Koreatown is a relatively unsafe neighborhood, but the area covered is so large that it obscures the fact there are safer areas, and less safe areas. Safe behavior is paramount, and having some situational awareness will help.
Try not to walk alone. If you’re alone, stick to bus stops and metro stations, and get to your destination via transit.
Vermont Ave. Safety
Vermont is a wide street lined on both sides with businesses. Stick around the open businesses. There’s a Metro station at Wilshire and Vermont. North of Wilshire is fancier than South of Wilshire, but there’s also more empty, less populated areas north.
Normandie Safety
Normandie is a wide street that runs through high density residential areas. It feels somewhat safer than the main streets, but there’s also more risk because there’s fewer eyes on the street. There’s a Metro station at Wilshire and Normandy.
Western Ave. Safety
Western is a wide street, so you need to watch out for traffic. Treat the road like a highway. Businesses line both sides, but many close at night, making the area a little more desolate that during the day.
Wilshire and Western heading north is being developed/gentrified as a shopping destination.
Headed south is the old Koreatown, which is still alive with a lot of food and shopping at the malls. This area has more of the energy of a Korean ethnic community.
8th St Safety
8th at Western is considered a relatively unsafe area. There aren’t as many “eyes on the street” as there are to the east.
8th St from Vermont to Western is one of the hearts of Koreatown. KTown has a few hearts.
6th St. Safety
6th and Kenmore is near one of the trendy areas of KTown.
This is part of our growing Koreatown pages.