Soaring living costs push first-time and returning Korean voters to US midterms
SEATTLE — For Lee Min-ha, a 46-year-old Korean living near Seattle, eating out has become a luxury her household can no longer afford. "Everything has gotten so expensive that eating out is completely out of the question," Lee said. "I've been buying groceries almost exclusively on sale for quite some time now. Living in America is getting harder and harder, and every day I wonder how things got…
Seattle resident Lee Min-ha, a 46-year-old Korean, has found that dining out is no longer within her family's budget due to soaring living costs. With grocery purchases now limited to sales, Lee expresses growing concern over the deteriorating economic situation in America. A simple meal at a Korean restaurant can cost a family of four over $100, including taxes and tips, making even family outings financially challenging.
This sentiment is echoed by Korean American voters ahead of the upcoming U.S. midterm elections. The 2026 Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Voter Survey reveals that 86% of Korean American registered voters view inflation and the cost of living as very or extremely important factors in their voting decisions. This figure rises to 90% when considering all Asian American respondents, highlighting the significance of economic issues in shaping their political preferences.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
