What is the general history of Koreatown and the Korean community in Southern California?
Is there a significant low-wage worker population in the Korean community? There is nearly a half million Korean residing in and around Los Angeles County. According to the 1990 Census, 25% of the Korean community are involved in small businesses. KIWAs experience indicates that nearly 30% of the Korean community are low-wage workers. Lack of jobs, language barriers, and discrimination force many Korean immigrants to turn to the ethnic enclave economy of Koreatown for employment where competitive low-paying industries, like garment and service, tend to prevail. Poverty in Koreatown is perpetuated by sub-standard wages and working conditions of the small business sector. In addition to Koreans, approximately 30% of Koreatowns labor force is low-wage Latino/as. There is also a growing number of Korean ethnic workers from China. What kinds of services does KIWA provide? As part of the Workers Empowerment Clinic, KIWA provides legal assistance to workers in Koreatown on work-related proble
