Introduction / History

Koreans have ancestral links to the ancient Mongolians and Turks. They likely migrated to the Korean Peninsula from as far away as Siberia. Korean is the language of South Korea and is spoken by as many as 80 million people worldwide, including a small minority in Argentina.

Koreans started to arrive in Argentina in the 1960s. The government hoped these migrants would help develop their farms, but few of these Koreans had agricultural skills. There were small waves of Koreans leaving for Argentina between that time and the 1980s. By the 1990s, almost no Koreans were settling in Argentina. Korea’s economy was improving dramatically, so there was no motivation to move, except to join family members in Argentina.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Typically Koreans in Argentina are businessmen who work long hours. They are not as accepted as they are in Paraguay. Because they work long hours and sometime employ cheap labor in textile mills, Koreans are often resented in Argentina.

There are cultural differences that set the Koreans apart. Many do not master Spanish, and they maintain different cuisine. Argentines have trouble with the Korean habit of leaving shoes at the door. The younger generation is expected to attend Korean cultural schools on Saturdays. As often happens, the younger generation would like to integrate while their elders cling to Korean cultural ways.

Like their counterparts in other parts of the world, Koreans in Argentina love K-pop music, martial Arts and Korean cinema. These and certain kinds of Korean foods are becoming popular with the greater Argentine population.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Most Koreans in Argentina are Protestant, though there are significant numbers of Roman Catholics and Buddhists among them. There is at least one Korean church doing mission work among an indigenous tribe.

What Are Their Needs?

Korean culture is very confused when it comes to Christianity. There are many modern, relativistic approaches to faith and hybrid religious belief systems. Added to these issues is the influx of neo-paganism as promulgated by the internet, television and digital communication.

Prayer Points

Pray that God will ignite passion for him and his word among Koreans in Argentina.
Pray Koreans will evangelize South America with the gospel.
Praise God for the amazing missionary vision of the Korean Church. Ask God to continue to raise up Korean missionaries to go to the ends of the earth.

Scripture Prayers for the Korean in Argentina.

References

Wallace Revels