Is Chicago still a city of opportunity for Koreans?

This question is something that anyone who has lived in or considered moving to Chicago has likely pondered.

Unlike the glitz of New York or LA, and not a symbol of future industries like Silicon Valley, Chicago has strangely been a city chosen by Korean immigrants for a long time. The reasons include job availability, relatively affordable housing, and the infrastructure that a big city provides.

Chicago is a traditional center for industry, finance, and logistics in the United States.

As a hub where aviation, rail, and logistics intersect, it has many corporate headquarters and mid-sized companies, offering a wide spectrum of job opportunities from white-collar to blue-collar. For Koreans, it is particularly remembered as a city where the barriers to entry were low for both self-employment and office jobs. There have been consistent opportunities not only in first-generation immigrant businesses like laundries, convenience stores, and restaurants but also in office jobs related to accounting, insurance, and manufacturing.

In terms of living costs, Chicago remains competitive. Although housing prices and rents have risen significantly in recent years, it is still more manageable compared to major cities on the West Coast. You can find larger homes for the same amount of money, and there is space available for raising children. This is a significant advantage for Korean families. While school districts vary by area, there are definitely options available if you move to the suburbs.

However, the nature of opportunities has changed significantly. The structure where you could simply show up and work hard to climb the ladder has almost disappeared. The burdens of labor costs and rent have increased for self-employment, and entering the middle class through simple labor has become difficult. Office jobs have also seen fierce competition in terms of education and experience. Chicago has now become a city where opportunities are available to those who are prepared, rather than just a city that rewards hard work alone.

Nevertheless, the strengths of Chicago are still clear. First is balance. It doesn't change too quickly and isn't excessively expensive. Second is community. The size of the Korean community is just right, allowing information to circulate well without complete isolation. Third is the cost of failure. Even if you take a risk and things don't go well, the risk of your life collapsing entirely is relatively low.

Ultimately, Chicago is still a city of opportunity. However, those opportunities are not as open to everyone as they once were.

For Koreans, Chicago is more of a realistic stage where you can plan and gradually establish yourself, rather than a city that instantly fulfills dreams. It's not glamorous, but it's sustainable; it doesn't pose great risks, but it does require effort.

So, I think Chicago may still quietly offer opportunities only to those who are prepared.