KAQI

clicks	1396
Vol (number)	2(2)
title	Community Experiences and Cultural Adaptation of College Students Who Defected from North Korea
author(s)	Eunhye Lee(Ewha Womans University)
Keywords	North Korean college students, alternative school, cultural adaptation
Abstract	This study aimed to explore cultural adaptation of college students defecting from North Korea, by exploring their diverse community experiences. To this end, the study was designed to adopt the methodology of qualitative case study and the data were collected via interviews with four college students who graduated from alternative schools. The participants have joined in various communities such as alternative school reunion, North Korean university students group in the university they went to, small groups in church, student council and others. The communities they joined are divided into two groups, by the composition of main members; North Korean community with members of North Korean migrants and South Korean Community, mostly consisting of South Koreans. The interview analysis results showed the participants considered North Korean community as a group for emotional support, information-sharing and a change to meet diverse individuals. Meanwhile, they perceived South Korean community as a group for cultural adjustment, a group to seek opportunity and a group where they felt a sense of superiority and prejudice of others. These students were able to get culturally adjusted, having different perceptions and attitude between the two types of groups. Based on the findings, this study is offering a chance of theoretical discussion and implications on education to help these college students’s adaptation.
file	10이은혜.pdf