Community-Building of 1.5-Generation Korean-Canadian Immigrants in Toronto, Canada

Abstract

Faced with growing numbers of migrants all around the world, diverse ethnic groups are becoming more and more present in host societies. This article examines a number of key aspects of the notion, community, and applies them to investigate the construction and maintenance of the Korean ethnic community in Toronto, Canada. The focus is placed on 1.5-generation Korean immigrants to provide precise characteristics of this group that contribute to the community-building. In particular, the social capital in which these immigrants invest within domains of school, church, and the Internet reveals that the Korean community is maintained through the active engagement of these immigrants with one another, as well as the interests that they have in common: to find support, fellowship, and ultimately a sense of belonging within the group.