Koreans In South Korea Research Articles

The role of speaker categorization in South Korean attitudes toward North Korean accents

Abstract North Koreans in South Korea often try to adopt South Korean accents to avoid discrimination, with varying degrees of success. Language attitudes studies have tended to investigate reactions to distinct varieties rather than speakers’ attempts to approximate new varieties for their own benefit, and while a few have considered the effects of listeners’ categorization of speakers on evaluations of them, they have generally focused solely on macro-categories such as place of origin, especially in languages other than English. This study investigates South Koreans’ attitudes toward North and South Koreans’ native and adopted accents and how these attitudes may relate to listeners’ categorization of the speakers. Eighty-two South Korean listeners rated recordings of three Korean speakers, two from different cities in North Korea and one from Busan, South Korea, who each read the same text in two versions: their native variety and their adopted Seoul variety. Listeners only consistently identified the Pyongyang variety as North Korean, but rated all three speakers more positively in Seoul guises than in their native guises. Additionally, when North Korean speakers were identified as being from outside South Korea, ratings were less positive. However, the Pyongyang speaker was rated more highly than the South Korean speaker on positive qualities, and qualitative data suggests that other types of speaker categorization may be relevant to attitudes, such as ‘professional’ for the Pyongyang speaker in both guises and ‘youth’ for the South Korean speaker in her Seoul guise. Thus, attitudes studies may benefit from qualitative data on speaker identification beyond the usual macro-categories, addressing the multiple categories indexed by a speech sample.

The Phenomenon of Ethnocultural Enclaves of Russophone Koreans “Koryŏin Maŭl” in South Korea

This article details the findings of a study conducted from October 2022 to December 2023 on the ethnocultural enclaves of Russophone Koreans in South Korea. The research delves into the origins of the term “Koryŏin Maŭl” and proposes a refined definition. It identifies key characteristics shared by these enclaves and introduces a preliminary classification scheme. Distinguished by a strong ethnic presence and a somewhat insular community formed around a common language (Russian) and shared cultural practices, the “Koryŏin Maŭl” can be defined as ethnocultural enclaves. These areas are self-determined and universally recognized among their residents.Through my research, I have concluded that the Koryŏin Maŭls in South Korea share a number of common characteristics. They all have distinct boundaries, formed by both terrain features and patterns of residential development. These neighborhoods also house a significant number of ethnic businesses, whose success largely hinges on the customer base formed within the ethnic enclave itself.

Resettlement of Ethnic Koreans in South Korea: A Comprehensive Review.

In this article, authors delve into the historical journey of ethnic Koreans relocating to South Korea from CIS countries, where they are commonly referred to as «koryoin» or «koryo-saram». The study conducted by the authors meticulously analyzes the migration patterns of Korean repatriates, identifying key stages and motivations for returning to their ancestral homeland. Furthermore, the research sheds light on the legislative frameworks and policy changes implemented by the South Korean government to facilitate the smooth integration of repatriates. By examining the evolution of these laws and initiatives, we gain insight into the structured mechanisms developed over years of experience to support this migration flow. One crucial aspect explored in this study is the challenge of integrating ethnic Koreans into the host society, which manifests at various levels influenced by subjective perspectives. The article highlights the obstacles they encounter in their new environment. Notably, repatriates have formed close-knit networks to navigate these challenges, albeit posing potential disruptions to societal stability and security in South Korea. Consequently, the imperative of addressing the integration of «koryo saram» and other ethnic Koreans into the broader society emerges as a pressing concern for South Korea. By fostering a deeper understanding of these integration dynamics and advocating for inclusive practices, South Korea can strive towards a more cohesive and harmonious multicultural landscape.

The genetic structure and admixture of Manchus and Koreans in northeast China

Background The fine-scale genetic profiles and population history of Manchus and Koreans remain unclear. Aim To infer a fine-scale genetic structure and admixture of Manchu and Korean populations. Subjects and methods We collected and genotyped 16 Manchus from Liaoning and 18 Koreans from Jilin province with about 700K genome-wide SNPs. We analysed the data using principal component analysis (PCA), ADMIXTURE, Fst, TreeMix, f-statistics, qpWave, and qpAdm. Results Manchus and Koreans showed a genetic affinity with northern East Asians. Chinese Koreans showed a long-term genetic continuity with Bronze Age populations from the West Liao River and had a strong affinity with Koreans in South Korea and Japan. Manchus had a different genetic profile compared with other Tungusic populations since the Manchus received additional genetic influence from the southern Chinese but didn’t have West Eurasian-related admixture. Conclusions The genetic formation of Manchus involving southern Chinese was consistent with the extensive interactions between Manchus and populations from central and southern China. The large-scale genetic continuity between ancient West Liao River farmers and Koreans highlighted the role farming expansion played in the peopling of the Korean Peninsula.

The contradictory effects of South Korean resettlement policy on North Koreans in South Korea

ABSTRACT This paper analyses the intersection of government policy and social status in a forced migration context. Specifically, I evaluate the influence of state policies on the social status of North Koreans in South Korea (t’albungmin). In positively discriminating in their favour while simultaneously treating them as welfare beneficiaries, I propose that South Korea’s resettlement policy contributes to their social exclusion. T’albungmin receive greater benefits than other low-income earners, raising their fears of public backlash against their perceived privilege in a limited welfare environment. Resettlement policy also reinforces the image of t’albungmin as uneducated and low-skilled, contributing to discrimination they face when seeking skilled work. Although this policy suggests t’albungmin are homogeneously low class, I argue that t’albungmin retain elements of pre-migration class privilege after migration, with forms of capital associated with higher relative status in North Korea facilitating integration into South Korean society. However, in masking their class variation, and thus concealing the correlation between socio-economic background and ease of integration, resettlement support contributes to a perception that integration is a matter of personal effort. This case sheds new light on the role of state policies in inadvertently perpetuating social exclusion of the migrants it aims to support.

Comparative Study on Volunteering among Older Korean Immigrants in the United States and Older Koreans in South Korea.

This study aimed to determine the most important factors that influence the prevalence of volunteering among older Koreans in the United States and in Korea and to identify sociodemographic resources, cultural resources, and social resources that are correlated with volunteering. The data were gathered from older Koreans aged 60 or over from the two countries (n = 480). The prevalence of volunteering was 23.3% for older Korean immigrants in the United States versus 14.7% for the older Koreans in Korea. This study found that there was a significant relationship between human capital (individual resources) and volunteering in both countries. Education and financial status had a positive relationship with volunteering among older Koreans in both countries. Cultural resources and social resources were the only important predictors of volunteering among older Korean immigrants in the United States. Regarding types of volunteering, older Koreans in both countries were more likely to participate in informal volunteering than formal volunteering. These findings differ somewhat from those reported by previous studies. This study was the first attempt to examine older adults from these two countries with a focus on the correlation between cultural factors, social resources, and volunteering.

Allele and haplotype frequencies of human leukocyte antigen-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, -DRB3/4/5, -DQA1, -DQB1, -DPA1, and -DPB1 by next generation sequencing-based typing in Koreans in South Korea.

Allele frequencies and haplotype frequencies of HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, -DRB3/4/5, -DQA1, -DQB1, -DPA1, and -DPB1 have been rarely reported in South Koreans using unambiguous, phase-resolved next generation DNA sequencing. In this study, HLA typing of 11 loci in 173 healthy South Koreans were performed using next generation DNA sequencing with long-range PCR, TruSight® HLA v2 kit, Illumina MiSeqDx platform system, and Assign™ for TruSight™ HLA software. Haplotype frequencies were calculated using the PyPop software. Direct counting methods were used to investigate the association with DRB1 for samples with only one copy of a particular secondary DRB locus. We compared these allele types with the ambiguous allele combinations of the IPD-IMGT/HLA database. We identified 20, 40, 26, 31, 19, 16, 4, and 16 alleles of HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, HLA-DRB1, HLA-DQA1, HLA-DQB1, HLA-DPA1, and HLA-DPB1, respectively. The number of HLA-DRB3/4/5 alleles was 4, 5, and 3, respectively. The haplotype frequencies of most common haplotypes were as follows: A*33:03:01-B*44:03:01-C*14:03-DRB1*13:02:01-DQB1*06:04:01-DPB1*04:01:01 (2.89%), A*33:03:01-B*44:03:01-C*14:03 (4.91%), DRB1*08:03:02-DQA1*01:03:01-DQB1*06:01:01-DPA1*02:02:02-DPB1*05:01:01 (5.41%), DRB1*04:05:01-DRB4*01:03:01 (12.72%), DQA1*01:03:01-DQB1*06:01:01 (13.01%), and DPA1*02:02:02-DPB1*05:01:01 (30.83%). In samples with only one copy of a specific secondary DRB locus, we examined its association with DRB1. We, thus, resolved 10 allele ambiguities in HLA-B, -C (each exon 2+3), -DRB1, -DQB1, -DQA1, and -DPB1 (each exon 2) of the IPD-IMGT/HLA database. Korean population was geographically close to Japanese and Han Chinese populations in the genetic distances by multidimensional scaling (MDS) plots. The information obtained by HLA typing of the 11 extended loci by next generation sequencing may be useful for more exact diagnostic tests on various transplantations and the genetic population relationship studies in South Koreans.

The racialization of North Koreans in South Korea: diasporic co-ethnics in the South Korean ethnolinguistic nation

ABSTRACT While racialization is commonly associated with perceived phenotypical differences, this article introduces the phenomenon of co-ethnic racialization via linguistic differentiation. Based on long-term ethnographic fieldwork, I consider the linguistic concerns of North Koreans in South Korea (t’albungmin). Despite South Korean state policy espousing an ideology of ethno-national unity, South Koreans are resistant to the social incorporation of certain diasporic Koreans, who are often identifiable through their accents. I argue that North Koreans’ linguistic anxieties and speech modifications are partly fuelled by a fear of being seen as inherently deficient, and that they adopt linguistic strategies, whether attempting to sound more “South Korean” or accepting their misidentification as Korean-Chinese, as a means of adapting to these implicit (yet shifting) racializing logics. This case not only highlights racialized hierarchies present among Korean co-ethnics but broadens our understandings of racialization by identifying linguistic practice as a site where co-ethnic racialization takes place.

Cross-sectional association of bone mineral density with coronary artery calcification in an international multi-ethnic population-based cohort of men aged 40–49: ERA JUMP study

Inverse associations of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and atherosclerosis with osteoporosis and bone mineral density (BMD) have been reported in post-menopausal women and elderly men. We aimed to investigate an association between vetebral bone density (VBD) and coronary artery cacification (CAC) in an international multi-ethnic cohort of middle-aged men in the EBCT and Risk Factor Assessment among Japanese and US Men in the Post-World-War-II birth cohort (ERA JUMP). ERA JUMP examined 1134 men aged 40-49 (267 white, 84 black, and 242 Japanese Americans, 308 Japanese in Japan, and 233 Koreans in South Korea) free from CVD for CAC, and VBD, biomarkers of coronary atherosclerosis and BMD, respectively, with electron-beam computed tomography, and other risk factors. CAC was quantified with the Agatston method and VBD by computing the mean Hounsfield Unit (HU) value of the T12 to L3 vertebrae. To examine multivariable-adjusted associations of CAC with VBD, we used robust linear and logistic regressions. The mean VBD and median CAC were 175.4 HU (standard deviation: 36.3) and 0 (interquartile range: (0, 4.5)), respectively. The frequency of CAC was 19.0%. There was no significant interaction by race. VBD had a significant inverse association with CAC score (β=-0.207, p-value=0.005), while a 10-unit increase in VBD was significantly associated with the frequency of CAC (odds ratio (95% confidence interval)=0.929 (0.890-0.969)). Both associations remained significant after adjusting for covariates. VBD had a significant inverse association with CAC in this international multi-ethnic cohort of men aged 40-49.

English for North Korean refugees in South Korea

Mee-Soo was a good student in North Korea. She came to South Korea in her early teens, and South Korean state policy for North Korean defectors enabled her to gain entry into a decent university in Seoul. She majored in Business Management and, when she had to choose her sub-major, she chose Accounting over Marketing and Human Resources because she thought she could avoid English. Achieving CPA (Certified Public Accountant) status was the goal for Accounting majors. Passing a score of 700 in the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) was a requirement to take the CPA exam. Mee-Soo worked hard studying for TOEIC and took the test ten times. Her score rose from the 400s to the 600s, but she could not pass the 700 threshold and was left behind while other South Korean students passed the English requirement. She could not even begin to study for the CPA exam itself. She once sighed and told me (one of the authors), ‘I wish I could have a life without English.’ I responded, ‘I didn't think English would be so important to North Koreans in South Korea.’ To this, Mee-Soo exclaimed, ‘It is a matter of survival.’Given there have now been over 70 years of separation between North and South Korea since the Korean War, it is unquestionable that North Korean migrants face and struggle with a variety of troubles in their attempts to settle into South Korean society. In this context, why does English constitute a ‘matter of survival’ for North Koreans when there are so many other critical issues for these individuals, who crossed several borders at the risk of their lives? This phenomena, that ‘English’ represents a major difficulty for North Korean defectors in their process of settling in South Korea (Jung & Lim, 2009), constitutes an interesting linguistic phenomena in an intra-ethnic contact. However, by itself, this statement somewhat simplifies how English actually affects the migrant group. Instead, its influence works in a surprisingly diverse number of ways across different ranges and layers within the North Korean population, depending on their regional and social background, age, time of migration, and possibly many other factors. A meaningful pattern we discuss here is the changing relations between English and North Korean migrants according to age; it is the North Korean young adults who seem to be particularly affected by English and disproportionately in need of English teaching. We also note, though, that this pattern itself is changing, as we are seeing the recent increase of children of North Korean migrants born and educated in South Korea or in China.

North Koreans in South Korea and Beyond: Transnational Migration and Contested Nationhood

This article examines the differentiated identities of North Koreans in South Korea and beyond in terms of transnational migration and contested nationhood. In the post-Cold War era, North Koreans in South Korea have been marginalised as a social minority, and comprise a subaltern group within South Korea, despite having South Korean citizenship. As a result, many North Korean refugees, including those who have already gained South Korean citizenship, have migrated to Western countries for a better life in terms of wealth and welfare. As active agents, they have pursued strategic lives in the host countries’ multicultural societies and Korean communities. Through complex transnational migration to South Korea and elsewhere, North Koreans have reformulated nationhood by contesting the idea of a “homogeneous nation” of Korea. This article focuses on how North Koreans have shaped their own Koreanness in the multicultural societies of the United States and the United Kingdom as well as in the hierarchical nationhood of South Korea. By doing so, it offers an alternative framework for looking at the multifarious identities of North Korean refugees globally.

The Role of Social Networks on Depressive Symptoms: A Comparison of Older Koreans in Three Geographic Areas.

The purpose of this study was to examine the correlates of depressive symptoms among older Korean adults in three geographic locations with varying densities of the Korean population: mainland Korea (mostly Koreans), New York metropolitan area (high Korean density), and west central Florida (low Korean density). The study focused on the role of family and friend networks. Data were drawn from three sources: (1) a multistage national sample of Koreans in South Korea (n = 403); (2) a survey conducted in the western/central Florida area that used a variety of culturally sensitive sampling strategies (n = 672); and (3) a survey in the New York metropolitan area (n = 420) that replicated the Florida study. For those living in Korea, living alone and lower perceived financial status were independently associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms. For the New York and Florida samples, fair or poor self-rating of health, lower levels of acculturation, and weaker ties with family were related to higher levels of depressive symptoms. Similar to the older Korean sample, lower perceived financial status was linked with greater depressive symptoms in the New York sample. The overall results suggest that it is important to consider the interplay of the social network, personal, and cultural resources when working with older adults in diverse contexts. Intervention efforts should address mental health issues tailored to cultural and social settings.

Living Arrangements and Psychological Distress among Older Korean Immigrants and older Koreans

본 연구의 목적은 미주 한인노인(older Korean immigrants in the United States )과 한국에 거주하는 노인(older Koreans in South Korea)을 대상으로 동거형태(living arrangements)와 심리적 고통(psychological distress)과의 관계를 비교하기 위함이다. 이 두 나라의 노인 인구 설문조사는 60세에서 79세 사이에 해당하는 참여자(480명)로 구성되어 있으며, 인구사회학적 특성 및 동거형태와 심리적 고통과의 관계를 알아보기 위하여 위계적 다중회귀분석이 이루어졌다. 연구결과는 미주에 거주하는 ‘독거(living alone)’ 노인의 26.4%와 ‘배우자와 살고 있는 노인(living with a spouse)’의 7.3%가 ‘심한’ 심리적 고통을 겪고 있는 것으로 나타났다. 이에 반해, 한국에 거주하는 ‘독거’노인의 20.0%와 ‘배우자와 살고 있는’ 노인의 20.6%가 ‘심한’ 심리적 고통을 겪고 있음으로 나타났다. 계층적 다변량 분석은 미주 한인독거노인과 한국거주 독거노인 모두 심리적 고통에 통계적으로 유의미한 변수가 아닌 것으로 나타났다. 흥미롭게도 배우자와 살고 있는 노인과 다른 사람(living with others)과 살고 있는 미주 한인노인의 심리적 고통에 유의미한 변수로 나타났으나 한국에 거주하는 노인은 유의미한 변수가 아니었다. 이 연구는 또한 미주 한인 독거노인과 사회적 지지에 대한 상호작용은 통계적으로 유의한 변수로 나타났다. 한국거주의 부부와 살고 있는 노인 과 사회적지지(social support)와 네트워크(social networks)에 대한 상호작용은 통계적으로 유의미한 변수로 나타났다. 따라서 이 연구는 미국과 한국에 거주하는 노인들의 정신건강에 영향을 미치는 다양한 상황들을 탐색함으로써 기존의 문헌에 기여한다. 이러한 분석결과를 토대로 미주 한인노인과 한국 노인의 심리적 고통을 줄이기 위한 정책적 시사점을 제시하였다.A few studies have examined the relationship between living arrangements and mental health status among older Korean immigrants in the United States and older Koreans in South Korea. This study attempts to fill this gap by conducting a comparative study to understand the relationship between living arrangements and psychological distress. Survey data from older Koreans between the ages of 60 and 79 from the two countries (N= 480) was analyzed descriptively and in hierarchical multiple regressions. This study found that among older Korean immigrants in the United States 26.4 % of those living alone and 7.3% of those living with a spouse only reported ‘severe’ psychological distress while their counterparts in South Korea 20.0 % of those living alone and 20.6 % of those living with a spouse only reported ‘severe’ psychological distress. The hierarchical multivariate analysis reveled that older Koreans living alone are not significant predictor of psychological distress in both countries. Interestingly, older Korean immigrants living with a spouse only and living with others are significant predictors of psychological distress. This study also contributes to the existing literature by searching for diverse conditions that lead to mental health problems among older Koreans in both countries.

Suicide by persons with foreign background in Japan.

PurposeThis study examined trends in the suicide rates of persons with foreign background in Japan.MethodsUsing the nationwide death records in the Vital Statistics of Japan, we first reported the age-adjusted suicide rates of 8 foreign nationals (Brazil, China, Korea, Peru, the Philippines, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States) in Japan by sex from 1980 to the mid-2010s. We also computed rate ratios to compare the suicide rate of each group with those of the Japanese population. Second, we focused on Koreans, who had the highest suicide rate in Japan. We compared the suicide rates of Koreans in Japan with Koreans in South Korea to examine whether their suicide rates were more closely related to those of their country of origin or those of their host country.ResultsWe found that the suicide rates of Koreans and Chinese in Japan were similar to or higher than those of Japanese, while other groups tended to show lower suicide rates. Most notably, Koreans displayed consistently high suicide rates from 1980 to the mid-2010s, which were nearly twice as high as those of the Japanese population. Korean males and females in Japan had higher suicide rates than those in South Korea.ConclusionsImmigrants in Japan were not necessarily influenced by the suicide rates of the host country. The high suicide rates among Korean residents in Japan might be explained by various disadvantages and adversities that they face in Japan.

Cross-cultural comparative study of psychological distress between older Korean immigrants in the United States and older Koreans in South Korea

Objective: This study aims to answer questions about the similarities and differences in the prevalence and distribution of psychological distress across these populations.Methods: Survey data from older Koreans between the ages 60 and 79 from the two countries (n = 480) was analyzed descriptively and in hierarchical multiple regressions. The stress coping framework was used as a conceptual modelResults: This study found significantly different prevalence of psychological distress in both countries. About 13% of older Korean immigrants(US) experienced ‘severe’ psychological distress versus 21% of their counterparts ( Korea). Health status and overall financial status were significantly associated with the experience of psychological distress in both countries, while income was not significantly associated with psychological distress. Hierarchical multiple regression revealed significant associations between family relationships and help-seeking behavior among older Korean immigrants in the United States while there were significant associations between social support, social networks and psychological distress among older Koreans in South Korea.Conclusion: This is the first time that a comparative study has been used to understand psychological distress among older Koreans in both countries. The findings build on prior research on social support and social networks as stress coping buffers, adding a much-needed understanding of how stressors and different types of resources influence psychological distress outcomes.

Comparisons of Koreans, Korean Americans, and White Americans regarding deceased organ donation.

This study examined social responsibility and individual right perception as factors related to intention to register and to intention to avoid registering in an organ donor registry among Koreans in South Korea, Korean Americans, and White Americans in the United States. Findings showed that compared to Korean and Korean Americans, White Americans considered social responsibility to a larger extent in forming intention to avoid registering in an organ donor registry. On the contrary, the relationship between individual right and intention to avoid registering did not statistically differ among Koreans, Korean Americans, and White Americans. Other findings and implications thereof are discussed in more detail.

국내 비한국계 코리언들의 언어현실과 언어적 공공성 : 국내 중국 조선족의 사례를 중심으로

국내 비한국계 코리언들의 언어현실과 언어적 공공성 : 국내 중국 조선족의 사례를 중심으로

North Korean secondary asylum in the UK

The number of North Korean secondary migrants from South Korea has grown markedly in the last ten years. Drawing on semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and participatory observation conducted between 2012-2017, this article explores the motivations for North Korean secondary migration and the role of transnational networks in the migration and settlement trajectory. Our findings suggest that many North Koreans in South Korea feel discriminated against due to their origins, and unable to engage in upward social mobility. We argue that North Korean secondary migration to the United Kingdom (UK) is not a linear process of push and pull factors but a highly reactive and unpredictable one that depends on information fed by brokers. The UK hosts one of the largest communities of North Koreans outside Northeast Asia. Most North Koreans in the UK are secondary asylum seekers from South Korea. Their life in the UK, however, comes with its own set of challenges, some of which mirror co-ethnic or ideological frictions among North Koreans themselves, with the Korean-Chinese, or with South Koreans. This paper contributes to debates on multiple migration, providing a migrant-centric perspective to answer why people who are offered material benefits in the country they arrive in choose to on-migrate to a place where life can be often more challenging.

A Comparative Study of Fear of Crime among Korean Immigrants in the United States and Native Koreans in South Korea

Scholars implicitly assume that the conceptual models of fear of crime found in the Western literature are also applicable to populations that have different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. To investigate whether such an assumption is legitimate, the current study analyzed survey data from samples of Korean immigrants in the Detroit metropolitan area and native Koreans in Seoul, South Korea. The result indicated a higher level of fear among native Koreans than Korean immigrants. The presented subgroup analyses revealed that perceived incivility, confidence in the police, and ethnic attachment were significant predictors of fear of crime among Korean immigrants, while gender, vicarious victimization, and perceived crime increase in the neighborhood were significant among native Koreans. Based on these findings, we offer implications for future research.

Street-level bureaucracy and depoliticized North Korean subjectivity in the service provision of Hana Center

This paper explores how institutional service provision for North Koreans in South Korea contributes to formulating specific kinds of North Korean subjectivity. North Korean matters are still controversial and riddled with various political issues, including the Cold War, ethnic homogeneity, and neoliberal changes. There has been significant critique on over-competition, resource misuse, and inadequate services for this population in South Korea to date. Semi-government resettlement agencies called Hana Centers have attempted to standardize and individualize service provision to North Koreans since 2009 reflecting neoliberal welfare trend in South Korea. In the space where the stated policy and actual practices create gap in-between, the values of practicality and neutrality take precedence in operating the Hana Centers. Bureaucratic practices of Hana Centers on the ground reveal contradictory and divergent operations, featuring street-level bureaucracy and localized governmentality. This paper specifically attends to the depoliticizing and decontextualizing effects that the Hana Centers exert in configuring North Korean subjectivity, with detailed descriptions of bureaucratic operations.