Desa Sri Hartamas was once the centre of nightlife for young up-and-comers in the mid-1990s. Many spent their weekends enjoying dinners at its restaurants then spent the later hours socialising in a variety of bars in the area. After what usually would be a big night out, one would go to a Mamak with friends before heading home. At some point, this culture caught a new destination for supper: Korean restaurants.
There was suddenly a supply of Korean restaurants and bars popping up all over Desa Sri Hartamas. Then came Korean marts and Korean stores. They called this the Asian Boom. This paired with the geographical advantage of four connecting highways: NKVE, PLUS, SPRINT and DUKE, created a demand for Malaysian young professionals as well as expatriate families from Australia, China, Britain and Mainland Europe to move into the area.
The neighbouring township of Mont Kiara escalated the overall demand with high-rise condominiums and convenient accessibility. It quickly gained popularity. Expatriates from South Korea soon began to start businesses in what would soon be dubbed Little Korea. It seemed like a matter of the right place, at the right time.
There were a few reasons for this, apart from the booming nightlife. Education in Malaysia seems to be a big factor in why Koreans have chosen to migrate here. From our research, many South Koreans prioritise the education factor in Malaysia. International schools provide native English-speaking teachers with an in-depth understanding of the language which prepares their kids for a good future.
The cost of living in Korea is incredibly demanding. Squid Game and Parasite highlight the living conditions of certain districts in South Korea. Malaysia provides Koreans with a better quality of life and low costs of living. Some South Koreans work here to send aid back to their families in Korea. Many Facebook groups expressed the peacefulness of living in Malaysia as well.
The ever-growing population of Korean nationals in Desa Sri Hartamas and Mont Kiara is beginning to expand to many other areas like Desa Park City and Bangsar. The presence of Korean expatriates has been met with different opinions between Malaysians. Some acknowledge the boost it has given our economy and some worried about how it would eventually affect their living.
With the boom of South Korean media and a massive increase in Malaysians who speak Korean, the perception of Korean nationals settling down here in Malaysia keeps swaying. Korean expatriates know that Sri Hartamas and Mont Kiara have become the core hub where they can begin a new life whilst surrounded by some form of familiarity.
If you are Korean living in Desa Sri Hartamas or Mont Kiara, let us know how you feel about living here! We might even feature you in our next article. If you are looking for homes in Desa Sri Hartamas or Mont Kiara, we can help you be in the centre of all things Korean:
https://www.propsocial.my/buy/sri-hartamas-78
https://www.propsocial.my/buy/mont-kiara-67
Or email us at
support@propsocial.com
Note from author: PS. Yeji forever #MIDZY
(Written by Christian Palencia, 25th October 2021)