Despite tougher barriers to the American Dream under the Donald Trump administration’s restrictive immigration policies, people seeking opportunity continue to pursue their aspirations in the United States. Although immigration enforcement by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has created the impression that immigration is completely blocked, many say that is not entirely the case.
While first-generation immigrants once focused primarily on survival, a growing number of prospective migrants today aim for a more stable version of the American Dream. They often build on financial foundations established in Korea and rely on accumulated data and experience shared by earlier immigrants.
According to Google Trends data analyzed by the Korea Daily, searches for “U.S. immigration” in South Korea remained high throughout the second half of last year. Frequently searched terms included practical phrases such as “U.S. immigration reality,” “U.S. employment,” and “green card,” suggesting a shift away from vague aspirations toward more realistic planning.
Jung Hae-gyu, 29, who works in the food service industry in Korea, said he has recently begun considering immigration to the United States. He explained that while Korea’s restaurant industry has low barriers to entry, excessive competition and rapidly changing trends make it difficult to sustain a business long term. “The U.S. isn’t easy either,” he said, “but in terms of market size and growth potential, I still see more opportunity there than in Korea.”
Education has also emerged as a major motivation for immigration. According to the Pew Research Center, the primary reasons Koreans cited for immigrating in 2024 were family bonds (38 percent) and education (28 percent).
Park Sang-hyun, 30, who lives in Korea and became a father last month, said having a child made it impossible to ignore education issues. “As Korea’s education environment becomes increasingly competition-driven, the U.S. appeals to me because it offers more diverse educational pathways,” he said.
Social media and video platforms are also filled with content documenting immigrant life. Beyond travel and lifestyle videos, “reality-sharing” content—covering job searches, visa issues, living costs, and childcare—has steadily gained viewership.
Woo Jae-eun, a former University of Southern California (USC) international student, runs a YouTube channel titled Living as Jen, where she shares her experiences working and living in the United States. Drawing on her time as a student and early-career professional, she discusses job preparation, visa challenges, and workplace culture. “When I first came to the U.S. in my early 20s, it was hard to find information from people in similar situations,” she said. “I wanted to share my trial and error and anxieties honestly, rather than just success stories.”
A similar trend is visible in immigration and study-abroad consulting. Mr. Choi, who runs an education and immigration consulting firm in Seoul, said inquiries have not diminished but have become more specific. “People are no longer asking about going to the U.S. in abstract terms,” he said. “They want to know which visas and pathways are realistically possible.”
Experts say this trend should not be dismissed as mere fantasy. Yoo Heon-seong, a researcher at UCLA, said interest in U.S. immigration does not disappear with a single policy shift. “The established Korean American community, its information networks, living infrastructure, and the accumulated experience of earlier immigrants remain powerful motivators,” he said.
The American Dream is no longer a promise open to everyone. Still, for many, it remains a dream that can be pursued—more cautiously, more realistically, but not entirely abandoned.
BY HANKIL KANG [kang.hankil@koreadaily.com]
