KOREAN-LATINO RELATIONS IN LOS ANGELES AND NEW YORK

• Published in: Du Bois review Vol. 4; no. 2; pp. 395 - 411
• Main Author: Min, Pyong Gap
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, USA Cambridge University Press 01.10.2007
• Subjects: Asian Americans; Employees; Ethnicity; Hispanic Americans; Immigrants; Racial Relations; Los Angeles California; United States > US; California; Comparative Ethnic Experiences; Interethnic Relations; Workers' Centers; Community-based Activism
• ISSN: 1742-058X; 1742-0598
• DOI: 10.1017/S1742058X07070221

This paper examines Korean-Latino relations based on the results of my own research in New York City and review of other empirical studies conducted in New York and Los Angeles. Korean-Latino relations have been established mainly through the employment of Latino immigrants in Korean-owned stores. Since Korean immigrants' heavy dependence on very disadvantaged Latino workers involves labor exploitation, it has been a source of Korean-Latino conflicts. There have been many cases of picketing against Korean stores by Latino employees in both New York City and Los Angeles. But Korean-Latino business-related conflicts have been much less serious than Korean-Black business-related conflicts. Moreover, the relationships between Koreans and Latinos have some positive aspects. First, due to cultural similarities and mutual benefits derived from the employer-employee relationship, many Korean merchants maintain strong personal ties with Latino employees, informally helping them and often sponsoring their applications for green cards. Second, Korean ethnic organizations staffed by 1.5- and second-generation Koreans in Korean enclaves in Los Angeles and New York City have recently expanded their services to Latino immigrant workers and Latino children. In particular, the efforts of the Korean Immigrant Workers Advocates in Los Angeles to protect Latino workers from exploitation by Korean merchants have greatly contributed to establishing cultural, social, and organizational linkages between the two communities.