Major Update on Atlanta’s Koreatown!
- Koreatown in Atlanta has shifted north – Once centered in Doraville along Buford Highway, Atlanta’s Koreatown has moved to Duluth and beyond due to growth, real estate trends, and demographic shifts.
- Doraville’s decline and adaptation – Once a hub for Korean businesses, Doraville has seen closures and migrations north. Some remaining restaurants, like Han Il Kwan, adapt menus for broader, non-Korean audiences to survive.
- Duluth is now the epicenter – Duluth boasts the largest Korean community and business presence in the Southeast, with countless Korean restaurants, aesthetic cafés, beauty clinics, and supermarkets like HMart and Assi Market.
- Business opportunities are thriving – Real estate affordability, strong schools, and Gwinnett County’s infrastructure make it ideal for Korean immigrants and entrepreneurs, leading to rapid expansion of small businesses.
- Buford and Suwanee are next – Korean businesses and families continue moving north into Buford and Suwanee, drawn by better housing prices, lower taxes, and the potential for retail growth (e.g., hopes for an HMart in Buford).
- Cultural demand fuels growth – The K-wave (K-pop, K-drama, K-beauty) has driven demand for Korean food and products among non-Koreans, contributing to the commercial success and broader appeal of Korean businesses.
- Gwinnett Place as a modern Koreatown hub – Near I-85 in Duluth, Gwinnett Place now houses a dense cluster of Korean businesses. A local CID (Community Improvement District) supports infrastructure and public safety development.
- Educational appeal – Top-ranked schools in Gwinnett and surrounding counties are a strong draw for Korean families, aligning with cultural emphasis on education and making the region attractive for long-term settlement.
- Major Korean investments in Georgia – Korean conglomerates like Hyundai and SK Battery have invested billions in Georgia, creating jobs and bringing even more Korean families and professionals to the state.
- Diversity remains a strength – Despite the shift north, Doraville’s Buford Highway area remains a multicultural business corridor, with some Korean businesses still thriving by appealing to diverse clientele.
