When Koreans hear the name Brooklyn, the image that comes to mind has changed quite a bit over the years. Up until the 1990s and early 2000s, to be honest, Brooklyn was not seen as a good neighborhood among Koreans. When thinking of New York, Manhattan, Flushing, Queens, and New Jersey came to mind first, while Brooklyn was often described as a place with a lot of crime and danger, a neighborhood with many Black and Hispanic people that was not safe to visit at night. There was a long period when people would discourage students or business travelers from taking a taxi to Brooklyn from the airport.

However, since the 2010s, the atmosphere has completely changed. Neighborhoods like Williamsburg, DUMBO, and Brooklyn Heights have been revitalized, attracting young artists and startup workers, and suddenly Brooklyn gained the image of being the trendiest area in New York. Among Koreans, Brooklyn is no longer seen as a dangerous outskirts, but rather as a hip neighborhood where stylish people live, filled with cafes, restaurants, galleries, and performance spaces.

When Korean travelers or students think of Brooklyn, the first scene that comes to mind is the Brooklyn Bridge. Taking photos on the bridge with the Manhattan skyline in the background has become almost a must-do. The famous photo spot on Washington Street in DUMBO, where the Manhattan Bridge frames the view, is frequently posted on Korean Instagram. Brooklyn is now recognized as a place to take photos, a destination for emotional travel.

The perception of living in Brooklyn has also changed significantly. In the past, living in New York meant Manhattan, Flushing, or New Jersey, but nowadays, saying you live in Brooklyn often gets a cool response. Areas like Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, and Bay Ridge are particularly popular among Korean families. The quietness, abundance of parks, and the stability provided by Brooklyn's characteristic low buildings and tree-lined streets are appealing. The fact that housing prices and rents are slightly cheaper than in Manhattan is also a practical advantage.

For Koreans, Brooklyn has become more than just a residential area; it has become a cultural symbol. Indie music, street art, small brands, trendy restaurants, and local markets are all images that automatically come to mind when thinking of Brooklyn. The saying that all the places in New York that feel trendy are in Brooklyn has naturally emerged among Koreans.

Of course, for the older Korean generation, Brooklyn still remains a somewhat unfamiliar and cautious neighborhood. Flushing in Queens is still the center of the Korean community, and Korean markets, hospitals, academies, churches, and restaurants are much more convenient in Queens and New Jersey. Therefore, many people think of Brooklyn as a place to visit rather than to live, a place to explore on weekends.

Nevertheless, the Brooklyn that Koreans think of today is no longer the dark image of the past. It is a free, creative, and unique neighborhood. A space that embraces change in the most New York way. The picture that comes to mind for Koreans when they think of Brooklyn is no longer a dangerous outskirts, but rather a place where the essence and energy of New York are most vividly alive.