Koreatown, Manhattan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Koreatown, Manhattan
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Neighborhood of Manhattan
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Koreatown at night (2013)
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| City | New York City |
| Borough | Manhattan |
Koreatown (Hangul: 맨해튼 코리아타운), often called K-Town, is a lively area in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It's a special place where many ethnic Korean people and businesses are found. The heart of Koreatown is on 32nd Street, between Madison Avenue and Sixth Avenue. This area is close to Greeley Square.
Koreatown in Manhattan is home to more than 150 different businesses. You can find everything from small restaurants and beauty salons to big Korean banks. People sometimes call it the "Korean Times Square" because it's so busy and important. It has also become a key place for large Korean companies, known as chaebol, to do business internationally.
Contents
History of Koreatown
Historically, Manhattan's Koreatown was part of the Garment District. This area was known for making clothes. In the 1980s, a Korean bookstore and a few restaurants opened here. They became very popular.
Their success encouraged more Korean-owned businesses to open. This growth was helped by more people moving from Korea to New York. Also, many tourists visit nearby famous places like the Empire State Building and Macy's Herald Square. This brought lots of customers to Koreatown.
Today, Koreatown is mainly a business area for Koreans. But more Korean people are also choosing to live there. They are moving into nearby Manhattan neighborhoods like Murray Hill and Kips Bay. Since October 2022, Koreatown has hosted the world's largest Korean Pride Festival every year.
Korean Population Growth
The number of Korean people living in Manhattan has grown a lot. From 2000 to 2010, the Korean population almost doubled. It reached about 20,000 people, according to the 2010 United States Census.
Manhattan's Koreatown is a cultural hub for Koreans. It connects with other Koreatowns nearby. These include areas in New Jersey like Palisades Park and Fort Lee. There's also a Koreatown on Long Island in New York City, stretching from Flushing, Queens.
Together, these areas make up a large Korean American community. There are 218,764 ethnic Koreans in the New York City Metropolitan Area. This is the second-largest group of Koreans living outside of Korea itself.
Exploring Korea Way
The most important part of Koreatown is a section of 32nd Street. It runs between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue. This street is officially called Korea Way.
Korea Way is special because its stores and restaurants are on many different floors. You can find independent businesses reaching up to higher levels of buildings. This gives the street a feeling similar to Seoul, the capital of Korea. The New York City Korean Chamber of Commerce believes there are over 100 small businesses on Korea Way. You will see signs everywhere written in Hangul, the Korean alphabet.
Because of its central location and many crowded places, Korea Way is a major tourist spot. It's also a popular place for nightlife in Manhattan. You can find restaurants, bars, karaoke clubs, and spas here.
On Korea Way, you can enjoy many types of Korean food. There are traditional dishes and new fusion meals. You'll also find bakeries, grocery stores, and bookstores. There are shops selling electronics, video rentals, and fun little gifts. You can get your hair or nails done at a nail salon. Many places offer noraebang singing rooms. There are also nightclubs, cell phone stores, and internet cafés. You can even find doctors' offices, lawyers, banks, and hotels. Some Japanese restaurants have also opened in this area.
While Korea Way is still the heart of Koreatown, the area has been growing. Since 2015, Koreatown has expanded further east from Fifth Avenue. It now reaches towards Madison Avenue on East 32nd Street. This expansion is heading in the direction of Queens and Nassau County.
Koreatown: A Food Hotspot
Many restaurants on Korea Way are open 24/7, all day and night. Korean restaurants in the area have had to grow or stay open longer. This helps them pay for rising rents and stay in business. More customers come because of the many people walking by. Also, big Korean companies are investing more in the area.
Manhattan's Koreatown used to be seen as a place for tourists. Other areas like Flushing were known for more authentic Korean food. But now, Manhattan's Koreatown has become famous for its truly authentic Korean dining experiences.
See also
In Spanish: Koreatown (Manhattan) para niños
