Diasporic Korea in the U.S.

The Diasporic Korea in the U.S. Research Hub is an interdisciplinary initiative dedicated to advancing research on Korean American communities and the broader Korean diaspora in the United States. Led by Professor Sojung Lim, Korea Foundation Professor of Korean Studies and Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology & Criminology at the University at Buffalo, the Hub seeks to deepen scholarly and public understanding of the diverse experiences of Korean Americans across generations and regions through collaborative research, mentoring, and public engagement.

About

Since the first Korean immigrants arrived in Hawaiʻi on January 13, 1903, the Korean diaspora in the United States has continued to grow and will celebrate its 125th anniversary in 2028. The Korean American population, currently around two million and spanning multiple generations, represents the fifth-largest Asian American ethnic group in the United States. Interest in Korea has increased dramatically in recent years, exemplified by the global rise of the Korean Wave (Hallyu), including K-pop, K-drama, K-beauty, and K-food.

However, research on Korean Americans remains limited due to their relatively small population size, frequent categorization under broader “Asian” or “East Asian” labels, and the lack of representative data. These limitations have created gaps in our understanding of regional, generational, cultural, and socioeconomic diversity within the Korean American community.

To address these gaps, the Diasporic Korea in the U.S. Research Hub brings together an interdisciplinary group of faculty and graduate students across multiple institutions. Over time, we envision expanding this network to foster broader collaborations dedicated to deepening knowledge of the Korean American experience.

Members of the Research Hub are scholars with expertise in Korean American Studies across various disciplines, including Sociology, Social Work, Education, Gender Studies, and Asian American Studies. The Hub serves as a collaborative space to advance scholarship, share data and methodologies, mentor emerging scholars, and foster new research initiatives.

This research hub is funded by a core university grant from the Academy of Korean Studies.

Events

The First Annual Diasporic Korea in the U.S. Research Hub Meeting will take place on April 23–24, 2026, at the University at Buffalo. Members of the Research Hub will gather to share expertise on the current state of Korean American Studies in the U.S. and to discuss future research directions. Participating members include:

Byun, Soo-yong, Professor of Education (Educational Theory and Policy), Demography, and Asian Studies, The Pennsylvania State University

Chung, Angie Y., Professor of Sociology, University at Albany, State University of New York

Kang, Miliann, Professor of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Lee, Byung Soo, Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Sociology and Criminology, University at Buffalo, State University of New York

Lee, Mina, Assistant Professor of Social Work, Binghamton University, State University of New York

Lim, Sojung, Korea Foundation Professor of Korean Studies and Associate Professor of Sociology & Criminology, University at Buffalo, State University of New York

Moon, Seungsook, Professor of Sociology, Vassar College

Park, Jerry, Associate Professor of Sociology, Baylor University

Oh, Byeongdon (Don), Assistant Professor of Sociology, Director of the DEIB Research Center. State University of New York (SUNY) Polytechnic Institute