Aurora now has a Korea Town, although geographic boundaries do not define it.
The new Korea Town will exist virtually online. Korean business owners for years have worked toward giving their establishments higher visibility. But it’s difficult to section off parts of the community as ethnic districts.
“We have such a mix in many areas it is difficult to say where a Korean restaurant starts or where a Guatemalan or Ethiopian restaurant starts,” said Aurora City Councilman Dave Gruber.
Gruber worked with businessman Peter Lee to help create Korea Town (two words) even before he was elected to council. He said an idea several years ago to create a physical Korea Town with signs and markers has been scrapped for the virtual presence.
“We wanted to be able to take advantage of the diversity we have,” Gruber said. Organizers have designed a logo for the website that will match logos on the doors of Korean businesses. Descriptions of the businesses and directions will be online.
Internet gives Korean businesses broader reach
This allows the businesses to “advertise across the state and internationally.” It’s also an easy way to find information about Korean restaurants and other businesses for those specifically looking for them.
The logo was created by artist Janet Lee, according to the Korean newspaper The Colorado Times. “The main target audiences engage non-Koreans across the Front Range – especially ages 18-40, foodies, culturally curious, inclusive of young singles to families to business professionals, Koreans out-of-state or abroad who wish to visit Aurora as visitors, investors, or people looking to relocate and Koreans in Aurora,” according to the Times.
“The design criteria for the Korea Town were to make a fresh feeling of Korean identity that people will be proud to represent, feel energetic, friendly, playful, and convey Korean American collaboration. The logo was designed to visually relate to Korean American identity and city of Aurora.”
Other cultural groups may also want online ‘districts’
Gruber noted that other Aurora cultural and ethnic groups may decide to create their own virtual spaces, too.
Aurora is home to the largest Korean population on the Front Range. Many of the businesses are located on Havana Street.
Last year, Korean businesses published a brochure featuring many of the restaurants on Havana Street as advertisers. The brochure included an article about creating the district, which is not affiliated with the city.
“This is the only place I can get this. Other than L.A.,” Lee said of the food featured at Aurora Korean restaurants. “It feels like home. I don’t miss much of Korea. Because I get to eat whatever I want to eat here.”