Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore and understand the suicide ideation and survival experience of Korean elders in America. Methods: A phenomenological research method guided data collection and analysis. A total of five elders reported having had suicide ideation participated. Data were collected through individual in-depth interviews. All interviews were audio taped and transcribed verbatim. Coding was used to establish different concepts and categories. Results: The following three constituents have been identified: retrospective focus based on the suicide ideation through the immigrant life, facing reality through comparison between the life in America and in Korea, survival skills and constructing view of life. Conclusion: The result of this study may contribute for health professionals working at various crisis settings to understand Korean immigrant elders with suicide ideation.