Death is a natural part of the life cycle that all humankind faces at some point. The American Psychological Association (2001) states that psychologists can make an important clinical contribution to patients who are dying and offer support to their families as they navigate this life event. What is absent from the current discussion is the relevance of culture to issues related to death, dying, and grief, which from the perspective of the researcher is a critical oversight, given the diverse cultures represented in the U.S. and the uniqueness of how many of these cultures conceptualize and memorialize death. This dissertation specifically considers end-of-life matters for the Korean American community, a cultural group that has grown substantially in number since the 20th century. Through a review of the literature, Korean values and beliefs that provide a context for understanding death within this culture are identified; Korean and Western views of end-of-life issues are compared; and clinical considerations for rapport building, assessment, and treatment of the Korean American family are discussed
