As a mother of two living in Queens these days, the Korean community here feels quite different from before.

Having immigrated in the mid-90s, the neighborhood where I first settled, the Korean market I used to shop at, the cafes where I sent my kids to classes and met friends, all of it was in Queens, but now the familiar scenery is gradually changing.

In the past, Flushing was at the center of the Queens Korean community. Main St. and Northern Blvd. were lined with Korean signs. Flushing was densely packed with Korean restaurants, clothing stores, delis, laundries, and academies. Back then, hearing Korean was natural, and there were times when the aunties would gather to talk about how to make kimchi or where sales were happening, but now those scenes seem to be fading away.

The most noticeable change is that the number of people is decreasing. I often wonder, "Where did everyone go?" I don't see familiar faces anymore. Even the church elder I used to be close with and the sister who has been running a hair salon for 20 years have all left one by one. When we occasionally meet, everyone voices the same sentiment.

"It's hard to live here now. With rising costs and rent, there's nothing left."

It's true. Those who ran small businesses in Queens, especially restaurants or laundries, say that business is not what it used to be, and they are gradually closing down. Now, the eastern line of Northern Boulevard, including Bayside, Auburndale, and Little Neck, is effectively becoming the new center of the Korean town in Queens. In particular, the area between 193rd and Bell Blvd is densely populated with Korean restaurants, hair salons, hospitals, and markets. The Korean business district has even spread up to Northern Blvd at 210th St.

And many Koreans are leaving Queens. Where are they going? Many are moving to New Jersey, particularly Pelpark.

It's a bit cheaper than living in Queens, and the taxes are a little lower. I also have friends who have moved towards UPenn. They say housing prices are still manageable there, and the air is less polluted. Those who have moved to New Jersey say that Queens has become too much of a "survival neighborhood."

Now, when I visit Flushing, it seems that the Chinese population, which started to gather around 2010, has filled the business district, and there are now more Chinese than Koreans.

Another word that is frequently heard in the Queens Korean community these days is Florida. Many first-generation Korean immigrants are said to be moving there. They don't have to shovel snow in winter, there are plenty of Korean markets, and the cost of living is low. It's a change that was unimaginable just a few years ago. Those who used to say, "We will bury our bones in Queens" are now saying, "I can't live here anymore," and are relocating to the South, such as Georgia or Florida, and even Texas.

Even more surprising is that the number of people returning to Korea is gradually increasing. Especially among couples in their 60s who have raised their children. After COVID, issues like medical costs, safety, and retirement anxiety have made many decide that "Korea might be better." Recently, there are even 'return programs' for those who have lived abroad, allowing people to settle in suburban areas or smaller cities near Seoul. I nodded at the remark, "Although prices have risen in Korea, it's convenient to go to the hospital."

However, that doesn't mean the Korean community in Queens is completely disappearing. There are still young generations coming in, and these days, due to the influence of K-pop and K-dramas, Americans are increasingly visiting Korean markets. But the sense of 'community' that I felt in this neighborhood doesn't seem as strong as it used to be.

Sometimes I also find myself contemplating. Should I just settle here and move to Florida? Or should I consider going back to Korea? But this place is where nearly half of my life has been buried for almost 30 years. My heart feels heavy to leave just yet, but looking around, I can't help but think that our generation might be the last to hold onto Queens.

The Korean community in Queens is undoubtedly changing. Old signs are coming down, familiar stores are disappearing, and even if a neighbor moves away, someone will fill that spot again.

But the time when we, including myself, were part of that community seems to be gradually receding.