This research report examines the generational differences in Korean Americans’ socioeconomic attainments in the New York-New Jersey CMSA (Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area) based on the 2006-2010 American Community Surveys. For a better understanding of the generational differences in socioeconomic attainments, it compares the Korean groups with native-born white Americans and other Asian groups in the area (Chinese, Indians, and Filipinos). The paper also highlights gender differences in patterns of the generational differences. It considers educational levels, occupational patterns, socioeconomic conditions, homeownership, and health insurance coverage as the major components of socioeconomic attainments. Generation is divided into first-generation immigrants, the 1.5 generation (those who were born in a foreign country and immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 12 or earlier), and the U.S.-born generation (second or higher generation).    

This research report was originally presented at a lecture at Korean Community Services (KCS) at 35-56 159th Street, Flushing, NY 11358 on Wednesday, February 27, 2013. The talk was a part of the Research Center for Korean Community's ongoing lecture series. 

This study examines Korean immigrants' transnational cultural events that occurred in 2010 in the New York-New Jersey area by analyzing articles published in two major Korean daily newspapers. The original version of this paper was published in the journal Studies of Koreans Abroad (Vol. 28, October 2012, pp. 49-83). We would like to thank the Association for the Studies of Koreans Abroad for being generous enough to allow us to post this published article on Korean American Data Bank. A content analysis of the newspaper articles shows that there were 110 transnational Korean cultural events that took place in 2010. Transnational cultural events have been classified into five major categories: 1. Performing arts (including music, dance, musicals, and plays), 2. Fine arts (including calligraphy, fashion, painting, and photography shows), 3. Food-related cultural events, 4. Language and literature, and 5. Other miscellaneous Korean cultural events. This study, which is based on a content analysis of newspaper articles, has advantages over personal interview- or survey-based studies because it provides a general picture of the overall prevalence of transnational cultural events in a particular Korean community in a specific time frame (2010). This article, one of the first systematic studies of Korean immigrants' transnational activities, also contributes to the field of immigration studies because researchers have neglected to study the ethnic and transnational cultural activities of immigrants.