The primary purpose of this website is to share
data and information on Korean American health research.
With a population of 1.2 million in the year
2000, Korean Americans are one of the fastest growing Asian
sub-populations in the nation, representing 10.3 % of the total
Asian American population1. A
lack of systematic research on this population, however,
continues to be a major obstacle in planning and implementing
appropriate intervention programs.
The Korean American Health Research Initiative
from the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, 525 N.
Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205, in collaboration with the Korean
Resource Center, 425 E. Federal Street, Baltimore, MD 21202,
410-347-0311, have been and are continually doing research on
areas of health that concern the Korean American population.
These areas include:
Cancer Prevention and Control
Hypertension Care
Diabetes Control
Smoking Cessation
Obesity Control
Facts on Korean Americans in the U.S.
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Coming to the U.S. as adults, (for the most
part when they are 20-40 years old) Korean Americans are
predominantly first-generation immigrants who are monolingual
and maintain their own cultural beliefs and attitudes.
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Though well educated (82% have a high school
or higher level of education in Korea), because of poor
English speaking skills and English comprehension, many
regularly read Korean newspapers (53%) rather than English
newspapers (13%) and approximately 3 out 4 (72%) watch Korean
videotapes on a regular basis.2
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Korean Americans are ranked the lowest in
having medical insurance compared to any other ethnic minority
group (42% without health insurance coverage – whether that be
private, or governmental, Medicare/Medicaid), primarily
because of their recent immigration history and their
engagement in small retail business that does not allow them
to afford health insurance premiums.3
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Korean Americans are also ranked the lowest in
utilizing health care services among ethnic minority groups,
due to the lack of health insurance and the limited English
speaking skills; only 51% get a regular annual check-up by
their primary physician.4
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Due to their unfamiliarity with the managed
care system and the social security system, Korean Americans
are isolated from the mainstream health care system.
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At a high risk of smoking, alcohol use,
hypertension, diabetes and liver diseases, there is a dire
need for culturally sensitive and systematic intervention for
improving healthy behaviors and managing chronic illnesses.5
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In the state of Maryland, there is a total of
approximately 47,802 Korean Americans6,
a majority of them owners of small retail businesses
(carry-out’s, grocery, laundry, liquor, etc.)
For more information on Korea and its
statistics:
Korea National Statistical Office
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1US
Census Bureau. (2000). American FactFinder.
Retrieved December 4, 2002, from <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/
BasicFactsServlet>
2 Kim MT, Kim KB, Juon HS, Hill MN. (2000). Prevalence
and factors associated with high blood pressure in
Korean Americans. Ethnicity and Disease, 10(3),
364-374.
3 US Department
of Health and Human Services.
(1998). Asian
American and Pacific Islanders: Executive Overview.
Office
of Minority Health Resource Center.
4 Kim
MT, Kim KB, Juon HS, Hill MN. (2000). Prevalence and
factors associated with high blood pressure in Korean
Americans. Ethnicity and Disease, 10(3),
364-374.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (1999).
Cigarette smoking among adults United States 1997.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 48:993-996.
2002 American Community Survey profile of Maryland
5 Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. (1999). Cigarette smoking among adults
United States 1997. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly
Report, 48:993-996.
6 2002 American Community Survey profile of
Maryland
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