A Korean and Korean American History

This book examines the relationship between Korea and the United States, revealing how their migrants have shaped both countries from the 19th century to the present. It will interest to readers who study American history and Asian American studies, and readers of Korean American, Asian American, and Korean descent.

For a century and a half, waves of migration have bound Korea and the United States in a complex, evolving relationship. In this sweeping history, John S. W. Park uncovers the forces that drove these movements and the profound ways they reshaped both nations. Park traces how Americans became a dominant presence on the Korean peninsula during and after the Korean War, even though American diplomats had backed Japanese domination over Korea. He also details how American missionaries and then its military presence opened significant pathways for Koreans to come to the United States since the late 19th century. These Koreans came to the US in increasing numbers as 'post-colonial subjects,' and this book offers a bold, deeply researched account of how they've moved from marginal to much more visible positions in American society.