Korean Christian Students' Adaptation and Integration in British Society: Their Identity Formation and Negotiation Processes

Abstract

1 This paper explores Korean Christian students' adaptation and integration process in Britain, and their identity formation and negotiation, primarily based on ethnographic research. Korean student migrants undergo peculiar types of challenges during their integration process and experience conflicts between previously obtained and newly formed identities. Their attendance of and involvement in either a Korean or a British church helps them to overcome these challenges and influences them to continually (re)form identity/identities. While negotiating between different identities, their Christian identity – as their original identity that transcends cultural boundaries and influences – reminds them of their ontological value and encourages them to continue their life as migrants despite the challenges. Nevertheless, I will examine at the same time the notion that the migrants' Christian identity is a Korean Christian identity with cultural identity markers that define a Korean ethnic identity, which provides them hope in British society not only to survive but even to flourish as migrants.