STORIES OF FAITH

By: Lauren Lee & Sarah Choe

This blog post explains the factors that pushed Koreans to emigrate out of Korea and the factors that pulled those immigrants to Canada. Please read to the end to see Lauren and Sarah’s personal reflections on the content of the post.

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What factors in Korea led to Korean immigration to Canada?
What factors in Canada led to opening its doors to immigrants from Korea?

The relationship between Canada and Korea originated with Canadian missionaries in Korea. The missionaries encouraged and provided education and healthcare to Koreans and were one of the reasons why Korean students were allowed to study in Canada. This connection eventually led to the initiation of immigration of Koreans to Canada. As time passed, the needs of Canada changed, as reflected in its immigration policy. This change, paired with several factors in Korea, such as poor economic conditions, growing pressure on the country in terms of population, political instability, and a military dictatorship in South Korea, also contributed to the major immigration of Koreans to Canada. These push and pull factors shaped the Korean community that developed in Canada afterwards. Throughout the history of immigration, we are able to see how God worked in the lives of the immigrants.

Push Factors

Emigration out of Korea occurred in four distinct time periods which are characterized by the social-class origins of the immigrants. The first time period was the Pre-Migration Period that occurred prior to 1963. However, the second wave of immigrants, in the early 60s to the mid-80s, was the wave that established permanent settlers in Canada. Following these two periods was the Period of Business-Class Dominance from 1985 to 2003, and finally the Regionalization and Transnational Migrants from 2004 to the present day.

Several major factors played into the decision of emigration out of Korea during the second major immigration wave. This wave was known as the Permanent Pioneers wave and occurred from 1963 to 1985. It began in the early 60s, following the effects of the Korean War, which occurred between 1950 and 1953. The aftermath of the Korean War led many North Koreans to migrate south, as living conditions in all of Korea were comparable to the poorest countries in Africa. Despite this, it created ideal conditions for a post-war baby boom. South Korea was facing increasing population pressures due to the baby boom, an influx of North Koreans in the South, as well as a decreasing mortality rate. This pushed the government to encourage emigration through an emigration policy, which promoted dispersion out of Korea.

Due to the economic disarray that they faced at the time, the South Korean government wanted to secure foreign exchange. As a result, they encouraged emigration to other countries overseas. Despite the relationship between Canada and Korea, very few immigrants arrived directly from Korea. Majority of the first immigrants were Koreans who immigrated to Canada after working in Germany in a guest worker program, as nurses and miners. It was only in the early 1970s when permanent migrants arrived in Canada directly from Korea.

This “first” relatively large wave of immigrants was influenced by the poor living conditions of Korea at the time. Korea faced many challenges, such as a poor economy, political instability and a military dictatorship between the 60s and 70s. The South Korean economy deteriorated due to heavy inflation and a high unemployment rate. These factors further lead to food shortages around the country that were pressured by a fast-growing population. So, many Koreans sought out other work options and lives in foreign countries, such as Canada. Conveniently it aligned with the desires of those job markets as they were looking for people to do labour as well. There was also a strong opposition amongst civilians to the autocratic government of South Korea at the time. Military control had a great influence on Korean society, however, due to their power and control, opposition and differences in opinions of the general people were consistently repressed. All of these factors combined had a huge part in pushing Koreans to Canada, with peak migration occurring in 1975.

Pull Factors

Koreans began to immigrate to Canada after World War II, with the help of Canadian missionaries. In the early 60s, the first known Koreans in Canada were brought by missionaries to receive an education. The Canadian immigration policy was originally extremely racist and only allowed those from certain European countries, and of Caucasian descent, to enter the country. However, due to the pressures such as an increased need for workers, the immigration policy was revised to be slightly more open and accepting. Unfortunately, this included a racist hierarchy of preferred immigrants. British people were most favoured, and all the way at the bottom of the hierarchy, on the last level, were Asians, including Koreans, who were the least favoured. This policy was put into place to prevent Asian individuals in Canada from successfully sponsoring their families. Canada did not want to let ‘coloured people’ taint their country. It was still a racist place, and they opened their borders out of necessity rather than good will.

As time passed the Canadian economy kept expanding and, with it, the need for more labourers. Taik-bo Chun, the president of a Korean shipping company, helped convince the Canadian government to open its borders to Koreans. Canada revised its policy in 1967 and switched over to a non-discriminatory points system. This system was put in place to supply the labour force in Canada. It valued fluency in French or English, education, and job opportunity. The new policy also allowed for Asian individuals to sponsor their families, even as distant as uncles and aunts. This shift led to a huge increase in Koreans immigrating and also influenced the demographics of those in the country. Since then, the relationship between Canada and Korea improved exponentially. In 1973, the Canadian embassy opened its doors in South Korea. This lead to a huge influx of Korean immigrants that ultimately peaked in immigration in 1975.

Since skills that would allow immigrants to be a part of the workforce helped Koreans to get into Canada, many Koreans who came to Canada were highly educated and hardworking. Korean immigrants were focused on a new opportunity in Canada. They had to start anew and find a place for their families who came with them. However, it was difficult to find opportunities to fully succeed due to language barriers, discrimination, and marginalization. Although Canada is stereotypically the nicest and most welcoming country, the reality that the immigrants faced was a racist society that looked down upon them. They had to find work immediately, because they came with next to nothing, but no one would hire them. Their degrees that they had earned in Korea weren’t recognized here, and Canadian employers didn’t accept previous work experience from Korea either. So, they had to find any work they could; work that was labour intensive, under their qualifications, and low in pay. They were isolated from the rest of Canadian society in social status, job, and language. Despite these barriers, parents worked hard and devoted their lives to their children’s futures. Their life choices, from where they lived to where they worked, were made with that purpose. This kind of mindset is familiar to many members of our church. Their parents, who had left whatever they had in Korea, worked hard to create an opportunity for their children in Canada.

Bless the Lord

What did it mean to bless the Lord during those times? This is an important question for every generation to make, especially for those who were moving all the way across the world. The immigrants had to make huge, life-changing decisions; decisions which were exciting but also very scary. Those who chose to leave Korea did so due to the poor circumstances there, however, they were given a chance for an opportunity to start a new life in Canada. This new possibility was initiated by Canadian missionaries in Korea, who brought the first Koreans to Canada. Since then, the relationship between Korea and Canada has strengthened, as Korea and Canada have both changed and grown together over the years. We can see God working through that first interaction through the missionaries who initiated immigration, as well as through time since then.

It seems as though the countries’ needs almost mirrored each other. As Koreans had more reasons to move out of the country, Canada provided with a greater need for labourers and therefore opened its doors to Korea, more and more. The 1960s and 1970s exemplify the huge changes in both countries. Korea was recovering from the Korean War and was facing several political, military, economic, and population issues. These circumstances were difficult to live in, and these people looked to Canada for a chance for freedom and opportunity. This opportunity was new, not only for those in Korea but also for Canada, who had changed their immigration policy at the time and was looking for more workers. The timing was quite perfect, and we are able to see how God was working on both the national and international level.

Similar to how God told Abraham to move, the entire circumstances seemed as though God was telling the people of Korea to travel and build up their lives in a new place, Canada. The promise was born and instilled in the past of Christianity in Korea, and the immigration wave mimics Jacob’s story, of continuing and fulfilling that promise. Reading other stories in the Bible that talk about being away from comfort, home, or being lost must have spoken to the immigrants in Canada and given them hope. They faced many difficult situations, where they were looked down on, discriminated against, and marginalized. However, they were able to relate their experiences with those of characters in the Bible. Through those stories, they could see how God would be with them and protect them. The immigrants were able to put their trust in God, and through faith, they were able to build up God’s kingdom by creating a new life and community in a foreign land.

How does this affect the way I think about my faith?

Throughout the process of researching and writing this post, I’ve learned a lot about what people went through when they came to Canada in a very real way. The struggles that they faced and the hardships they went through became a lot more concrete, and I came to an appreciation of their strength and what they did for us. I believe that this strength that allowed them to persevere came from faith and trust in God. It must have been a really hard decision to move halfway across the world, and although Canada seems like such a good place, it was a harsh environment to live in when they got here. My life has been really stable; I have a good family, a good education, and a good community. However, those who left Korea, where the circumstances seemed bleak, and coming to Canada only to face marginalization, discrimination, constantly looking for ways to survive is so much harder. Despite this, I worry so much about things that seem so small in comparison to what Korean immigrants went through. I hope to be able to have faith that allows me to trust God, and persevere through the struggles that I face as well.

– Sarah

How does this affect the way I think about my faith?

After researching about the immigration of Koreans to Canada, I’ve gained a greater appreciation for the sacrifices that were made by the first immigrants. I’ve learned a lot about the reasons why people left their homes in Korea and the struggles that they faced entering a completely new country. When I think about my own faith, I don’t think that it has affected the way I think about it, but
it has furthered my realization in God’s presence. When we take the time to reflect on our lives, we can see where God was present and understand more on why he puts us through certain things. So, I hope that my walk of faith will be filled with reflecting and the reassurance that he’s always there alongside us. I also hope to have the perseverance to power through struggles that I face in my own life, like the first immigrants.

– Lauren

Stories of Faith

By: April Chia

This blog post illustrates the experiences of the first immigrants from Korea to Canada. Please read to the end to see April’s personal reflection on the content of the post.

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How did the first Koreans immigrate to Canada?

Canadian Missionaries

There are many factors that affected how the first Korean Immigrants came to Canada, the main reason being the Canadian missionaries in Korea. In the late 1800’s, Canadian missionaries would often go to Korea and spread the Gospel, until 1915. The Canadian church thought it would be a better idea to bring Korean people to Canada instead of sending the missionaries back and forth, as it was very expensive. In 1915, the first group of Korean students went to study in Canada. Many of them wanted to stay in Canada, but the missionaries and the government thought it would be best for them to leave. Some students were able to stay in Canada while others were forced to go back, marking the start of Korean people immigrating to Canada.

Cho H. Y.

All the students who went to Canada as sponsored students have unique stories. One man, by the name Cho H. Y., was one of the first students who came to Canada. However, he did not fully immigrate and instead, adapted to the Western lifestyle. He was brought to Canada by Elizabeth and Louise McCully who saw a lot of potential in him. They didn’t discuss Cho’s travels abroad to study with the Mission Council in Korea or the Foreign Mission Board beforehand. Without approval from the two institutions, Cho went to Nova Scotia with Elizabeth and Louise and enrolled in Dalhousie University. While studying there, Elizabeth and Louise thought that Cho had enough financial stability, so they left him and went back to Korea. However, Cho was struggling financially when the McCully sisters left. He decided to ask the Foreign Mission Board if they could give him a grant, but they declined because they never approved Cho to come to Canada in the first place. The Foreign Mission Board could not force Cho to come back to Korea. Although they asked Cho multiple times to come back to Korea, he did not comply. Cho decided to do things on his own and did a handful of small jobs in the meantime to make money. Cho did eventually go back to Korea in 1927 after 12 years in Canada, but he wanted to go back on his own terms, recognized as a Canadian missionary and being paid for that status. Cho and the Foreign Mission Board did not see eye to eye on this topic. Both parties finally came to an agreement, but what was agreed upon is unknown. When Cho went back to Korea, he was able to excel in church and his social group. However, things did not end well for Cho. In 1950, he was killed by communists in the Korean War.

Hwang Jae Yon

Another student by the name of Hwang Jae Yon was the first official Korean to immigrate to Canada. Before he arrived, he studied in Korea to become a medical doctor. He then came to Canada to be a mission-sponsored intern. In 1948, he decided to stay in Canada and eventually gained permanent residency. Jae Yon broke his contract with the Canadian Missionaries and did not go back to Korea until 1980 to visit his family. Many people tried to do this before, but ultimately got denied. Hwang Jae Yon paved the path for all Koreans immigrants in the future.

David Chong

David Chong was one of the students who took a different approach. David Chong first came to Canada in 1947 as a mission sponsored student. He studied at Emmanuel College for 2 years, and instead of staying like how Hwang Jae Yon did, he left Canada but planned to come back. Much like the other students, he wanted to stay in Canada to study for longer and was very adamant in getting the missionaries to extend his stay. After much convincing, Chong finished school and went back to Korea. He decided to return to study abroad, attending Yale University after 10 years of being back in Korea. After he finished his schooling in Yale, where he succeeded immensely, Chong went to Canada as a visiting professor. While in Canada, he was offered a position to be a minister at Toronto Korean United Church. In 1969, he was offered a different position at Carleton University as a Professor of Religious Studies.

Bless the Lord

Koreans had to go through a lot of pain and hardships during this time. God gave them faith and the courage to go down a different path, even going to a new country. God during the time protected and guided those who were immigrating to Canada. He gave them a new life and a new start through the missionaries in Korea. These immigrants paved the way for the rest of us to be able to come to Canada and build our own lives, families, and communities. We were able to achieve great things in Canada, and bless the Lord in our own way. The Canadian Missionaries were able to do God’s work and help people in need. Everything they were doing was to bless the Lord.

How does this affect the way I think about my faith?

While researching this topic, my faith shifted. Before this, I never really knew about how Koreans immigrated to Canada and I didn’t talk to my parents about this either. I realized how important it is to know about your roots and where you came from. I also learned the extent that people struggled to get to a new country. It almost made me question my faith when I read all of the personal stories of individuals who came to Canada. It wasn’t as easy as it is today. They went through a lot of hardships when immigrating. “Why would God give them such a hard time? Why couldn’t they immigrate sooner?” These thoughts went through my mind. As I thought about it more, I realized that God has a plan for each of us. We need to trust in him through thick and thin.

– April

Stories of Faith

By: Jocelyn Chung

This blog post illustrates the role of the church for the first immigrants. Please read to the end to see Jocelyn’s personal reflection on the content of the post.

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What was the role of the church for these immigrants?

Introduction

In 1948, Tae-yon Whang left his home in Korea, becoming the first Korean immigrant to settle in Canada. At the same time, the prevailing attitude in the West was one of Anglo-Conformity. If the immigrant could not conform to Western culture, they would be excluded. On the flipside, if the immigrant were to conform, they would be taking on the identity of the dominant culture, which includes changing their name, speaking English, and taking on the Christian Protestant lifestyle. On top of this, new immigrants, despite their high educational attainment in Korea, were forced to work jobs leaps and bounds below what they were actually qualified to do. Most did still held onto economic security, but more than that, psychological and physical problems were what put them in even trickier positions. Korean immigrants had to endure long and hard hours doing physical labour while experiencing discrimination on a daily basis, practically unable to defend themselves.

Home Away from Home

Because of this struggle, the first Korean churches were established in the 60’s by immigrant pastors yearning to create a safe space for their own community separate from Canadian churches that were too far off from what they knew to be home. For the first immigrants, when they came to Canada, nothing was what they knew. They came to start a new life and for opportunities that they couldn’t get in Korea, but the new land was not one to welcome them. Isolation and the immigrant life were so inextricably interwoven, that they were left no choice but to create a new place suited for them and their needs. This place quickly became the church. At the church they did not need to worry about any cultural or linguistic barrier, and it was a place for them to feel empowered once again in such an inhospitable culture. The isolation they experienced was also something that was relieved by the church. It gave them a community rooted in God where they were given a voice to speak and release all the pain of hardships they had endured.

A Truly Korean Community

Church also served as the centre of social gatherings where immigrants come together with the shared experience of being an isolated newcomer in such a foreign land. When they came, they left everything only to come to a place that did not accept them. It was only natural for them to not only establish their own space, but also to maintain it, holding on to as much of their culture and lifestyle as they could. This is shown through the differences between the relationship between Korean immigrant churches and their community versus that of their homeland churches in Korea. As for immigrant churches, they maintain the distinction of the space being Korean, rather than just simply another church. This was a decision made by the first immigrants that has transcended generations, with some current immigrant churches still being distinguished as Korean. Not only this, but the first immigrants also constructed the church into an environment that would be suitable for their children to be raised in as well. Their dedication and support for the church reflected this vision, and it changed the way immigrant churches do fellowship. The congregation was much more intimate and tight knit, which also has carried on to this day as a prominent culture within the church.

Salvation

From a theological standpoint, being discriminated in such an unwelcoming society, a need to have a place to belong, and a removal from what you know as home all combine to create the theological problem of self-acceptance. Because of this, the churches have become a place that helps its members cope with any conflicts they may be having, internal or external. This dependence by immigrants on the church made the community one of great desperation and reliance, which sustained it for many years until the next generations took it upon themselves to carry on the legacy. The church became a visible community where brothers and sisters who believed in the same thing could unite and share a common goal and hope. In so many ways, the church became their salvation. They left everything they knew to be met by an unwelcoming society, and the only thing that kept most of them afloat was the knowledge that there was a community of people like them that they could depend on and go back to. God did bless them to have such a space, a place to feel at home again. In a time where they felt like they had nothing, God gave them something. The way they were able to say “Bless the Lord” has continued on through generations, and even my generation of young people are still reaping the rewards that the first generation gave us. We are all part of a community that we can consider home, and we will continue to carry on this legacy for more generations to come.

How does this affect the way I think about my faith?

Overall, the way I think about my own personal faith is affected by studying previous generations, because I see the desperation and why they needed the church. Growing up, I assumed I just needed to go to church. I never questioned why I went, I just thought I had to. However, seeing older generations and how desperately they truly needed it made me realize that that is not the case for me. I don’t need the church, yet I continue to come. I think this stems from a genuine yearning to grow deeper in my faith that I maybe wasn’t aware of before. This is also something that I feel is ingrained in me that has transcended generations, beginning with the first immigrants.

– Jocelyn

Stories of Faith

By: Lauren Lee

This blog post depicts the social, linguistic, and cultural isolation that the first generation Koreans went through when adjusting to life in Canada.

What were their experiences with social, linguistic and cultural isolation?

The first generation immigrants came to Canada at various ages and walks of life. They left their lives in Korea to look for something new in Canada. Moving across the world, they were forced to adjust quickly to life in a new country. I had the privilege of talking to three members of our congregation and their experiences with social, linguistic, and cultural isolation. Each experience was unique in their own way.

Social Isolation

Many Korean immigrants felt social isolation because they didn’t have spare time. Although they had finished university in Korea, they were forced to work at a factory to make a living for the family. The long hours that they spend at working lead to depression. Everything was for survival, and they didn’t have an opportunity to build relationships with others.

Another member of the congregation depicted their immigration story in a different light. She came at the young age of 24, in 1985, by herself, as she wanted to study to become a women’s minister. As a young student, living with only a few friends, she often felt homesick and lonely. There weren’t a lot of Koreans in the area that she lived in and she focused solely on adapting to school life in Canada while balancing work on the side. There wasn’t room in her life for socializing, and even if there was, there weren’t many people she felt comfortable doing it with.

The final member that we interviewed came in April of 1991 following his mother’s guidance. He was so focused on being the breadwinner of his family; waking up at 4am every day and working until 7pm at the family restaurant. There were days where he didn’t even have the time to sit down and rest. Due to this, he wasn’t able to build many relationships with those around him. Luckily, his family joined a church after they arrived in Canada, so he was able to adapt quickly due to the group of young college students that were similar in age.

Linguistic Isolation

All three interviewees felt the linguistic isolation when they first arrived in Canada. Many of the immigrants could not speak English, and what they did know was very basic. They turned to methods such as listening to English pop songs, the radio, and even branching out to other Canadian friends to learn the language.

Reverend Kim explained his own struggles of learning the English language. When he first arrived in Canada, he had to go back to high school to study English; an important asset for survival in a foreign country. He applied to the University of Toronto a year after studying English in high school, and eventually took the TOEFL exam, an English proficiency exam. University life was tough. He couldn’t understand a thing in lectures, he struggled with reading the textbooks, and the hardest thing was figuring out where his classes were. It took him two to three times longer than the average person to read the same textbooks, and he had to borrow notebooks from his Canadian friends to study the material. He was dependant on them. In social situations, he worried that his English-speaking abilities weren’t the greatest. He got scared when people talked to him on the bus, and he would mimic their reactions because he didn’t know what they were saying. However, learning the new language became easier as he frequently attended social gatherings to practice his skills.

Others who did not have the same English skills had difficulty getting jobs. Since they could not be employed for most positions, they did manual labour or opened small businesses. This work has long hours, is physically exhausting, and sometimes dangerous. However, they had to push through that because it was their only option.

Cultural Isolation

One interviewee explained his challenges with adapting to a new culture. He is still learning cultural aspects from his kids today, as Korean culture is a prominent part of his life. When he arrived in Canada, he couldn’t even feel the cultural difference from life in Korea. He didn’t feel racism, as he didn’t even have any idea of it back then. He had goals to achieve, and work to do, so adjusting to the new culture was not a big priority.

Reverend In Kee told me that it was very difficult as well. In Korea, he didn’t even have to think about being Korean because everyone else was Korean too. When he came to Canada, he had to build his life up again from the very start. Here, he was just a poor student who couldn’t speak English. Canada was supposed to be his dreamland but on his first day in Canada, that ideal image vanished. He was very lonely and adapting to the new life was very strenuous on him psychologically. He had to be very alert all day, even in the morning, as he needed to really pay attention and focus on what others were saying. He was exhausted every day. Whenever he saw an airplane, he thought about going back home, but his situation didn’t allow him to. Over the many years that he has spent living in Canada, Reverend Kim has become very bicultural; the Korean and Canadian cultures coexisting in him.

Bless the Lord

Amidst all this, it is evident that God played a big role in their lives. Although there was a lot of suffering in the lives of first generation Korean-Canadians, we can also see how God was with them throughout their lives. Despite the isolation and struggle they faced on a daily basis, they could turn to those at church, who went through similar experiences. It was a space where they felt safe, and comfortable, and had people to support them. Hearing the Word of God and being reassured that God was with them was a light in their lives, especially in this time of darkness.

How does this affect the way I think about my faith?

I think that I’ve gained a greater appreciation for the sacrifices that were made by the first generation immigrants. Through the suffering they went through, I can see that God was present in their lives, and it puts me in awe when I compare it to how easy my own life is. The struggles we go through are very different than what they had to go through, but the common thing is we could all turn to God. Even though we may not feel it at the moment, once we reflect, we can recognize when God is with us.

– Lauren

Stories of Faith