Koreans in Cuba
Coreano Cubanos 한국계 쿠바인 | |
|---|---|
| Total population | |
| 800 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Havana · Matanzas | |
| Languages | |
| Cuban Spanish | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Korean Mexicans |
Korean Cubans (Spanish: Coreano Cubanos, Korean: 한국계 쿠바인; RR: Hangukgye kubain) are citizens of Cuba of Korean ancestry. Most of them are descendants of Korean immigrant farmers from Mexico who left to Cuba in search of a better life. Today about 800 descendants of the Korean farmers live around Havana, Matanzas and other areas of Cuba.[1]
History of migration
[edit]The first ethnic Koreans to arrive in Cuba came from Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula in search of a better life.[2] In 1905, 1,033 Koreans set sail on a cargo ship from Incheon to Yucatán. Upon arrival, instead of the riches they had been promised, all they found was the most menial type of labor. They were sold to 22 landlords[3] and became sugarcane and hemp (henequen) cutters, toiling from sun-up till sundown in the dry and harsh tropical sun.
Korean immigrant Lim Cheontaek wrote a history book called Cubaiminsa in 1954 that describes the history of Korean immigrants living in Cuba.[4]
Language
[edit]Most Korean Cubans today speak the Spanish language. A Cuba-Korea culture center was built in 1921 that taught Korean writing and history in an attempt to remind the descendants of their heritage. But lack of funding shuttered the center and now it is hard to find a descendant of the Korean immigrants who can speak the Korean language.[1]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Korean Mexicans And Korean Cubans Explore Their Roots". Racialicious. 5 August 2004. Archived from the original on 21 October 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
- ^ "Martha's Story: the Dream of Korean-Cubans". Ohmynew. 17 September 2008. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
- ^ "Jeronimo The Movie". jeronimothemovie.com. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
- ^ "쿠바이민사". Encyclopedia of Korean Culture.
External links
[edit]- "Five Generations On, Mexico's Koreans Long for Home." The Chosun Ilbo. 16 August 2008.
