Some might mistakenly believe that the rights of Koreans weren’t violated simply because their numbers were smaller compared to Chinese and Japanese immigrants. However, the very fact that early figures like Seo Jae-pil and Syngman Rhee married white American women starkly reveals the immense practical difference that U.S. citizenship made for Koreans.

The America of the late 1800s and early 1900s was vastly different from today. Depending on the state, laws existed that could strip a white woman of her citizenship if she married a person of color. This illustrates just how sensitive marriage was, not only socially, culturally, and within families, but also legally prohibited in many cases. The ability of Korean men to marry white women, therefore, wasn’t a minor detail; it was a profound indicator of their recognized legal status as citizens, a status largely denied to other Asian groups.

Sadly, this distinct legal privilege was not fully appreciated or strategically defended. This oversight contributed to a profound setback in 1922 with the landmark Ozawa v. United States Supreme Court decision. This ruling, which broadly defined “Asians” as ineligible for naturalized citizenship, indiscriminately lumped Koreans – who had previously enjoyed a different legal standing based on their nationality – into the broader, discriminated-against category of “Asians.” From that point forward, Koreans too began to face the systemic discrimination that had long plagued Chinese and Japanese immigrants.

Looking back, the U.S. has generally been a magnanimous and welcoming presence for Korean immigrants. As long as they were not broadly categorized as ‘Asian’ in legal terms, Korean immigrants have had a truly unique Asian immigrant history, receiving treatment largely indistinguishable from that of European immigrants from the very beginning.

This historical episode serves as a powerful and sobering reminder: it underscores the severe repercussions that can arise when we, as a people, fail to remain vigilant and engaged with our own social status and fundamental rights. Recognizing these historical facts, and in light of Korea’s rapid rise to economic prominence and the global admiration for K-culture, we must never forget our identity as a crucial link between our resident country, the United States, and our homeland, Korea – a link that ensures the prosperity and peace of both nations.

To continue reminding you of this, the Korean Expats Business Initiative is organized and stands ready.