In 1980s, many U.S corporations that used to occupy high-rise buildings and office on the Wilshire moved out due to a recession. Many Korean immigrants began to move in to open small family run businesses along Olympic Boulevard. This became a tipping point for many Korean immigrants began to expand Korean signage and billboards to line up along the streets. 

Who are these immigrants? Many Americans either Whites or African Americans would ask this questions and wondering why these Koreans move in to along the Wilshire and Olympic Boulevard to open up Korean owned businesses. Majority of these store owners were demographically diverse. I am referring to their social and education status in South Korea. Some had a college degree in top tier schools in Korea, medical doctors, engineers, and small business owners. However, no matter what you did in South Korea; the reality was most people had to face occupational downgrade. After the 92 L.A riot, approximately 2,200 Korean run-businesses in Koreatown were targeted and burnt down. After long years of reconstructing of the L.A riot, some Korean small businesses found themselves marginalized. Part of this came from a large corporate funding from South Korea.

Major brand South Korean corporations began to invest in 90s along the Wilshire in Koreatown. Part of this came from reconstructing Koreatown after the riot. Major Korean banks, large Korean grocery stores, and restaurant chains began to build their names and brand in L.A. These chains facilitated images of Koreatown to be more modern and provide bilingual services for Latinos, Chinese, Filipinos, and Korean consumers. Additionally, a restaurant such as Baekjeong (Korean BBQ restaurant) was founded in Koreatown by well-known South Korean celebrity. CJ corporation is another major corporation that invest a motion picture business in Korea and the U.S. CJ built CGV theater in Koreatown Madang plaza to exhibit Korean movies. The Madang plaza shortly became 'hot' spot for many young adult Koreans to enjoy restaurant venues and entertainment. 

Personally, I often visit Madang plaza to go out eat and watch Korean movies. However, at the same time I worry about local Korean mom and pop shops near Wilshire and Western. Every year, more Korean restaurants open up through investments of restaurant franchise and chins from Korea. Many Korean store owners who used to run corner stores, liquor stores, and traditional Korean 'hole-in-the-wall' restaurants began to fade away and marginalized due to a large restaurant chains and investment of Korean corporations. In my perspective, South Korea corporations' investment in Koreatown will push many local businesses to the margin and it will be a major issue for many Korean American business owners. 

Wilshire Bank that serves many small businesses in Koreatown:

Korean small businesses along the Vermont Ave: