Korean Australians facts for kids
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| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 102,092 (by birth, 2021) 102,745 (by ancestry) |
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| Regions with significant populations | |
| Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide | |
| Languages | |
| Australian English, Korean | |
| Religion | |
| 40.4% No religion 25.1% Protestant 16.8% Catholic |
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| Related ethnic groups | |
| Korean diaspora | |
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Includes Presbyterian (18.7%) and Uniting Church (6.4%) |
Korean Australians are people living in Australia who have Korean family roots. They might have been born in Korea and moved to Australia, or they might have been born in Australia to Korean parents or grandparents. They are an important part of Australia's diverse community.
Contents
Korean Australians: A Brief History
There is some evidence that a small number of Koreans lived in Australia as early as the 1920s. We are not sure why they came. Some might have been children of Australian missionaries who worked in Korea. A few also came to Australia between 1921 and 1941 to study.
Early Arrivals and World War II
Records show that some individual Koreans lived in places like Broome before World War II. In the 2021 Australian census, three people who spoke Korean said they arrived in Australia in 1945. This suggests some early Korean immigration.
During World War II (1941–1945), some Koreans were sent to Australia. They had been arrested in Allied countries in Asia. They were kept in special camps with Japanese and Formosan people during the war. Most of these Koreans had Japanese names, which made them hard to identify.
After the Korean War
After the Korean War ended, about 20 Koreans came to Australia between 1951 and 1960. In the late 1960s, Australia made it easier for more people to move there. This was the first chance for larger groups of Koreans to arrive.
In 1969, the first Korean immigrants came to Sydney. They arrived through a program for skilled workers. However, the 1971 Census showed only 468 people born in Korea living in Australia.
Growing Numbers in the 1970s and 80s
In the early 1970s, about 1000 Koreans came each year for short visits, mostly as students. Around 100 people came to live permanently. Some of these new arrivals later helped their family members move to Australia.
Between 1976 and 1985, about 500 Korean-born immigrants arrived each year. This caused the number of Korean-born people in Australia to grow a lot. It increased more than six times, from 1,460 in 1976 to 9,290 in 1986.
From 1986 to 1991, even more settlers arrived, with about 1,400 each year. Many came as skilled workers or business owners. More than half of the Korean-born people in Australia have arrived in the last ten years, including many students.
Korean Australian Population Over Time
As of the 2021 census, 102,789 people in Australia said they had Korean family roots. Also, 102,096 people living in Australia were born in South Korea. About half of them (49.6%) said they were Australian citizens.
Most of these people arrived in Australia at different times:
- 14.2% came in the 1990s.
- 36.4% came in the 2000s.
- 17.6% came between 2011 and 2015.
- 16.7% came between 2016 and 2021.
Korean Australians make up a small but important part of Australia's population. They are 1.4% of the 7.5 million residents who were born overseas. They are 0.4% of Australia's total population of 25.7 million.
Where Korean Australians Live
Most Korean Australians live in New South Wales. This state is home to 33% of Australia's total population. Korean Australians are very concentrated in New South Wales compared to other ethnic groups.
Beliefs and Religions
The 2021 census also showed what religions Korean-born Australians follow:
- 41,316 people (40.5%) said they had "No Religion."
- 19,400 people (18.7%) identified as Presbyterian or Reformed.
- 17,156 people (16.8%) were Catholic.
- 6,506 people (6.4%) belonged to the Uniting Church.
- 4,244 people (4.2%) simply said "Christianity."
Some former members of Korean Christian churches sometimes join the few Korean Buddhist temples in the Sydney area.
Notable Korean Australians
Many Korean Australians have achieved great things in different fields. Here are some well-known individuals:
.jpg) Minjee Lee
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 Jung Ryeo-won
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- Peter Bell: A former Australian rules football player. He played for the Fremantle and the North Melbourne teams.
- Bang Chan: The leader of the popular South Korean boy group Stray Kids.
- Yerin Ha: An actress.
- Yang Hi Choe-Wall: A professor who studies Korean studies.
- Dami Im: The winner of the 2013 Australian X Factor. She also came in second place at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest.
- Elizabeth Lee: A politician in the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. She is currently the Leader of the Opposition for the Canberra Liberals.
- David Kang: A barrister (a type of lawyer) known for an event involving Prince Charles in 1994.
- Sky Kim: An Olympic archer.
- Yvette King: A television presenter and entertainment journalist.
- Felix Lee: A member of the South Korean boy group Stray Kids.
- Lee Da-hae: An actress.
- Minjee Lee: A professional golfer.
- Min Woo Lee: A professional golfer.
- Leonardo Nam: A Korean Argentine actor who moved to Australia. He was born in Buenos Aires.
- Rosé (Roseanne Park): A member of the South Korean girl group Blackpink. She was born in New Zealand.
- Sun Park: A former member of the Australian children's music group Hi-5.
- Jung Ryeo-won: An actress and singer active in South Korea. She was born in Seoul and grew up in Brisbane.
- Dayen Zheng: A former member of the Australian children's music group Hi-5.
- Hanbyul: A former member of the South Korean boy group Ledapple.
- Kristine Yoon (stage name Hayana): A former member of the South Korean girl group EvoL.
- Barom Yu: A former member of the South Korean boy group C-Clown.
- Kevin Kim: A former member of the South Korean boy group ZE:A.
- Cho Jun Young (Young Sky): A member of the South Korean R&B/hip hop group One Way.
- Peter Hyun: A member of the South Korean R&B/hip hop group One Way.
- Hany Lee: An actress known for her role in Neighbours.
- Ray Ahn: A member of the Australian rock bands Hard-Ons and Nunchukka Superfly.
- Jake (Sim Jae-yun): A member of the South Korean boy group ENHYPEN. He was born in Seoul and grew up in Brisbane.
- Danielle Marsh: A member of the South Korean girl group NewJeans.
- Lily: A member of the South Korean girl group NMIXX.
- Mackiah: A member of the South Korean boy group AMPERS&ONE.
