Sonic Trace: Koreatown turns Korexico

Since the 1970s, Los Angeles has become a hub for Mexico’s indigenous Zapotecs – a culture that predates the Spanish conquest of the Americas. All week, Sonic Trace is exploring the connection between Santa Maria Tavehua, a tiny village in the hillsides of southern Mexico, and L.A.’s Koreatown – where more than half the village now lives. This is a story is about putting down roots. We hear from 17-year old Jocelynda Salvador. She was born and raised in “K-town”—but to her, it is “little Oaxaca.” This year she became the first in her family to go to college. She kept an audio diary of her first month there.

Jocelynda’s story was produced by Anayansi Diaz-Cortes and Eric Pearse Chavez, and edited by Jacob Conrad and Deborah George. Sonic Trace is part of Localore and the Association of Independents in Radio (AIR). It’s funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.