Challenging Koreanness: An Examination of the Koryoin (Re)settlement in South Korea

This thesis uncovered the reasons behind Koryoin’s common experience of South Korean society seeing them as not “Korean enough.” After the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the growing need of foreign labor by the South Korean economy, co-ethnics were the most favored by South Korea, explaining the growing (re)settlement of the Koryoin in South Korea. Although being ethnic Korean, they’re commonly treated as foreigners and the Koryoin feel alienated, making it an anomaly if South Korea brands itself as the homeland of all Koreans. Through a descriptive literature review followed by the usage of academic articles, news articles, and documentaries, the problem can be pointed towards South Korea’s exclusive monoethnic nationalism whereby full Korean blood is the main tenant sustaining this ideology. Yet, factors like language, customs and habits, and looks seem to be of such an importance that the nonfulfillment of these ‘requirements’ results in the othering the Koryoin experience,...Show moreThis thesis uncovered the reasons behind Koryoin’s common experience of South Korean society seeing them as not “Korean enough.” After the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the growing need of foreign labor by the South Korean economy, co-ethnics were the most favored by South Korea, explaining the growing (re)settlement of the Koryoin in South Korea. Although being ethnic Korean, they’re commonly treated as foreigners and the Koryoin feel alienated, making it an anomaly if South Korea brands itself as the homeland of all Koreans. Through a descriptive literature review followed by the usage of academic articles, news articles, and documentaries, the problem can be pointed towards South Korea’s exclusive monoethnic nationalism whereby full Korean blood is the main tenant sustaining this ideology. Yet, factors like language, customs and habits, and looks seem to be of such an importance that the nonfulfillment of these ‘requirements’ results in the othering the Koryoin experience, regardless of having Korean ancestry. South Korea’s paradoxical monoethnic nationalism, termed tanilminjok-ism in this thesis, was created for social cohesion yet the academic discussion criticizes if that is still the case. The Koryoin voice out their hardships of being marginalized and wish to be included in South Korea’s growing multicultural society, warranting a bigger push for inclusivity.Show less

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Challenging Koreanness: An Examination of the Koryoin (Re)settlement in South Korea