During the Cold War, the United States sought to contain the spread of communism in Asia to protect its national security, maintain strategic and economic interests and uphold alliances, as well as to promote democratic values. This effort shaped American foreign policy and led to significant involvement throughout the continent, influencing the sociopolitical landscape of Asia and contributing to the large-scale migrations of people to the United States. The reverberating effects of these geopolitical dynamics are evident in the experiences of Laos and South Korea, which were impacted in some similar ways despite their differences and vast geographical distance.
During the 1970s and 80s, when our participants migrated to the United States, Laos and South Korea faced significant challenges. Laos grappled with the aftermath of the Vietnam War and the rise of communism. The Pathet Lao, a communist political movement and organization, took control of the country in 1975, leading to the establishment of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. This regime change caused widespread social upheaval and economic hardship. Many, particularly those associated with the former Royal Lao government and military, feared persecution and fled the country. The resulting crisis saw hundreds of thousands seeking asylum in neighboring countries and beyond. By the end of the 1980s, over 120,000 Lao refugees had resettled in the United States as a result of the Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1975 and the Refugee Act of 1980.
“My house, my farm, ox—everything we had to leave. Don’t prepare, don’t sell. We came with nothing. We had to leave everything.”
In contrast, South Korea was navigating the rapid industrialization that followed the devastation of the Korean War. This period saw South Korea transform from an agrarian society to a highly industrialized economy. However, this sudden economic growth brought about significant political and socioeconomic tensions. The authoritarian regimes of President Park Chung-hee and his successor Chun Doo-hwan were marked by political repression, labor unrest, and widespread human rights abuses. These factors, combined with economic opportunities abroad, motivated many South Koreans to leave the country. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 significantly influenced this migration by abolishing the national origins quota system and allowing greater numbers of Asians, including South Koreans, to immigrate to the United States. Between 1965 and 1980, approximately 290,000 South Koreans immigrated to the United States, with the numbers continuing to rise in the subsequent decades.
“The reason I came to the US was because of my memories of Father, my memories of all the injustice in Korea.”
As a result of these factors, many from Laos and South Korea sought safety and opportunity in the United States during the 1970s and 80s. By 2020, there were approximately 1.8 million Korean Americans in the United States, with California being home to about 452,000 of them. The Lao American community, though smaller, has also established significant communities, with around 263,000 Lao Americans nationwide and about 20,000 residing in California. Their resettlement contributed to the diverse fabric of American society and had lasting impacts on both their home countries and their new communities in the United States. The migration and acculturation stories of elder adults from the Lao and Korean diasporic communities offer valuable insights into their legacies for younger Lao and Korean individuals while also demonstrating both the universal and distinctive aspects of the Asian American experience.
