Korean Immigrant Day in Mexico

The Plenary of the Chamber of Deputies (March 18, 2021) approved, by a vote of 384 in favor, 12 against and 55 abstentions, to declare May 4 of every year "Day of the Korean Immigrant", as a symbol of friendship and a sign of respect that Mexicans give to the right of immigration.

Koreans arrived in 1905 to Mexican soil; the first arrival was in the Port of Salina Cruz, Oaxaca. They were brought to work in the henequen haciendas of Yucatan; it is estimated that there were approximately 1033 of them; even today many of their descendants preserve their surnames in the municipalities of Yucatan. Some of their members prospered and maintain important businesses in the textile industry in the Valley of Mexico. There was a new arrival of South Koreans in the early 1990s, and according to the 2000 census, there were 2100 South Koreans residing in the country, according to the 2009 Korean census data, there are 12,072 Koreans residing in Mexico. Mexicans of Korean origin have settled mainly in downtown Mexico City, Merida, Chiconcuac, Queretaro, Ecatepec, Ecatepec, Tlaxcala and Puebla City. As of 2018 according to the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs there are an estimated 50,000 Mexicans of Korean descent in Mexico and 11,107 Koreans residing in Mexico giving a total of 61,107 Koreans living in Mexico.