Unit 1, Activity A: Korean Americans in U.S. History

Goal: to identify and discuss the lives of numerous Korean Americans who have made a significant impact in U.S. history.

Ask each student to choose a Korean American figure from history, then write a short report about that person’s experiences and accomplishments. Discuss issues of immigration versus native-born status, and how those experiences might differ.

A short list of suggested historical figures is provided below. However, encourage students to do his or her own research in choosing a figure, allowing for the discovery of potential family members, as well.

Examples of Korean Americans throughout history include the following people:

Philip Ahn silent film star
Philip Jaisohn first naturalized Korean American and first Korean American to earn a U.S. medical degree
Hyung-Soon Kim inventor of the nectarine fruit
Col. Young-Oak Kim leader of the 100/442nd Battalion, the most decorated unit in U.S. military history, made up predominantly of Japanese American soldiers, some of whose families were interned during World War II
Dr. Sammy Lee Olympic U.S. gold medalist in diving.
Nam June Paik world-renowned artist

Activities