![Australian Census 2011 demographic map - Inner Sydney by POA - BCP field 1132 Korean Total Responses](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/Australian_Census_2011_demographic_map_-_Inner_Sydney_by_POA_-_BCP_field_1132_Korean_Total_Responses.svg)
Korean Australians are Australian citizens who trace their
Korean
Korean may refer to:
People and culture
* Koreans, ethnic group originating in the Korean Peninsula
* Korean cuisine
* Korean culture
* Korean language
**Korean alphabet, known as Hangul or Chosŏn'gŭl
**Korean dialects and the Jeju language
** ...
ancestry and identify themselves as an immigrant to or a descendant born in Australia.
History
There is some evidence of the presence of a small number of Koreans in Australia as early as 1920. While it is unclear what prompted their arrival they may have been the children of Australian Protestant missionaries who began work in Korea around 1885. A few also came to Australia between 1921 and 1941 for education.
[ ]
Material was copied from this source, which is available under th
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY 3.0 AU)
license..
During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
(1941-1945), an unknown number of Koreans who had been arrested in Allied countries across the Asia-Pacific Region were transported to Australia and interned alongside
Japanese
Japanese may refer to:
* Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia
* Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan
* Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture
** Japanese diaspor ...
and
Formosans for the duration of the war. Most Korean internees carried Japanese names, and were thus difficult to identify.
When the
Korean War
, date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
ended, some Korean women came to Australia as war brides and children as orphans, adopted by Australian families. The relaxation of immigration restrictions in the late 1960s provided the first opportunity for larger numbers of Koreans to enter Australia. In 1969, the first Korean immigrants arrived in Sydney under the Skilled Migration Program. However, there were only 468 Korean born people recorded as living in Australia at the time of the 1971 Census.
In the early 1970s, about 1000 Koreans arrived each year for short-term stays (mostly as students) and around 100 arrived for permanent residence. Some of these new arrivals subsequently sponsored family members for migration. Between 1976 and 1985, around 500 Korea-born immigrants arrived each year resulting in the number of Korea-born living in Australia increasing more than sixfold between the 1976 Census (1460) and the 1986 Census (9290).
From 1986 to 1991, there was a further increase in settler arrivals, with an average of about 1400 each year, many coming under the Skilled and Business migration categories. More than half of the Korea-born in Australia have arrived in the last ten years, including as students.
Historical population
At the 2016 census, 123,017 persons resident in Australia identified themselves as being of Korean ancestry.
98,776 persons resident in Australia had been born in
South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its eas ...
. At the 2006 census, 59 persons residing in Australia had been born in
North Korea
North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korean Peninsula and shares borders with China and Russia to the north, at the Yalu (Amnok) and T ...
.
According to the 2006 census, only 38% declared holding Australian citizenship,
68% had arrived in Australia in 1990 or later, and 63% reside in
New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
. Few ethnic groups are as concentrated in one state as Koreans are in
New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
, where 33% of Australia's population live.
At the 2006 Census, 37,426 (71%) Korean-born Australian residents self-identified as Christian, 3,500 (6.6%) as
Buddhist
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...
, and 9,562 (18%) as having no religious affiliation.
Disgruntled former members of Korean Christian churches sometimes join the handful of Korean Buddhist temples in the Sydney area.
Notable people
*
Peter Bell, former
Australian rules football player who played for
Fremantle and the
North Melbourne
North Melbourne is an inner-city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, north-west of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Melbourne local government area. North Melbourne recorded a population of 14,953 at ...
.
*
Bang Chan
Stray Kids (; often abbreviated as SKZ) is a South Korean boy band formed by JYP Entertainment through the 2017 reality show of the same name. The group is composed of eight members: Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin ...
(Christopher Bang), leader of South Korean boy group
Stray Kids
Stray Kids (; often abbreviated as SKZ) is a South Korean boy band formed by JYP Entertainment through the 2017 reality show of the same name. The group is composed of eight members: Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmi ...
.
*
Yerin Ha
Yerin Ha is an Australian actress. She is best known for her role in the Paramount+ series ''Halo'' (2022–). She was named a 2021 rising star by the Casting Guild of Australia (CGA).
Early life
Ha was born in Sydney to Korean parents. Her gr ...
, actress
*
Yang Hi Choe-Wall
Yang Hi Choe-Wall (; born 1932) is a Korean Australian academic, writer and researcher specialising in Korean literature of Chosŏn period (1392–1910). She was Associate Professor in the Division of Pacific and Asian History, the Australian N ...
,
Koreanist and professor of
Korean studies
Korean studies is an academic discipline that focuses on the study of Korea, which includes the Republic of Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and diasporic Korean populations. Areas commonly included under this rubric include Ko ...
.
*
Dami Im
Dami Im ( , , ; born October 17, 1988) is a South Korean-born Australian singer and songwriter. She represented Australia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 held in Stockholm, Sweden with the song " Sound of Silence", placing second and ach ...
, winner of the
2013
File:2013 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: Edward Snowden becomes internationally famous for leaking classified NSA wiretapping information; Typhoon Haiyan kills over 6,000 in the Philippines and Southeast Asia; The Dhaka garment fa ...
Australian X Factor and runner-up of the
2016 Eurovision Song Contest.
*
Elizabeth Lee, A member of the
Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. Currently serving as the Leader of the Opposition in her capacity as Leader of the
Canberra Liberals
The Liberal Party of Australia (Australian Capital Territory Division), branded as Canberra Liberals, is the division of the Liberal Party of Australia in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The party has been in opposition in the ACT Legis ...
.
*
David Kang
David Kang (born 1970) is an Australian barrister. In January 1994 he fired two blank shots from a starting pistol at Charles, Prince of Wales in protest at the treatment of several hundred Cambodian asylum seekers held in detention camps in Au ...
,
barrister who feigned an attack on
Prince Charles with a
starting pistol
A starting pistol or starter pistol is a blank handgun that is fired to start track and field races, as well as competitive swimming races at some meets. Starter guns cannot fire real ammunition without first being extensively modified: Blank ...
in 1994.
*
Sky Kim, Olympic archer
*
Yvette King, television presenter and entertainment journalist
*
Felix Lee, member of South Korean boy group
Stray Kids
Stray Kids (; often abbreviated as SKZ) is a South Korean boy band formed by JYP Entertainment through the 2017 reality show of the same name. The group is composed of eight members: Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmi ...
.
*
Lee Da-hae
Lee Da-hae, or Lee Da-hey (born Byun Da-hye on April 19, 1984) is a Korean Australian actress. She is best known for her roles in Korean dramas such as ''Heaven's Fate'' (2004), '' My Girl'' (2005), ''Green Rose'' (2005), ''The Slave Hunters'' ( ...
, actress
*
Leonardo Nam
Leonardo Nam (born November 5, 1979) is an Australian actor. He made his breakthrough as Roy in '' The Perfect Score'' (2004), and gained further recognition for his roles as Morimoto in '' The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift'' (2006) and Bria ...
,
Korean Argentine actor who emigrated to Australia; born in
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South ...
.
*
Rosé (Roseanne Park), New Zealand born member of the South Korean girl group
Blackpink
Blackpink (, commonly stylized in all caps or as BLɅϽKPIИK) is a South Korean girl group formed by YG Entertainment, consisting of members Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa. The group debuted in August 2016 with their single album '' Square ...
*
Sun Park
Sun Park (born 3 January 1981) is a Korean-Australian singer, actress, entertainerHerald SuReplacement Wins Crowd Over Reported 19 June 2006. Retrieved 17 July 2007. and former member of the children's entertainment group Hi-5 as well as the ...
, former
Hi-5 member.
*
Jung Ryeo-won
Jung Ryeo-won (born January 21, 1981) is a South Korean-born Korean Australian actress. She began her entertainment career as a singer in the now-defunct girl group Chakra, and first rose to fame in the hit television series '' My Name Is Kim S ...
, actress and singer active in South Korea. Born in
Seoul
Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 of ...
and raised in
Brisbane
Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Queensland, and the third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of approximately 2.6 million. Brisbane lies at the centre of the South ...
.
* Dayen Zheng, former
Hi-5 member.
* Hanbyul, former member of South Korean boy group
Ledapple.
* Kristine Yoon (stage name Hayana), former member of South Korean girl group
EvoL Evol may refer to:
* ''Evol'' (Sonic Youth album), 1986
* ''Evol'' (Future album), 2016
* EvoL, South Korean girl group
* "E.V.O.L.", a song by Marina and the Diamonds
* ' Kamen Rider Evol', the main antagonist of a Japanese tokusatsu series, Ka ...
.
* Barom Yu, former member of South Korean boy group
C-Clown
C-Clown ( ko, 씨클라운; short for Crown Clown) was a South Korean boy band under Yedang Entertainment. It had six members: Rome, Siwoo, Ray, Kang Jun, T.K, and Maru. They disbanded on October 5, 2015 after being together for three years.
Hi ...
.
* Kevin Kim, former member of South Korean boy group
ZE:A.
* Cho Jun Young (Young Sky), member of South Korean R&B/hip hop group
One Way.
* Peter Hyun, member of South Korean R&B/hip hop group
One Way.
* Hany Lee, actress (''
Neighbours'').
* Ray Ahn, member of Australian rock bands
Hard-Ons and
Nunchukka Superfly
* Jake (Sim Jae-yun), member of South Korean boy group
ENHYPEN
Enhypen (; ja, エンハイプン; ''Enhaipun''; stylized as ENHYPEN) is a South Korean boy band formed by Belift Lab, a joint venture between CJ ENM and Hybe Corporation, through the 2020 survival competition show '' I-Land''. The group is c ...
. Born in
Seoul
Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 of ...
and raised in
Brisbane
Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Queensland, and the third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of approximately 2.6 million. Brisbane lies at the centre of the South ...
.
* Danielle, member of South Korean girl group
NewJeans
NewJeans () is a South Korean girl group formed by ADOR, a subsidiary of Hybe Corporation. The group is composed of five members: Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein. The group pre-released their debut single "Attention" on July 22, 2022, ...
.
* Lily, member of South Korean girl group
NMIXX
Nmixx (; stylized in all caps; formerly known as JYPn) is a South Korean girl group formed by SQU4D, a sub-label of JYP Entertainment. The group is composed of six members: Lily, Haewon, Sullyoon, Bae, Jiwoo, and Kyujin. The group debuted on Fe ...
.
See also
*
Korean New Zealanders
Korean New Zealanders (Korean: 한국계 뉴질랜드인), also referred to informally as Korean Kiwis, Kokis or Kowis, are New Zealand citizens and residents of Korean ancestry. The 2018 New Zealand census found 35,664 Koreans in the country, vi ...
*
Strathfield
Strathfield is a suburb in the Inner West of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located 12 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the Municipality of Strathfield. A smal ...
References
{{Ethnic groups in Australia
Australian, Korean
Immigration to Australia
Asian Australian
Australia–South Korea relations
Korean diaspora in Oceania