When is National Korean American Day?
January 13th is National Korean American Day.
What is National Korean American Day?
Any American who has tried kimchi for the first time as an adult probably won’t forget the experience. There is so much more to Korean culture though. National Korean American Day honors Americans with full or partial Korean descent and celebrates the arrival of Korea’s first immigrants to the States.
The Korean War initiated a lot of Korean immigration to the U.S. The American-backed South Korea fought against North Korea, which the Soviet Union supported. This partnership between South Korea and the U.S. resulted in cultural exchange and migrations. Then, the Korean-American population exploded after the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965 allowed more Asians to migrate to the states.
In truth, the kimchi gets better as your palate adjusts to the fermented and pickled foods typical in Korean fare. So whether it’s the land of your ancestry or your friends’ native soil, celebrate Korea on National Korean American Day
Fun facts about National Korean American Day!
- The first Korean immigrants arrived in the U.S. January 13, 1903, landing in Honolulu, Hawaii.
- Linguists cannot find similarities between the Korean language and any other language on the planet, though it does borrow many words from Chinese.
- There were about 1 million Korean immigrants in the U.S. in 2015.
- Kimchi is a probiotic, like kombucha and kefir, because it promotes good digestive bacteria in your gut.
How to celebrate National Korean American Day:
- Share your family’s immigration experience with your friends or on social media. If you don’t know much about it, ask your parents and grandparents.
- Ask your Korean-American friends how they connect with their Korean heritage.
- Enjoy a Korean meal and a bottle of soju with your friends. Bulgogi is a great gateway into Korean food.
What’s the hashtag for National Korean American Day?
Celebrate Korean immigration on social media by using #KoreanAmericanDay.