In this focused ethnographic study, we explored the health experiences of 15 Korean immigrant women after retirement in an urban center in Western Canada. Almost all women began their lives in Canada without adequate personal finances, making their employment essential for supporting their families financially. Most women lived with more than two chronic diseases, attributed to long hours and difficult work conditions. They experienced improved psychological health after retiring, irrespective of positive or negative changes in their physical health. Spiritual faith and exercise were important strategies to maintain and enhance their health and to postpone and manage chronic diseases. © 2014, Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

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urban population South Korea Republic of Korea economics exercise human Health Behavior middle aged daily life activity aging Asian continental ancestry group Activities of Daily Living statistics and numerical data Aged retirement ethnology qualitative research interview Humans migrant psychology Interviews as Topic Canada Emigrants and Immigrants female Aged, 80 and over Socioeconomic Factors very elderly socioeconomics Women attitude to health