People Group Profiles

“All nations will come and worship before you."

- Revelations 15:4

Korean of North America


People Group Info

Total Population: 1,643,890

ROP3 Code: 105225
IMB Affinity Group: East Asian Peoples
Affinity Bloc: East Asian Peoples
People Cluster: Korean
Language: Korean - (kor)
Religion: Christianity - Protestant
Country of Origin: South Korea

Photo courtesy of Joshua Project.
By The Master's View / Howard Erickson

Majority Located Where

  Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA - 254,044

  New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY - 101,336

  Vancouver (Surrey), BC - 99,135

  Toronto (Mississauga, Brampton), ON - 64,755

  Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL - 52,830

Click here to recommend other locations where this People Group resides.

Learn More

Brief Profile

Koreans in North America have roots from both North and South Korea, but the majority due to prevailing political circumstances in North Korea come from South Korea. Various immigration polices (e.g United States 1965 Immigration Act) have impacted the immigration so that ten of thousands of Koreans have migrated to North America.

Many people consider the “national food” of Koreans to be Kimch’i (also spelled kim chee). Kimch’i is a kind of pickle made by combining Chinese cabbage with spices and other strongly flavored foods. It is generally served at every meal – even breakfast. Korean food is also composed of rice dishes mixed with spicy vegetables and meats such as chicken, beef, fish or pork. For special occasions, food such as kimhap, a heavily spiced version of sushi, or pulkugi, strips of marinated barbecued beef, may be prepared. Other common foods and beverages include dok (pounded rice cake), soups and barley tea. These dishes, many of which are hot and spicy, can be enjoyed at many Korean restaurants.

Buddhism, Confucianism, and Shamanism are the traditional religions of Korea. Missionary activity has been strong for over a century and Christianity has gained a foothold. The majority of Korean immigrants are evangelical Christians of various denominations, including Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians.

Prayer Points

  • Pray evangelical Korean Christians will join in fulfilling the Great Commission of taking the gospel message to the nations that surround them in North America.
  • Pray for Korean Christians who are allowing secularism and materialism to influence their passion for knowing and serving Christ.
  • Pray for evangelical Korean Christians to send missionaries to other nations.


Learning Resources

Learn more about "Learning Paths"
Online Courses for embracing, encountering and engaging diaspora people. Work at your own pace. Begin anytime and complete the course according to your schedule. Interactive, Hands-On Application.

Learn more about "Reaching the Nations"
This book delineates five disciplines Christians should develop in order to effectively reach the nations. More specifically, it will guide Christians to develop an engagement strategy in their locale.


Other Resources

Know God in 98 Languages
A CRU resource with 9 different witnessing models (e.g. 4 Spiritual Laws, etc.) in 98 languages.

Prayer Guide for Unreached Peoples
A 30 day guide to pray for unreached people groups.

Prayer Guide using the GOSPELS acronym
A prayer guide that utilizes the acronym GOSPELS to pray for workers among diaspora.

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