Journal Articles
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Item The Process of Constructing an Inter-Korean Identity Reflective of the Two Koreas: North Korean Refugee Students’ Hybrid Identity in South Korea.(2024-09-06) Kim HAs of March 2024, 34,121 North Korean refugees reside in South Korea, with 12% enrolled in schools. Despite being automatically granted South Korean citizenship upon arrival, these refugees face social exclusion and marginalization, effectively forming a second class within South Korean society. The 70-year division between the two Koreans has resulted in vastly different lifestyle, making it challenging for North Korean refugees to adapt. This difficulty is compounded by a prejudiced social reception and discrimination toward their North Korean identity. The study aims to explore the daily experiences of North Korean refugees with their newfound South Korean citizenship, employing Straussian grounded theory and semi-structured interviews. The study recruited 17 North Korean refugees, including five with experience in elementary, middle and high schools, and five parents with school-going children. The findings reveal that academic deficits, exacerbated by discrimination and stereotypes linked to their North Korean identity, result in a disparity between their legal citizenship and school participation. In response, North Korean refugee students adopt a strategy of "being one of them,‟ leveraging ethnic homogeneity to facilitate interactions with their South Korean peers. These interactions enable the formation of supportive networks and foster the development of an inter-Korean identity reflective of both Koreas. The study underscores the critical role of multicultural education in achieving educational equality for North Korean refugee students and advocates for social bridging programs that acknowledge and embrace the differences of refugees. Despite being granted citizenship, they continue to be treated as outsiders within South Korean society.Item North Korean refugee students’ strategy of school engagement and its impact on identity in South Korea: “aspiration towards an inter-Korean identity through a process of being one of them.”(Taylor and Francis Group, 2024-03-04) Kim H; Kim KAs of December 2023, 34078 North Korean refugees live in South Korea, raising concerns about social exclusion and marginalization. A Straussian grounded theory study analysed the experiences of 17 female North Korean refugees in South Korea, highlighting a disparity between their legal rights and everyday participation, especially in education. Educational inequality for North Korean refugee students persists, stemming from academic deficits and institutional barriers. To cope, they employ a strategy of ‘being one of them’, aiming to blend in as South Korean peers while concealing their heritage. This approach fosters confidence and supportive relationships, aspiring the development of an inter-Korean identity that values their North Korean heritage and embraces a sense of belonging in South Korea. The study sheds light on the necessity of adopting a social perspective in multicultural education, emphasizing the importance of intergroup dialogue in promoting inclusive representation of North Korean refugee students within the educational setting.