When you visit Palisades Park, you might wonder, "Is this really America?" It's a place in New Jersey filled with many Korean people and shops.

You can see Korean signs lining the streets, and when you enter a restaurant, you often hear Korean spoken first.

Since it's only a 20-30 minute drive from Manhattan, you can think of it as having a neighborhood vibe similar to Korea.

Walking along the main street, Broad Avenue, you can find almost everything that Koreans need.

Restaurants, hospitals, banks, real estate agents, accountants, lawyers, hair salons, and tutoring centers are often all available within a single block.

Even those who have lived in the U.S. for a long time use these services, but it's especially a comforting neighborhood for those who have recently immigrated.

Of course, the most noticeable aspect is the food. You can find almost all the dishes you enjoyed in Korea.

From sundubu, galbi, samgyeopsal, seolleongtang, naengmyeon, gamjatang, gopchang, jokbal, to bossam, there's nothing missing.

There are also many Korean-style Chinese restaurants serving jjajangmyeon and jjamppong, and you can easily find snack shops selling kimbap and tteokbokki.

There are even long-established restaurants that have been in business for decades, attracting visitors from New York.

Recently, many cafes have opened up. You can easily find desserts like salted bread, croissants, cakes, and patbingsu that are popular in Korea.

In the past, people only drank American coffee, but now there are so many Korean-style cafes that young people often visit.

Additionally, there are many Korean restaurants offering a variety of barbecues and casual drinking spots, making weekends always lively. At 3 PM, local karaoke places open, providing many options to relieve stress and sing with friends and family until 2 AM. In fact, it's rare to find a major city in the U.S. without a Korean karaoke.

One of the most convenient aspects of living here is the availability of medical services. When you're feeling unwell, explaining your symptoms in English can be daunting.

However, there are many internal medicine, dental, oriental medicine, and dermatology clinics where you can receive treatment in Korean, making it much more comfortable. There are also places where you can consult about acupuncture, physical therapy, or chiropractic care in Korean.

Real estate, tax, and legal consultations, which are essential for life in the U.S., can mostly be done in Korean. Being able to receive explanations in Korean when buying or selling a house, signing a rental contract, filing taxes, starting a business, or preparing immigration documents is a significant advantage. Newcomers to the U.S. often receive a lot of help in these areas.

Families raising children also tend to be quite satisfied. There are various academies for SAT prep, English, and math, as well as extracurricular activities like taekwondo, piano, and violin. There are also Korean language schools that provide opportunities for children born in the U.S. to learn Korean and experience Korean culture.

Hair salons are similar. Many salons specialize in Korean-style cuts and perms, and you can easily find nail salons and skincare clinics. There are also specialty stores for Korean cosmetics, allowing you to purchase products you used in Korea.

Grocery shopping is also very convenient. In addition to large Korean supermarkets like H Mart, there are side dish shops, butcher shops, rice cake shops, and fish markets, making it feel just like shopping in Korea. You can find almost everything, from kimchi, doenjang, gochujang, ramen, snacks, to frozen foods, so there's hardly a need to receive packages from Korea.

That's why Palisades Park is often referred to as a "small Korea within America." Of course, housing prices and rent are not cheap, but the well-established Korean infrastructure allows for living comfortably with just the Korean language, which is a clear advantage. For those who want to maintain as much of the convenience of Korea as possible while living in the U.S., it remains one of the most attractive Korean towns today.