Korean migration to Mexico centennial monument
There is a monument (Spanish: Monumento conmemorativo del Centenario de la Inmigración Coreana en México, lit. 'Monument Commemorating the Centennial of Korean Immigration to Mexico') in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico that commemorates the 100th anniversary of Korean laborers arriving in Mexico. It consists of a small tower and plaque.
The plaque (left, between the two poles) and tower (right) before their restoration (2012) | |
| 21.0326°N 89.6278°W | |
| Location | Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico |
|---|---|
| Inauguration date | 2005 |
Korean laborers first arrived as contract laborers in Mexico in 1905. They arrived in the Port of Progreso, and settled in various farms and plantations in the area. However, their labor was exploited, and they never earned enough to return to Korea as they had once intended. This gave rise to a population of Koreans in Mexico.
In the 2000s, the South Korean government emphasized its link with its diaspora in Mexico to better ties with its Mexican counterpart. On the 100th anniversary of the first arrival, the two governments coordinated on various memorial events to mark the occasion. This monument was produced as part of those efforts. It is located in a fairly busy part of the city, and is prominently visible. The monument has been restored to a somewhat different appearance since its original construction.