[American Dream 250 Years]②"For Our Parents, Survival Was the Goal... We Are Fighting a Different Battle"

First Generation: Myungseok Lee, President of the Korean American Association of New York
Second Generation: Interview with Ketzia Lee

Editor's NoteThis year marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The U.S. has been called the "land of freedom and opportunity" and has embraced immigrants from all over the world. Korea began large-scale immigration to the U.S. after the amendment of the Immigration and Nationality Act in 1965. The history of Korean immigration encapsulates the transformation of American capitalism. For the first generation, the American Dream meant survival and upward mobility. For the second generation, it is closer to self-realization and freedom of choice. Although it is the same America, the definition of the dream has changed. The Asia Business Daily explores how the "Korean American Dream" has evolved through interviews with first- and second-generation Korean Americans and data analysis.

On July 1, just three days before the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding, I met Ketzia Lee (Lee Wooju) near Federal Hall in Manhattan, New York, where George Washington, the first president of the United States, took his oath of office. Standing in front of the "Fearless Girl" statue between Federal Hall and the New York Stock Exchange, the heart of capitalism, Lee introduced herself naturally as a "Korean American." This was a markedly different identity from that of her parents' generation, such as Myungseok Lee, President of the Korean American Association of New York, who says, "I'm still learning about America."

Settled Koreans

President Lee, though he has led a fairly successful life in the U.S., said it is still difficult to shed the identity of an "outsider" as an immigrant. Recalling his time as a journalist at a Korean broadcasting company, he said, "There were quite a few occasions when officials from New York City and New York State would subtly dismiss and discriminate against Korean media outlets, and I had to protest." According to the Sejong Institute, in 1980, the Asian population in the United States was around 1.5%. The status of the Korean community was much lower than it is now, and discrimination against minorities was not uncommon.

The efforts of President Lee's generation paved the way for a stronger sense of identity among the next generation. Lee said that being able to express her identity more confidently is "thanks to the elevated status of Korean Americans." She added, "Now, everything Korean is considered cool and very popular," and stated, "I'm really proud to be a Korean American these days."

The Korean American Dream: Different from Other Immigrants

Lee is a second-generation Korean American, born in 2000 in Washington, D.C. After majoring in economics, she now works as a dancer. Her mother worked as a broadcast journalist in Korea before coming to the U.S. to study. She later married Lee's father, who was studying political science in the U.S., and settled there.

The biggest difference in perspective between her generation and her parents' generation lies in how they view the American Dream. Lee said, "If you're talking about the model of buying a house, getting a good job, meeting someone, and having a family—a so-called 'white-picket-fence' life—that might not apply." She explained, "Unlike our parents' generation, my friends and I can think about what we truly want to do." She continued, "America is still a land of opportunity because it is a country where you can compete with the world's top talent and choose the way of life you aspire to."

This is quite different from the first generation, for whom America was a place to survive. President Lee said, "For us, the biggest dream was for our children to receive a good education and settle down stably."

Still the 'Land of Opportunity', but...

President Lee also agreed that America is still a land of opportunity. "The U.S. leads in every field, including finance, services, and artificial intelligence (AI). America's position will not be easily shaken," he said. However, he pointed out that today's America is different from what he once believed.

Since immigrating, he has experienced seven presidents: Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and then Trump again. Among them, he said, "After President Trump took office, it definitely became harder for immigrants in America. His anti-immigration policies are harsh and far too radical." He added that this "means it has become more difficult for the younger generation to succeed compared to before."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.