Declaration of Independence of 1776: An Inspiration for the Korean Diaspora in 1919
Did you know that delegates of overseas Koreans known as the Korean Congress declared Korea’s independence in Philadelphia in 1919? Inspired by the American Declaration of Independence in 1776, the Korean Congress was modeled after the Second Continental Congress and gathered in Philadelphia to declare their independence from Japan. Korean delegates in Philadelphia, April 14-16, […]
Naturalized Citizenship: Not an Option for Koreans and Other Asians
Being naturalized as a U.S. citizen was not an option for Korean and other Asian immigrants for a long time, purely due to their race. Under the Naturalization Act of 1790, the right to become a naturalized citizen in the U.S. was restricted to “a free white person”. After the Civil War, the Naturalization Act […]
Who Was the First Korean Immigrant to Come to the U.S.?
Dr. Seo Jae Pil (aka Philip Jaisohn) (1864-1951) is known to be the very first Korean immigrant to come to the U.S., landing in San Francisco in 1885! San Francisco was the main port of entry on the west coast that most Koreans and other immigrants from Asia accessed. He was one of several well-educated […]