To Those Preparing for a New Life Abroad

• Immigration is not a refuge to escape from "Hell Joseon," but a fierce challenge that demands throwing your entire being into it.
• If you cannot let go of your past titles and obsession with saving face from Korea, that baggage will become shackles that hinder your settlement.
• More important than a bank account balance is the dignity of a citizen—the philosophy of what value you will leave behind in this land.

Among the things I have heard from a first-generation immigrant who has lived here for over 30 years, the phrase "immigration is a massive gamble" never leaves my mind. Looking at his grown children, he constantly reaffirms that his choice to immigrate was not wrong. Yet, at the same time, when he sees the "vague illusions" in the eyes of those back in his homeland who reach out to him for advice on immigrating, he does not spare sobering warnings. The reason, he explains, is that immigration is not an escape, but the most intense battle to alter the very landscape of one's survival.

Recently, amidst fierce competition and social fatigue in Korean society, quite a few people are contemplating moving overseas, including to Canada. However, I can say with certainty that those who leave simply to "escape" something will only end up looking for another refuge in this unfamiliar land. The success of immigration does not begin with running away from Korea, but rather when you fully pour yourself into the barren soil of Canada to write a new narrative. The very first things you must discard are your social status and the obsession with saving face from Korea. If you cannot shed the shell of authority—the social hierarchy of being addressed with honorific titles like "OO-nim" in Korea—Canada's rational system will bring you nothing but pain and alienation.

We must objectively examine the mindset that other ethnic communities in Canada held during their early settlement periods. Look at the histories of Italian Canadian and Portuguese Canadian immigrants. When they arrived in this land after World War II, the backgrounds they had in their homelands did not matter. Many built their livelihoods starting with manual labor in construction, manufacturing, and public services. They were not ashamed of the value of their labor; on the contrary, they took pride in their rough, calloused hands. Because of their healthy civic consciousness—focusing on "How am I participating in building this society?" rather than "What is my job title?"—their children were able to grow into the leaders who drive Canada's mainstream society today.

The example of the Jewish Community also offers significant implications. When they prepare to immigrate, they do not simply transfer their assets. Steeped in a long tradition, the Jewish community has always highly valued education, community networks, and an understanding of the local society. They ask how the local legal system operates, how the educational system works, and above all, what their share of "Tzedakah" (charity and justice) will be to contribute to this community. This is rooted in a worldview that "helping the socially vulnerable is an act of practicing justice." Such community-centric values have fostered a culture of helping one another and contributing to the local society in their new home. Of course, the growth of this community is the result of various factors combined, such as education, mutual aid, and long-standing traditions. Nevertheless, their core value of helping each other and contributing to society undeniably played a crucial role.

On the other hand, what about our Korean community? The climate of judging overseas compatriots solely by their economic success from Korea remains dominant. Outdated customs and the hierarchical culture brought over from Korea give rise to irrational and undemocratic disruptions during every community election. When witnessing scenes rampant with discourteous shouting and mudslinging, one cannot help but ask what the purpose of our immigration truly was. Newcomers who arrived with vague illusions witness these backward behaviors of the old-timers, grow disappointed, and retreat back into their isolated islands. This is a tragedy that chips away at the dignity and stature of the entire community.

I want to convey this to those dreaming of immigration: thorough, objective self-assessment must come first. If washing dishes or standing at a convenience store counter in Canada makes you feel ashamed because you are conscious of how your friends in Korea might view you, cancel your flight ticket right now. It is not that past careers are entirely meaningless in Canada, but ultimately, your current competence and attitude carry far more weight. This society constantly evaluates what kind of citizen you are today, how you build relationships with your neighbors, and in what ways you contribute to the community. The success of immigration is determined not by the numbers in your bank account balance, but by the depth of dignity you have acquired as a citizen of your residing country.

Thoughtful individuals within the community have long emphasized the importance of unearthing historical records related to the history of Korean immigration to Canada. This is the very reason behind the desire to build a "cyber museum that properly records the history of Korean immigrants in Canada." Documenting why we came to this land, what pain we endured, and how we protected our self-esteem is the most powerful asset we can pass down to future generations. Those preparing to immigrate should not stop at simply searching for settlement information; they must study the "records of failures" and "narratives of struggles" of those who came before them. That is the fastest way to heighten an anthropological understanding of the local society.

I also make an earnest request to the Korean government formulating policies for overseas Koreans, and to scholars conducting anthropological research. What people leaving for immigration need is not rosy promotional material, but cold, practical training and mental arming. We need living data that tracks the qualitative changes immigrants experience as they clash with reality in the field, rather than statistical figures churned out from a desk. Archiving immigration history should not simply be about collecting the past; it must serve as a compass to help future immigrants avoid repeating the same mistakes.

The grown sons and daughters of first-generation immigrants are now thriving as key figures in Canadian society. They grew up watching not what their parents did back in Korea, but how diligently they supported them and lived in harmony with their neighbors in Canada. The respect of these children stems not from their parents' past titles, but from the "dignified struggles" they demonstrated while adapting to an unfamiliar environment. The greatest asset you need as you prepare for immigration is not English test scores or capital, but the "mental muscle" and "humble attitude" that will not collapse under any circumstances.

Immigration is not an escape, but an expansion. By respecting the experiences of the old-timers and combining them with the dynamism of the newcomers, we must shine with vivid Korean colors within the Canadian mosaic. We need to halt irrational internal conflicts and exercise a "servant leadership" that fulfills our social responsibilities as members of mainstream society. That is the attitude of a true civilian diplomat who draws out reciprocal exchanges between the motherland and the country of residence.

Though my criticisms may be harsh, I hope they serve as a catalyst for profound self-reflection. The path of immigration is by no means smooth. However, to those who thoroughly prepare and humble themselves, Canada will fairly grant the freedom and opportunities they deserve. As recorders, we will continue to capture the rough, breathing moments of immigration, and we will wait for the day to fill a page of the cyber museum with your proud history of settlement. I tell you once more: discard your illusions and enter this path with the resolve to throw your entire being into it. There, you will find the true "world fit for people to live in" that you have been dreaming of.