2001 census Toronto had roughly 43,000 Koreans living in the city, and in 2011 the numbers have grown to 64,755. The Korean community in Toronto has developed Koreatown such that it offers a Korean grocery store, hairdressers, karaoke bars and a multitude of restaurants. The City of Toronto describes Koreatown as "Korea Town is primarily a business district offering a wide range of Korean restaurants, high-end-fashion Korean boutiques, herbalists, acupuncturist and many other unique services and shops which are filled with made-in-Korea merchandise." Koreatown Toronto is also known for its Spring Dano Festival which is run on the 5th day of 5th month of the Korean Lunar Calendar. The festival is run is the Christie Pits area and has been run for the past 21 years with the exception of 2013 when it was cancelled. The Willowdale and
Newtonbrook Newtonbrook is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the area around Yonge Street and Finch Avenue in the district of North York between the east and west branches of the Don River (Toronto), Don River. Officially, the area ...
areas in
North York North York is a former township and city and is now one of the six administrative districts of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the northern area of Toronto, centred around Yonge Street, north of Ontario Highway 401. It is bounded by ...
have large numbers of Korean businesses running from Yonge St. between Sheppard Ave. and Steeles Ave. Dubbed ''Koreatown North'', it has a growing number of Koreans residing in the area. This area first appeared in the 1990s and its growth accelerated from the late 1990s onwards. In the 2000s the community expanded into
York Region The Regional Municipality of York, also called York Region, is a regional municipality in Southern Ontario, Canada, between Lake Simcoe and Toronto. The region was established after the passing of then Bill 102, An Act to Establish The Regional ...
with the area centered along
Yonge Street Yonge Street ( ') is a major arterial route in the Canadian province of Ontario connecting the shores of Lake Ontario in Toronto to Lake Simcoe, a gateway to the Great Lakes#Geography, Upper Great Lakes. Ontario's first colonial administrator, ...
in what is referred to as Thornhill (
Vaughan Vaughan ( ) (2022 population 344,412) is a city in Ontario, Canada. It is located in the Regional Municipality of York, just north of Toronto. Vaughan was the fastest-growing municipality in Canada between 1996 and 2006 with its population increa ...
and Markham).


Greater Vancouver

Korean communities in Greater Vancouver are not officially designated as Koreatowns, although the name has been used by business districts with a high number of Korean businesses. British Columbia has the second largest Korean community in Canada with 53,770 residents, 49,880 of whom live in Greater Vancouver. The Korean community in Vancouver is located between Nicola and Denman Street and consists of numerous Korean restaurants and other businesses. Several residents have advocated the area be officially designated as Koreatown. The city of
Coquitlam Coquitlam ( ) is a city in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada. Mainly suburban, Coquitlam is the List of cities in British Columbia, sixth-largest city in the province, with an estimated population of 174,248 in 2024, and one of th ...
also has a significant Korean community. As of 2011 the population of Koreans in Coquitlam was approximately 7,900. The business district at North Road and Lougheed Highway consists of many Korean restaurants, grocery chains, salons, and other businesses, most of which have Korean signage.


Demographics

2007 figures from the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade showed 86,084 Canadian citizens, 72,077 permanent residents, 20,738 people on student visas, and 19,271 other temporary residents. The
Canada 2001 Census The 2001 Canadian census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 15, 2001. On that day, Statistics Canada attempted to count every person in Canada. The total population count of Canada was 30,007,094. This w ...
recorded 101,715 Canadians of Korean descent, but Korean community leaders and media organisations suspected that it undercounted the population, especially mobile short-term residents such as English as a Foreign Language students. According to the
Canada 1996 Census The 1996 Canadian census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 14, 1996. On that day, Statistics Canada attempted to count every person in Canada. The total population count of Canada was 28,846,761. This was a ...
, 53.6% of Korean immigrants to Canada had attended a four-year tertiary institution, as compared to 23% of the general population. However, because their qualifications and technical certifications are often not recognised by Canadian employers, Korean immigrants often take jobs not commensurate with their education; 40% worked in family-owned businesses, and their average personal income is only 67% that of the average Canadian resident.


Religion


Christianity


Protestant


= Pre-Modern Era

= The foundations of the bilateral relationship between Canada and Korea, first began with Canadian Christian missionaries. They aided the Korean people both with medical, agricultural, and evangelical needs; kickstarting the modernization of Korea and bridging the gap for Korean immigrants. The earliest known contact between Korean and Canadian citizens can be traced back to the Canadian missionaries that settled in Korea in 1888. The first Canadian to arrive in Korea on missionary work was James Gale who arrived in Korea on December 15, 1888. Gale contributed massively to the fostering of Korean-Canadian relations as he immersed himself in the culture, adopting the Korean way of living, and ultimately published the first Korean-English dictionary in 1897. Gale was the first of many Canadian missionaries to immerse themselves in Korean culture, and the outward respect shown by the missionaries earned them trust from the Korean locals. This trust-based relationship was emphasized during the Japanese occupation of Korea from 1950-1953, when Korean people found refuge in Canada through their connections with the Canadian missionaries that had returned back to Canada, a majority of them being sent back under Japanese rule. The missionaries that resided in Canada aided Korean immigrants with their own immigration to Canada, fostering a strong sense of community and resilience.


= Christianity and Immigration

= The migration of Koreans to Canada began in significant numbers in the 1960s and 70s, following the changes in Canadian immigration policy. Notably, the established diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1963, had increased until the mid-1980s where the Canadian government doubled their immigrant targets. Many of these immigrants were Christians who sought to maintain their faith in their new country. Korean churches became central institutions for immigrant communities, offering spiritual guidance, social support and cultural preservation. These churches provided services in Korean, facilitated networking opportunities, and helped new immigrants adapt to Canadian society while maintaining and preserving their ethnic identity. The church also served as a hub for Korean language schools, cultural events, etc.   As immigrants faced challenges such as language barriers, employment struggles, and cultural assimilation, churches played a crucial role in providing a supportive environment and network. Many Korean-Canadian churches functioned as informal settlement agencies, assisting new immigrants with housing, jobs, and navigating government agencies. Additionally, Korean churches in Canada adapted to the changing needs of their congregations, by incorporating elements of both Korean and Canadian cultures in services. Many first generation immigrants maintained traditional Korean-style services, while second and third generation Korean-Canadians gravitated toward English services with Western sermon styles. These shifts highlighted the ever evolving role of the church as a mediator between cultural preservation and integration into Canadian society.


= Modern Christianity

= Today, Christianity remains a dominant religious affiliation among Korean-Canadians, with a significant number identifying as Protestant or Catholic. Korean churches have continued to evolve, addressing the needs of second and third generation Korean-Canadians who may be more assimilated into Canadian culture. Many churches offer bilingual services, youth ministries, and outreach programs that cater to a diverse population and congregation. The role of the church has expanded beyond religious worship, and serves as a bridge between generations and fostering a dual Korean-Canadian identity. In response to generational shifts, many Korean churches have adapted by integrating contemporary worship styles, emphasizing youth engagement, and more. With younger Korean-Canadians often facing linguistic and cultural barriers with traditional congregations, many churches now incorporate English-speaking services and leadership opportunities for second and third generation individuals. This shift has allowed for a more inclusive and intergenerational approach to church.


South Korea - Canada Education Immigration

Education plays an important role in South Korean society and as such South Korean parents are always seeking the best for their children when it comes to their educational experience. English language acquisition has also emerged as an important value amongst many South Koreans in what is commonly referred to as English mania. In an article by Park and Abelman they reference the importance of English language acquisition when they say, ”This said, however, the practical mastery of English is an increasingly valuable commodity throughout the world. As David Crystal (2003:4, 6) and others have powerfully asserted, it is arguably the world's first "global language," a language used by more people than any other language and one with a "special role that is recognized in every country." With the value of both education and English language education in mind many families have merged these two values together and make the decision to migrate to English speaking countries such as Canada and the United States to pursue primary education for their children in English speaking environments. In the case of Korean society this has also created the phenomenon of Kirogi Families. “Unlike studies on international students in higher education, scholars studying education migration for minors focus on a split family structure where the father works as a breadwinner in the source country and the mother is separated from her partner and living abroad with the children in the host country. This gendered ‘family project’ is premised on the belief that educating children in Western English-speaking countries will ensure social, economic, and cultural capital not only for the children’s but also for the family’s future in a globalized world (Kwak, 2008). This transnational family structure has been often referred to in media and scholarly literature as wild geese family or kirogi gajok in Korean.” This phenomenon has created a separation of families where both parents sacrifice aspects of their own lives for the betterment of their children. This type of migration offers many benefits but also some difficulties. In a study by Soon Young Jang, data was collected from eight South Korean mothers who had relocated to Canada To pursue primary education for their children. The study examines the mothers' decision making process for early education programs and language acquisition in preparation for primary schooling within the Canadian system. “With respect to the Korean mothers’ language preference for their children, all the participants responded that they wanted their children to be fully bilingual in Korean and English. However, there was a shift found in their emphasis on each language.” In the mothers experience when selecting a program for their children they all opted for English monologuing only programs as it was a common opinion that their children were exposed to Korean language at home so they needed to be fully emerged in English language to get the most benefit, and all the mothers put a priority on English language acquisition. However as time went on with these programs the observed results were that as the children's English language proficiency increased their Korean language proficiency and frequency in which Korean was used decreased. This was a major concern for all the mothers as it was a common expression for all of them that keeping their children's Korean language proficiency was equally important to gaining English proficiency as the Korean language was a means to keep their Korean heritage and ethnic Identity. This dual priority has resulted in a need to both understand the importance of assimilating into a new environment and society but also maintaining the cultural heritage and connection to your home country.


Notable individuals


Media

Notable cultural depictions of Korean Canadian characters have included Ins Choi's theatrical play '' Kim's Convenience'' and its television adaptation, and the theatrical films '' Queen of the Morning Calm'', '' Riceboy Sleeps'' and '' Mongrels''.


See also

* List of Korean Canadians *
Koreatown, Toronto Koreatown () is an ethnic enclave within Seaton Village, a neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Located along Bloor Street between Christie and Bathurst Streets, the area is known for its Korean business and restaurants. The ethnic encla ...
*
East Asian Canadians East Asian Canadians are Canadians who were either born in or can trace their Ancestor, ancestry to East Asia. East Asian Canadians are also a subgroup of Asian Canadians. According to Statistics Canada, East Asian Canadians are considered Visi ...
* Kim's Convenience *
Korean diaspora The Korean diaspora consists of around 7.3 million people, both descendants of early emigrants from the Korea, Korean Peninsula, as well as more recent emigrants from Korea. Around 84.5% of overseas Koreans live in just five countries: the Unit ...


Notes


References

* * * * *


External links


Multicultural Canada website
includes digitized issues of Minjoong Shinmoon newspaper {{Asian Canadians Korean diaspora in Canada
Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
East Asian diaspora in Canada
Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...