Korean American businesses in Los Angeles Koreatown are facing severe challenges as the immigration crackdown intensifies and related protests continue.
Many Latin American workers are now hesitant to come to work, creating critical labor shortages in sectors they support. A Korean American textile wholesale company in Downtown LA’s Fashion District (Java) recently began urgently searching for temporary workers after its Latin American staff notified the owner they could not come in for the time being. However, hiring replacements has been difficult, leaving owners deeply anxious.
Business owners worry that if this situation drags on, operations will inevitably be disrupted. An anonymous company representative said they are currently managing by hiring college students on summer break as part-time help, but this is only an interim measure. “Training takes time and there is always a risk of safety accidents,” they said. “We’re desperately waiting for this to end so staff can return.”
Car washes, restaurants, and drink shops, which rely heavily on Latin American workers, are even more affected. The protests against the immigration crackdown have reduced customer traffic, forcing some owners to consider closing or suspending business temporarily.
Juhee Lee, owner of Cafe Om, which opened in Downtown LA earlier this year, is thinking about shutting down and changing careers. “Sales were already down due to the economic downturn, and since the crackdown began in May, our mainly Latin American customers stopped coming, causing sales to plummet,” she said. She added, “Many businesses that used to open six days a week are now only opening three,” expressing deep frustration.
Juhee Lee also shared that her cafe suffered a robbery during intense protests, and aggressive behavior by some homeless individuals added to her struggles.
A representative of a Korean restaurant south of Downtown LA said, “Honestly, we’ve been in ‘survival mode’ for the past three or four months, and now the protests have made it worse. We’re just hoping business picks up after the summer vacation season.”
A manager at a Chinese restaurant on Olympic Boulevard said that during Father’s Day weekend, protests led to a string of group reservation cancellations. “Since then, reservations have been rare, and many customers ask if protesters are coming to the area.”
Similar problems are reported by Korean American nail salons on 6th Street and hair salons on Vermont Avenue. One business representative said, “Unless it’s absolutely necessary, many customers are postponing or canceling appointments for about a month. We tell them it’s safe now because there are no protesters at night, but convincing them isn’t easy.”
Kim, who runs a skincare shop north of Koreatown, said, “Afternoon and weekend appointments are especially affected. But we can’t just tell customers it’s safe just to keep them coming, so it’s really difficult.”
Many Korean Americans are prioritizing safety and limiting their movements. Daniel Song, who lives near 3rd Street in Koreatown, said, “Large protests have decreased, but with the worsening economy, crime is up, so I avoid going out unless necessary. Businesses are suffering, but it’s equally frustrating for us to restrict ourselves. We just hope for peaceful days to return soon.”
For now, immigration authorities are expected to continue the crackdown. Large-scale protests have lessened since the second week of June, but there is no telling when they will resume, leaving Korean American business owners increasingly anxious.
BY BRIAN CHOI [choi.inseong@koreadaily.com]
