Korean American businesses in Los Angeles Koreatown are facing severe challenges as the immigration crackdown intensifies and related protests continue.
Many Latin American workers are now hesitant to come to work, creating critical labor shortages in sectors they support. A Korean American textile wholesale company in Downtown LA’s Fashion District (Java) recently began urgently searching for temporary workers after its Latin American staff notified the owner they could not come in for the time being. However, hiring replacements has been difficult, leaving owners deeply anxious.
Business owners worry that if this situation drags on, operations will inevitably be disrupted. An anonymous company representative said they are currently managing by hiring college students on summer break as part-time help, but this is only an interim measure. “Training takes time and there is always a risk of safety accidents,” they said. “We’re desperately waiting for this to end so staff can return.”
Car washes, restaurants, and drink shops, which rely heavily on Latin American workers, are even more affected. The protests against the immigration crackdown have reduced customer traffic, forcing some owners to consider closing or suspending business temporarily…