Koreatown

thumb|right|Koreatowns, like this one on 32nd Street (Manhattan)|32nd Street in [[Manhattan, represent an overseas Korean diaspora and culture from the Koreans]] A Koreatown (), also known as a Little Korea or Little Seoul, is a Korean-dominated ethnic enclave within a city or metropolitan area outside the Korean Peninsula.

== Etymology == The New York Times coined the term "Koreatown" in 1977 to refer to the Korean neighborbood of Los Angeles. The name "Koreatown" was modeled after the older, well-established term "Chinatown", which dates back to 1606. The Korean residents of Los Angeles successfully lobbied for Koreatown to be formally recognized by Los Angeles County in 1980, and the first Koreatown sign was installed in 1982. Prior to the popularization of the name "Koreatown," Korean Americans often referred to Korean ethnic enclaves as "Korean village," a translation of the Korean term "Haninchon" (). In the early 21st century, other countries have adopted the name "Koreatown" to designate their own Korean ethnic enclaves, such as Canada recognizing Koreatown, Toronto in 2004.