The K Festival Philly, celebrating Korean food, culture and arts, was hosted on Saturday by Emmanuel Church in West Philadelphia. While comprising a smaller portion of Philadelphia’s immigrant population, Korean Americans have been part of Philadelphia’s fabric since the mid-20th century.

While a handful of Korean students studied in Philadelphia earlier, the majority of immigration began following the passage of the Hart-Celler Act in 1965. This reform opened the door for a significant influx of Asian immigrants.

Building on ties forged during the Korean War with the U.S.-South Korea alliance, Philadelphia’s Korean community took root in the Olney neighborhood of North Philadelphia. It later expanded north into Cheltenham and suburbs like Upper Darby, where commercial hubs with Korean b

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