"Most Asians -- and in fact most people -- look for neighborhoods with good schools and neighborhood amenities, and with low crime rates," Ong said. "What has happened to Asians is that as they become more acculturated, they are less tied or dependent on ethnic enclaves."
When Dok Kim, an attorney, moved his family to Fullerton four years ago, his priority was finding a new house within the bounds of the reputable Sunny Hills High School so that his 7-year-old could someday attend. He wasn't surprised when both of his neighbors turned out to be Korean.
"I really enjoy living here. Fullerton has nice schools, new areas and nice shopping malls," said Kim, 37. "I can walk to Starbucks and shop at Albertsons and Old Navy. And whenever I need it, I can get Korean groceries not far away."
Many Korean Americans in Orange County started off in Garden Grove because of its cheap apartments and proximity to Little Seoul, a stretch along Garden Grove Boulevard where Korean entrepreneurs began setting up shop in the 1980s, said John Ahn, former president of the Korean-American Federation of Orange County.
As a student in 1979, Ahn lived in Garden Grove but became turned off by what he said was an unsafe area. Like many Korean Americans who first got their footing in Garden Grove, Ahn was lured to some of the more posh areas of the county.
"A lot of people did what I did. Young couples look for a job in the Garden Grove area and live there for three or four years. Then their children grow up and people are looking for bigger houses," Ahn said. "They don't have a choice in Garden Grove, so they move to another city like Fullerton or Irvine."
Ahn now lives in a gated community in Anaheim Hills but still drives to Garden Grove every weekend for the grocery stores and restaurants.
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my-thuan.tran@latimes.com
