Koreatown (Manhattan)

Koreatown, also colloquially known as K-town, is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan.

Location

Koreatown is bounded by 31st Street to the south, 36th Street on the north, Fifth Avenue on the west and Sixth Avenue in the east. Koreatown is thus between Chelsea, Murray Hill, Midtown and Downtown Manhattan and is a remnant of the old Textile District. This midtown location means that this neighborhood is overshadowed by the attractiveness of the Empire State Building or Macy's, are located nearby.

History

In the 1890s, according to the Landmarks Preservation Commission this area was known for chic shops, theaters, clubs and houses of New York City. In 1931, the Empire State Building built nearby. In the 1950s, the rough atmosphere of this neighborhood in Midtown South by Michael Chabon in "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay" was held. In the late 1970s ensured Korean businessmen for the upgrading of West 32nd Street, so that the part of the 32nd Street between Fifth Avenue and Broadway was in 1995 officially renamed " Korea Way ".

Koreatown was originally designed to satisfy the needs of the growing number of Korean immigrants in the New York metropolitan area. Currently living in this region, according to American Community Survey of 2009, about 201 393 Americans with Korean roots - this is the second- largest concentration of people with Korean roots outside Korea. Nevertheless emerged in recent years in this area also increasingly non- Korean trade.

Although it was never an official plan or a decision, a Korean business district in Manhattan to launch, but by the low rents and high passing trade due to its proximity to the Empire State Building, the Garment District or the Flower District to Korean immigrants decided here to act.

It all began with a Korean bookstore and a handful of Korean restaurants. Due to their success and the influx of Korean immigrants to New York City, more and more transactions settled in this district, which were operated by Koreans. Today, there are numerous restaurants, small grocery stores, hair salons, nail salons, karaoke bars, which are called here as in Korea Noraebang as well as internet cafes, banks and hotels. Koreatown is still primarily a Korean business district, since relatively little residential population is located here. In fact, there are more Korean restaurants in Koreatown as Korean residents. Most Koreans of New York City do not live right in Manhattan, but in the other parts of the city - especially in Queens. However, in recent years increasingly attracted Korean- Americans to Korea Town because there are increasingly living space was created.