Mexico's Neglected Tale: The Korean Migrants' Journey to Mexico City
The Korean diaspora in Mexico has a rich and complex history that dates back to the early 1900s. In 1905, the first Korean migrants arrived in Mexico as indentured laborers, primarily to the Yucatán Peninsula, to work in the booming henequén (agave plant) industry.
This migration was driven by a Japanese firm partnering with a British labor recruiter, who promised free transportation, housing, education, healthcare, and a guaranteed return home. However, the reality was far from ideal as the Korean workers were quickly absorbed into Mexico's deeply exploitative hacienda system, working long hours in extreme conditions.
The Koreans were sold as laborers to henequén plantation owners in Yucatan upon arrival. Over time, the Korean men began to adopt elements of Maya life, and intermarriage between Koreans and Maya became common. As a result, many descendants of these unions grew up immersed in Maya traditions, Catholic festivals, and local customs while the Korean language and identity slowly faded.
This migration occurred in the context of Korea increasingly falling under Japanese control, as well as during the last years of Porfirio Díaz's presidency in Mexico when the Yucatán faced severe labor shortages. The Aenikkaeng, as the descendants of these early migrants came to be known, derived their name from the Korean pronunciation of "henequén."
The legacy of these early migrants has seen renewed interest in recent years, with descendants reclaiming their history in Mexico and new initiatives such as bilingual guidebooks promoting Korean independence history among the Korean Mexican community. A memorial museum also exists that showcases this Korean historic migration and integration experience in Mexico.
In 2005, the centennial of Korean immigration to Mexico was commemorated in Merida with a monument inscribed with the names of the original 1905 laborers. In addition, approximately 13,000 ethnic Koreans now live in Mexico, with the largest communities in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.
Mexico City has become a hub of Korean restaurants, grocery stores, and businesses, reflecting a newer migration surge tied to South Korean corporate expansion in the 1990s. Rocio, a Mexican-American writer based in Mexico City, finds comfort in the Korean community in Mexico City, particularly the availability of Korean food and goods.
The Museum of Korean Immigration to Yucatan (MCICY) opened in 2007 with support from both the Mexican and South Korean governments. The museum is an important resource for understanding the history of the Aenikkaeng and their integration into Mexican society.
In recent years, there have been growing efforts to reconnect with the lost heritage of the Aenikkaeng, including language courses, genealogy projects, and heritage trips to South Korea. The history of the Aenikkaeng remained buried until the 1970s when South Korean researchers, diplomats, and journalists began visiting Yucatan to trace the descendants of the SS Ilford's 1905 passengers.
Overall, the early 1900s Korean migration to Mexico was characterized by exploitative indentured labor contracts, driven by economic and political pressures in Korea and labor demands in Mexico, marking the beginning of a Korean presence in Mexico that continues to this day.
- The news in recent years highlights renewed interest among descendants of early Korean immigrants in Mexico, reclaiming their history and culture.
- The booming transport industry in the Yucatán Peninsula, particularly the henequén trade, was a primary factor in the transportation of Korean laborers to Mexico in the early 1900s.
- Business relationships between a Japanese firm and a British labor recruiter played a significant role in the migration of Korean laborers to Mexico in search of employment opportunities.
- Education was initially promised to the Korean laborers by the labor recruiter, but they ended up working under exploitative conditions in Mexico's hacienda system.
- In addition to the Korean community in Mexico City, there are significant populations in Guadalajara and Monterrey, contributing to the growth of Korean food-and-drink establishments, businesses, and cultural travel destinations.
- Tracing the origins of the Aenikkaeng, or descendants of the early Korean immigrants, back to the 1900s is an essential part of understanding Mexico's cultural-travel landscape, as well as the history of health and lifestyle conditions faced by these early migrants.
