In 2010, the City Council of Los Angeles formally defined the boundaries of Koreatown, encompassing an area of approximately three square miles with an estimated 120,000 residents, most of whom were not Korean.
Located in the geographical center of Los Angeles just west of downtown, Koreatown is one of the most densely populated areas in the United States.
With a median household income of $27,000 estimated in 2008, our neighborhood has a much higher poverty rate than the rest of Los Angeles — 23 percent of residents receive public assistance.
The name “Koreatown” reflects the preponderance of Korean-owned businesses in the area, where Koreans comprise less than 15 percent of the actual population. The vast majority (almost 70 percent) of our residents is Latino. Among adults, 44 percent have a high school level of education or less.
Almost 24 percent of families are headed by single parents and more than 68 percent of residents who speak a language other than English at home are not fluent in English.
The students of Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools — 65% Latino, 15% Korean, 20% “other” (Filipinos, Thai, Chinese, African-American, Caucasian) — reflect the demographics of Koreatown. Admission is based on proximity; students must live within an 8-block radius of the school.
This is Koreatown. We are Koreatown.