Korean Immigration in the 20th Century | Finding Your Roots

Chef David Chang knew his parents came from different backgrounds, but held a deeply-rooted sense that he shouldn’t ask questions about their families. Drawing conclusions primarily from bits and pieces of information, he determined that his mother came from an aristocratic family and his father came from “hustlers.” Then he learned about his maternal great-grandfather and his service to the United States.

In this clip from Finding Your Roots, chef David Chang learns about his Korean heritage and how his maternal great-grandfather emigrated to the United States in 1920. The accompanying essay and classroom activities expand on this theme by exploring immigration and immigration laws from the 19th and 20th centuries.