Following the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, family reunification became possible with the dismantling of the national quota system. Following Mexico and the Philippines, Korea was the third largest source country of immigrants to the United States from 1976 to 1990. Dubbed as the Korean diaspora, massive groups of Koreans immigrated in order to escape the economic and political insecurity, as well as military dictatorship.

The growing Korean ethnic presence was due to an increasing number of white-collar workers—as opposed to the war victims or political refugees who were left with little to no choice. These Korean Americans had voluntarily left their roots in Korea to find new opportunities.