THE HISTORY OF KOREA TOWN IN TORONTO 🇨🇦

The relationship between

the countries began with Canadian missionaries working in Korea in the 1890s.

It was this connection with these church congregations that eventually led a handful of Koreans to immigrate to Canada.

Although it would be decades before Toronto's Koreatown was established, these were the people who paved the way for future immigration.

During WWII in the 1940s, the city began seeing more Koreans settling in. Due to the Japanese occupation of Korea, many were looking to Canada in hope of a better life.

It was in the 1960s that Koreatown as we know it truly began to form. Thanks to changes in Canada's immigration rules in 1967, Toronto became one of the top destinations for Koreans looking to move.

By 1966, there were 100 Koreans in Toronto. By the 1970s, with a population of roughly 10,000 Koreans in the city, Koreatown had emerged near the University of Toronto, westward on Bloor St.

Many of these individuals were students attending the nearby U of T (University of Toronto). As they settled in they began sponsoring their family members to join them in Toronto.

In the following decades, into the early 21st century, Koreatown thrived in its local businesses. The neighbourhood was known for its cultural cuisine and specialty stores.

More and more businesses began popping up along this stretch of Bloor Street everything from bakeries and restaurants to Korean acupuncture clinics.