Koreatown, Los Angeles

Koreatown, Los Angeles, was created gradually through the efforts of early Korean immigrants who began settling in the city in the early 20th century, forming small communities around churches and businesses. The neighborhood’s transformation into a recognized cultural hub was driven by visionaries like Hi Duk Lee, who in the 1970s opened Olympic Market and developed other businesses that attracted more Koreans to the area. As immigration laws changed in 1965, a new wave of Korean immigrants arrived, buying property and concentrating their economic and cultural activities along Wilshire Boulevard and surrounding streets. In 1980, Los Angeles County officially designated the area as Koreatown, and by 1982, the first Koreatown sign was installed, solidifying its identity. Located within ZIP codes 90005, 90006, 90010, and 90020 and primarily served by area code 213, Koreatown has grown into one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Today, it blends Korean culture with the city’s multicultural fabric and is known for its restaurants, nightlife, and thriving economy, despite challenges such as the 1992 Los Angeles riots.