Korean International Students Research Articles

한국인 미국 유학생의 진로스트레스 경험에 관한 탐색

Objectives The aim of this study was to understand the career stress experienced by Korean international students living in the United States. The present study aimed to see their experiences relating career and what efforts they are making to resolve such career stress.
 Methods Six Korean international students studying undergraduate program at a U.S. university were interviewed about their career experience and career stress in U.S. The data were analyzed by using Consensual Qualitative Research(CQR). According to the CQR method, analysis was conducted in the following order; domain development, core idea development, examination, cross-analysis, and validity check.
 Results As results, the career experiences and career stress of Korean international students in the United States were divided into two factors which are career stressor and coping strategies. Career stressor included language barriers, cultural differences, visa problems, financial situation, and lack of career information. Coping strategies contained career preparation behaviors, social support, and avoidance.
 Conclusions At the end, we suggested how colleges professionals and career counselors can help these Korean international students living in the United States to decrease their career stress.

조선총독부 학무국의 삼일운동 대응 양상

This article examined the measures taken by the Education Bureau of the Japanese Government-General of choseon to the March 1 Independence Movement and the responses of schools. Until now, schools have been understood as a space for independence movement. However, on the other hand, it was a space where the governance policy of the Japanese Government-General of choseon could be reflected in detail. With the 2.8 Declaration of Independence of Korean international students, the Education Bureau began to respond to the independence movement in earnest. The Education Bureau strengthened contact with the police officer and instructed schools at all levels to manage students. The director of the Education Bureau visited Tokyo to prevent the influence of the 2.8 Declaration of Independence from affecting colonial choseon. However, this preliminary response failed. After the start of the March 1st Independence Movement, the Education Bureau strengthened contact with the school authorities at provincial level and the government school. the Education Bureau crack down the school staff and students who participated in the Independence Movement and prevent school students strike and Independence Movement. In addition, foreign-run religious schools were cracked down. After the March 1st Movement, the Education bureau's status rose. As it became a department that manages religion and schools, it was in charge of post-processing of the March 1st Movement. On March 1, 1920, the private school regulations were revised to respond to the Independence Movement to commemorate the first anniversary of the March 1st Movement. Based on these changes, three foreign principals of private religious schools were canceled.

The Lived Experiences of Korean International Students in the United States: A Photovoice Study

The Lived Experiences of Korean International Students in the United States: A Photovoice Study

Understandings of race and racism in globalizing higher education: when east Asian international student perspectives resonate with color-blindness

ABSTRACT This article examines how class, race, and neoliberal cultural logics are intertwined with the understanding of race and racism among Chinese and Korean international undergraduate students, drawing on data from an 18-month ethnography. The data suggests that the discourse of color-blind racial ideology and the positionality of the ‘strategic cosmopolitan’ interactively fabricate the perspective of East Asian international students. Specifically, their motivation for acquiring globally competitive cultural capital is connected to the pursuit of White capital. Despite aspiring to be cosmopolitan, students find themselves socially isolated on campus, which is attributed to cultural differences and individual responsibility rather than racial dynamics. Students tend to deny the existence of racial discrimination or avoid discussing racism, distancing themselves from ostensible racial subordinates while emphasizing individual responsibility and meritocracy. By investigating these dynamics, the article adds complexity to the understanding of racism and diversity in global higher education.

Healthcare Utilization Behavior and Factors Affecting their Activeness to Seek Medical Care among International Students in the Philippines

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate differences in health characteristics and healthcare utilization behaviors among Korean, Taiwanese, and Japanese students for language course (hereinafter referred to as ‘international students’) in two language schools in the Philippines. In addition, the study would identify the factors affecting their activeness of healthcare utilization and prepare measures to revitalize healthcare utilization in terms of health education. Methods: A questionnaire was prepared in three languages, Korean, traditional Chinese, and Japanese, and a survey was conducted from July 9 to July 16, 2019 in Philippines, and data from 115 participants were analyzed, using IBM Statistics Ver. 21.0. Results: Korean international students were more concerned about skin problems and suffered significantly more from symptoms than Taiwanese and Japanese international students did, and language barriers were picked up as the top reason for not visiting hospitals or external pharmacies when they were sick. Factors affecting their activeness to seek medical care were the severity of their symptoms and whether they had insurance for treatment. Conclusion: It is expected that the results of this study would contribute to the health promotion of international students by developing health education programs tailored to them.

미국 내 한국인 유학생의 문화적응스트레스 경험에 관한 질적연구

Objectives The purpose of this study was to understand the acculturation stress experienced by Korean international students living in the United States. The present study aimed to see what efforts they are making to resolve such acculturative stress. Methods For this aim, Six Korean undergraduate international students studying at an American university were interviewed about their experience of acculturation stress. We used Consensual Qualitative Research(CQR) to analyzed the data. Results As results, the experience of acculturation stress experienced by Korean international students in the United States was divided into factors of acculturation stress and its coping strategies. In addition, emotional support, informational support, and tangible support were mentioned as methods they use to overcome this acculturation stress. Conclusions Based on the results of the study, suggestions were made on how colleges and counselors can help Korean international students living in the United States to reduce their acculturation stress.

Korean students’ transnational literacy and social networks in a business college

This study examined how a group of Korean international students enrolled in a writing class in a United States business programme navigated their literacy practices through the use of KakaoTalk, a social networking application for smartphones. On the basis of 29 student interviews and a detailed narrative of one focal student’s activities in KakaoTalk group sessions, the study aimed to elucidate the less studied feature of literacy studies: the social networking methods that students mobilise to make meaning of their school literacy activities collaboratively and individually. The study findings suggest that students’ identities and literacy performances shape one another through the intersection of local and global forces. Theories of identity and the Korean concept of “in-maek” offer important insights into the dynamic interchange of students’ social and literacy practices and identities. This study provides insights into the influence of such identity work on students’ academic experiences and the development of a curriculum for a business programme writing class.

Examining the odd, not the norm: Korean international students in Brunei Darussalam – a less-known place in Asia

ABSTRACT This article examines the mobilities of international students through less-known higher education contexts, with a particular focus on Korean international students in Brunei Darussalam. It pays attention to the infrastructures, including varied factors and actors, that contribute to Korean students’ choice and justification of Brunei as their study destination. Informed by narrative qualitative inquiry, the article, on the one hand, shows unique accounts of the internationalisation of higher education as it was conceptualised, pursued, adjusted and projected by a Bruneian university. It, on the other hand, reveals how the studied Korean students have viewed Brunei, which coincides with a particular tourist discourse about ‘exotic’, unknown/mysterious destinations. This discourse also constitutes what these students consider their distinctive advantages in studying abroad. The findings have important implications for English-&-English-Medium-Instruction-focused internationalisation and mobility trajectories, international student mobilities and higher education’ increased investments in the global university ranking exercise. The article also argues that Brunei’s higher education can establish its core and unique identity on the basis of the many values that are identified and highlighted by Korean students. This way Brunei can inspire, while remaining unique and relevant to its own society and welcoming to international students.

(Accidental) Internationalisation of higher education beyond English, and complementary, intersecting desires: Korean international students pursuing education in Vietnam

ABSTRACT The increasing number of Korean students in Asian countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia is a new phenomenon in the region’s higher education landscape. This article pays attention to this phenomenon, with a focus on the case of unconventional Korean students in Vietnamese Studies (VS) at universities in Vietnam. Informed by interview data collected from Vietnamese teachers at a major university in Hanoi, the article examines their perceptions, experiences and reflections on (a) the ways in which the mobilities of Korean students in Vietnam have (re)shaped VS; and (b) factors and reasons influencing Korean students’ enrolments in VS. The increased demand among Korean students for VS is shaped by a multitude of factors and aspirations, ranging from policy drive, institutional responses, and personal circumstances, to religious pursuits. This demand, the students’ accompanying aspirations and desires, and the value attached to VS have led to what we call ‘accidental internationalization’ on the part of the surveyed Vietnamese institution. Our study enriches scholarly inquiries on inter-Asian student mobilities and offers original implications for the internationalisation of higher education beyond the dominance of English.

Friends Matter: The Relationship Between Korean International Students’ Friendship Networks and Study Abroad Outcomes

This study examined the determinants of international students’ interactions with different friendship networks and the relationships of these interactions with study abroad outcomes, using data from 482 Korean college students who had participated in international student exchange programs. The results showed that students’ participation in extracurricular and off-campus activities while studying abroad was significantly related to their interactions with local and other international students. The results also showed that students’ interactions with co-national, local, and other international students while studying abroad were positively associated with their intercultural competence, personal development, and career development, even after controlling for other variables. We discuss the policy implications of these findings beyond the Korean context.

The Benefits of YouTube in Learning English as a Second Language: A Qualitative Investigation of Korean Freshman Students’ Experiences and Perspectives in the U.S.

YouTube has the potential to significantly impact Korean millennials’ daily lives. Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether the value of YouTube can be explained by Korean students’ learning needs and practice. This qualitative study attempts to add a new dimension to possible ways of using YouTube for educational purposes. Focusing on narratives of first-year Korean international students studying in the U.S., this study examines the ways in which using YouTube contributes to students’ linguistic and cultural diversity. Findings reveal that YouTube helps expand students’ perspectives on cross-cultural understanding. The educational use of YouTube also leads students to academic pursuits and engagement during studying abroad by developing content knowledge and skills in English. It further enables students to enhance their knowledge of English as a global language by taking ownership. Ultimately, YouTube plays an indispensable role in supporting Korean international students’ academic and social progress in the transitional phase from their home to host countries. From these findings, and in response to the post-COVID era, the implications for the new normal in education using social networking sites, YouTube in particular, are discussed for effective multilingual and multicultural education in South Korea.

“I can wait until I return home”: healthcare utilization among Korean international students in the U.S.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to understand healthcare utilization behavior among Korean international students in the U.S. Participants and methods: Seventeen Korean international students in New York City participated in in-depth personal interviews. Results: The participants passively utilized U.S. healthcare by minimizing, avoiding, or delaying needed healthcare. However, they actively utilized transnational healthcare (in Korea) as an alternative strategy. Participants’ negative perception of the U.S. healthcare system (as a predisposing factor) influenced healthcare utilization in the U.S. The enabling transnational factors influenced their transnational healthcare utilization. Low perceived need for healthcare (as a need factor) determined the country where they utilized healthcare. Conclusion: Andersen’s healthcare utilization model is applicable in explaining healthcare utilization behavior among Korean international students, who could be considered a nontraditional vulnerable population. On-campus health education and promotion may help international students receive timely healthcare, especially those who do not return to their home country routinely.

“It’s My Fault”: Exploring Experiences and Mental Wellness Among Korean International Graduate Students

Mental health issues are on the rise on college campuses for all students, including international students. This qualitative study explores the mental wellness of Korean international graduate students, a sub-group that has received limited attention. By interviewing 18 Korean international graduate students in the United States, we found that limited English proficiency shapes various aspects of Korean international graduate students’ well-being; self-imposed pressures negatively influence mental wellness; self-blaming and an inability to express one’s feelings lead to further deterioration; and students turn to physical and religious/spiritual activities to improve their mental wellness. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

A study of South Korean international school students: Impact of COVID-19 on anxiety and learning habits

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted students worldwide on their social, mental, and physical health, as well as their academics. Many studies have shown how COVID-19 has affected different groups of students. The purpose of our research was to study the effect of COVID-19 on international high school students in South Korea. South Korea was lauded for its response to the COVID-19 outbreak, so we further investigated how the online school environment has affected this demographic in particular. We used a survey-based study to gather data on academics, mental, social, and physical health and well-being from 100 high school students attending numerous international schools in Korea. We split up our survey participants by gender and socioeconomic status and compared the averages of their answers using t-tests. Our study confirmed that female students study more than male students and feel they are doing better academically. Furthermore, more of the female students perceived COVID-19 to be dangerous compared to their male counterparts. Seventy-five percent of students also saw a change in their grades based on how their study habits had changed during online school. In addition, most students felt more depressed and anxious during the pandemic, feeling the "COVID blues." The findings from our study can be used to further improve school systems and student management, especially during a time of crisis in the future.

The Effect of Social support, Self-Encouragement, Depression, and Academic Burnout on the adaptation to College life: Comparison of Korean College students and Korean international students

The Effect of Social support, Self-Encouragement, Depression, and Academic Burnout on the adaptation to College life: Comparison of Korean College students and Korean international students

A Phenomenological Study of East Asian International Students’ Experience of Counseling

Although research has identified factors associated with U.S.-based Asian international students’ psychological help-seeking attitudes, there is scant research addressing how those who have sought counseling services perceived their counseling experiences. Therefore, this is the first known qualitative study to examine the experiences of East Asian international students who had sought mental health counseling in the United States. Using an interpretative phenomenological approach, the authors examined East Asian international students’ perceptions of (a) factors that facilitated or inhibited their decision to seek counseling; (b) their positive and negative experiences in counseling, and (c) the role of culture in their decision to seek counseling as well as in their overall experience of counseling. Five Chinese and four Korean international students who had sought counseling services at U.S. universities were interviewed. Six themes emerged: (1) Perceived Influence of Social Networks on the Decision to Seek Counseling, (2) Perceived Stigma, (3) Expectations of a Medical Model of Counseling, (4) Perceived Cultural Incompetence of Counselors, (5) Positive Experience of Counseling, and (6) Expectations of the Counselor’s Background. The findings provide an account of East Asian international students’ experiences of counseling that align with the extant literature on counseling in some respects but also diverge in others, thus contributing to a more complex and less stereotypical view of East Asian international students’ counseling needs.

The Effects of Acculturative Stress, Career Stress, and Social Support on Depression in Korean International Students in China

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the level of acculturative stress, career stress, social support and depression, and identify factors affecting depression among Korean international students in China. Methods: Data were collected from 157 Korean students studying in undergraduate, graduate, students exchange programs and language training courses in G university, J university, and S university in G city, Guangdong Province, China, from September 1 to October 27, 2017. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and multiple linear regression. Results: The mean acculturative stress was 62.24±18.08 out of 165, whereas the mean career stress was 65.47±19.79 out of 125. The mean social support was 95.03±14.64 out of 125, and the mean depression score was 13.83±9.24 out of 60. The factor that had the greatest effect on depression among the participants was acculturative stress (β=.26, p=.001), followed by career stress (β=.24, p=.002), frequency of weekly phone calls with family (β=.19, p=.006), source of tuition payment (β=.18, p=.009), and self-perceived health (β=.15, p=.040). The model explained 33% of the variance. Conclusion: It is necessary to develop depression prevention and management programs as well as a customized health promotion program that account for the factors identified to have an effect on depression, namely, acculturative stress, career stress, frequency of weekly phone calls with family, source of tuition payment, and self-perceived health, and increase awareness of depression among international students.

한국학생과 외국인학생에서 보이는 한국문화에 대한 인식의 차이에 대한 연구

한국학생과 외국인학생에서 보이는 한국문화에 대한 인식의 차이에 대한 연구

Intercultural Communicative Competence of Korean EFL University Students and International Students: Cognitive Approach through Resolution Latency Time

Intercultural Communicative Competence of Korean EFL University Students and International Students: Cognitive Approach through Resolution Latency Time

The identity (re)construction of international students in the process of academic literacy acquisition

ABSTRACT Despite the growing number of international students in higher education, few studies have examined these students’ struggles or ideological development process as they enter new communities of practice. This study uses longitudinal ethnographic and autoethnographic methods to examine the experiences of three South Korean international graduate students at a U.S. university. Data included recorded conversations, reflective journals, personal journals, and computer-mediated communication collected during participants’ second and third semesters in the graduate program. The data were analyzed to determine how participants construct, negotiate, and develop their ideologies and positions in the process of entering a new academic discourse community, relating and responding to various ideological discourses and power-laden labels imposed on them. Study findings highlight the dynamic nature of international students’ academic literacy acquisition, and the complex process of their ideological becoming.