I immigrated to the United States in 2007 and have been living in New York for quite some time, but when I arrived, this area was not an easy place.

Most Koreans who came to New York in the 90s and early 2000s arrived without any connections and worked 12 hours a day in restaurants, laundries, delis, and nail salons. Rent was high, taxes were steep, English was lacking, and safety was a concern.

Work was hard, income was unstable, and they had to support their families. On top of that, the 9/11 attacks, various scams, armed robberies, and issues with contracts added to the mental stress. Nevertheless, many Koreans managed to grow their businesses and support their children's education under these harsh conditions, which became the foundation of the Korean community today.

These days, one of the most common things I hear about New York is, "It's hard to find true New Yorkers in New York now."

In the past, whether in Brooklyn or Queens, I often met people who would say, "I was born and raised here," but nowadays, in conversations, almost everyone seems to be newcomers.

Even those who have lived in New York for 10 or 20 years naturally say, "I'm not originally from here." New York has always been a city of immigrants, but now it feels like true New Yorkers are becoming rare.

On the other hand, a more interesting change is the trend from Korea. In the past, many people immigrated directly from Korea to New York. There were various reasons such as studying, working, marrying, or investment immigration, and you could hear Korean as soon as you arrived at JFK Airport. However, this trend has almost disappeared these days.

Even when people immigrate from Korea to the United States, the number of those who choose New York as their initial settlement has noticeably decreased. Places like California, Washington, Texas, and Georgia are usually mentioned first, and New York feels like a city to visit later.

So, are people not coming to New York and only leaving? It certainly feels that way. I see many people around me leaving New York. The reasons vary, including rent, taxes, cost of living, safety, and traffic stress, but ultimately, it boils down to cost and quality of life. The money needed to maintain a small apartment in Brooklyn could buy a house with a yard in Texas. When families are formed, the choices become clearer.

If you ask whether New York is still a dream city like before, honestly, it is not. In the 90s and early 2000s, New York symbolized the center of the world, and just surviving there was a brand in itself. But now, the reality of costs has overshadowed that symbolism. Especially after the pandemic, with remote work becoming possible, the reasons to live in New York have sharply decreased. Core industries like finance, media, and arts remain strong, but the significance of location has greatly diminished for other professions.

That said, New York is not an empty city. As many leave, new people continue to come in. However, rather than "immigrants coming to New York with dreams" like before, the trend has shifted towards global corporate expatriates, short-term project specialists, and investors due to capital movement. There are more people who are closer to being temporary residents than permanent ones.

Ultimately, New York has become a city with a very fast turnover of people. The structure is such that people come in, live for about 3 to 5 years, and then leave. This is why it has become hard to meet true New Yorkers, and the fabric of the community feels thinner than before. The decrease in people immigrating directly from Korea to New York is part of the same trend. New York is no longer the only gateway to dreams.

New York is still a global city. However, I believe it is changing from a "city to live in" to a "city to experience and pass through." And I don't think this trend will change easily.