Korean immigrants have made significant contributions to American life, bringing their unique food and culture and talents and melding them into the mainstream. And Korean Americans have grown to be the fifth largest Asian American group in the US. When and how did Korean immigration begin?
This exhibit explores the lesser-known history of the first Korean community that started here in the Bay Area. In the early 1900s, as Japan rose to power and occupied Korea, about 3,000 Koreans left their motherland and arrived in San Francisco. Each of them came to the US for different reasons. All of them were fleeing from life under the Japanese. San Francisco Beginnings offers a rare glimpse into the lives of these Korean pioneers, the community they formed and their lasting contributions.
The exhibit is free and open to the public. You can see this exhibit on display at the Korean Center during our open hours (Mon-Fri from 10AM – 4PM).
