Institute for Research on Labor and Employment

Koreatown in Los Angeles, is a vibrant, multiethnic neighborhood whose renowned restaurant industry relies on a predominantly immigrant workforce from South Korea, Mexico, and Central America. Despite the neighborhood’s rapid gentrification and economic growth, many restaurant workers continue to face low wages, poor working conditions, and housing insecurity—challenges that were further intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. This report, produced in collaboration with the Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance (KIWA), the UCLA Labor Center, Cal Poly Pomona, and San Diego State University, draws on 338 surveys, 12 in-depth interviews, and demographic and industry data to document the realities of immigrant restaurant workers and outline policy solutions to improve labor standards, protect affordable housing, and promote equitable development in Koreatown.