The percentage of limited English proficiency (LEP) among the Korean population is notably higher in Los Angeles County than in the United States as a whole. Since the reported 2014 Census data, the 2018 Census data shows an upward trend for the LEP percentage at all levels, from 25% nationally in 2014 to 39.5% in 2018. In line with the upward trend, Koreans are also more likely to have higher LEP percentages than the relative Asian population at all levels. At the Los Angeles County level; there is a significant 13.8% difference between the Korean LEP percentages and the Asian LEP percentages as noted in the data with 37.8% of Asian’s with LEP compared to 51.6% of Koreans.

In addition, the percentage of Koreans with some college/associate’s degree, with a bachelor’s degree, and those with graduate/professional degrees exceeds those of the average US population percentages at all levels. Comparing educational attainment of the Korean population to the general Asian population, the percentages vary slightly from region and from level of education. However, we have found no significant difference between the higher education attainment levels between Koreans and Asians at a national, statewide (CA) and county level (LA County). The largest differences found in the data was for bachelor’s degree attainment; attainment of a bachelor’s degree among the Korean population was 5.1% greater than among the larger Asian population on the national level, 5.6% greater on the state level (CA) and 3% greater on the county level (LA County). Overall, Koreans seemed slightly more likely to have attained a bachelor’s degree than the larger Asian population at all levels.

As well, there are no major changes between educational attainment for the Korean population between the Census data from 2014 and the Census data from 2018. Again, the percentages at all levels and regions differed by 3% or less. The largest change found was a 3% increase in Korean graduate and professional degrees between the 2014 Census data on the national level.

However, we see a significant gap in academic performance for English Language Learners (ELL), which includes the large percentage of Koreans with LEP in LA County (51.6%). The high school graduation rate for ELL students is 20% lower than the larger U.S. rates, while they are “three times less likely to be placed in gifted programs than their English Proficient (EP) peers, five times less likely to take advanced placement (AP) courses, and four times less likely to take college preparatory exams” (Lee). This underperformance by ELL students is likely related to the severe lack of funding for language acquisition programs and a shortage of ESL-qualified teachers. Hence, a mere 2.5% of teachers serving ELL students hold degrees that include any ELL/multilingual education, and more than half of the country is in need of more ESL-specific educators. Thus, KAC highly recommends a significant increase in ESL funding in order to incentivize more ESL teachers.

Recommendations: 
While it is not yet clear that people with limited English proficiency are more likely to contract COVID-19, it is imperative that this group is not disproportionately affected because of their English skills. As of August 5th, 2020, Asian residents made up only 2.7% of cases in LA County but 14.8% of total deaths. Hence, only 2.6% of those tested in LA County are Asian residents. In the context of COVID-19, the need for equitable access to multilingual resources is critical in areas with high concentration of LEP populations. Since more than half of the Koreans in LA County are LEP, we recommend expanding the language services in the healthcare system and creating stronger partnerships with community organizations and the government. In addition, the insufficient Korean-language (and multi-Asian language) for COVID-19 resources can hinder the accessibility to testing facilities and information because testing resources that are English-language only discourage this huge population of Koreans with LEP to take the proper testing measures, which subsequently undercuts their case count. KAC recommends the increase in testing sites that provide Korean-speaking test distributors and resources like Korean language COVID-19 guides.