What Do Indiana and Korea Have in Common?
Written by Yejin Shin | Spring 2025 Korea Projects Coordinator Intern
At first glance, South Korea and Indiana do not seem to have much in common. They do not share a common language, are separated by thousands of miles, and just a few decades ago, only a handful of Koreans were living in Indiana. Nevertheless, the two countries now share a deep bond which strengthens their cultural, economic and technological solidarity across education culture.
According to Encyclopedia Indianapolis, there were only 16 Koreans living in the city by 1980; however, today the Korean population has grown to 5,327. Although Korea and the state of Indiana are geographically distant, their interconnection has deepened in recent years across various fields such as education, culture, and economy. Similarly, as more Koreans settle in the city of Kokomo, the community has begun to incorporate various aspects of Korean culture such as Koreatown. This is not coincidence, but rather an intentional approach to fostering stronger ties between Korea and Indiana and supporting our shared interests.
Korea and Indiana have many commonalities such as respect for innovation and technology. These common principles have led to the creation of the Korea-Indiana Partnership. Launched in November 2024, this partnership has resulted in an increase in significant foreign direct investment (FDI) in Indiana by establishing an advanced chip packaging and research facility by the Korean company, SK Hynix, Inc known as one of the largest companies in South Korea. The creation of the facility presented an opportunity to strengthen the ties between the two communities to continue to seek commonalities as well as mutual interests.
In terms of area, South Korea (37,421 sq mi) is similar in size to Indiana (35,826 sq mi). Regarding industry, Korea has developed and invested in manufacturing much like Indiana, as both have a strong track record in the technological and automotive industries. Furthermore, they share a strong cultural value: hospitality. Both Korea and Indiana place a high emphasis on community and hospitality. Indiana is well known for its midwestern hospitality, referred to as “Hoosier Hospitality”-which is ingrained in the culture. Hoosiers warmly welcome visitors and take pride in their ability to make guests feel comfortable. Similarly, Koreans also treat guests with admirable hospitality. Koreans have a group sentiment called “Jeong” that goes beyond friendship or love. For example, when eating together, it is not unusual for someone to share part of their dish with you. Overall, Korea and Indiana are grounded in the culture of community and kindness to others. “Koreans and Hoosiers are very similar in terms of the way of hospitality, friendly to strangers.” Said Colin Renk, Vice president of Client & Partner Services at The International Center. Through these common points, the relationship between Korea and Indiana is expected to grow even stronger in the future.
Before the Korea-Indiana partnership was established, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) opened an office in Seoul in July of 2023. SK Hynix, a Korean semiconductor company, also announced that it would invest $3.87 billion (₩ 5.2 trillion) in Indiana to build a semiconductor packaging factory. Due to the increased interest in Korean innovations, many Korean corporations have begun to take interest in Indiana due to its strong presence in the automotive parts and steel industries. For the above-mentioned reasons, many Korean residents enjoy living in Indiana. “We can enjoy all that life has to offer at the lowest cost in Indiana,” Seong Yeon Kim, who moved to the U.S. in 2006 and has lived in Indiana for more than 20 years. Kim said, “I strongly recommend for Koreans to live here as transportation is constructed well and there are many Korean food and items.”
Due to these commonalities and recommendations, there are many reasons why Koreans should consider visiting and making Indiana their home. The relationship between Korea and Indiana is continuing to expand and evolve through our enduring and mutually beneficial partnership. “A lot of it is in the beginning, it is just about the process that makes them feel established here,” Renk said. “Everyone [in Indiana] has most of the facilities; it’s about trying to take care of Korean people.” With mutual respect and resolve, Hoosiers and Koreans are continuing to develop a strong partnership that will have far-reaching benefits for generations to come.
