Influence of Living Abroad on People in General and Their Clothing Style: A Case Study of Koreans

해외체류경험이 소비자의 일반적 특성과 의복 스타일에 미치는 영향: 한국인의 경우

  • Yu HaeKyung (Dept. of Fashion & Industry, University of Incheon) ;
  • Kim Chanju (Dept. of Fashion & Industry, University of Incheon)
  • 유혜경 (인천대학교 패션산업학과) ;
  • 김찬주 (인천대학교 패션산업학과)
  • Published : 2004.12.01

Abstract

As globalization has been accelerating in recent years, more people have opportunities to live abroad for an extended period of time, which is known to have strong influence on consumers. The main purposes of this study were to examine if and how sojourning experience could bring changes to people in general and in clothing styles with focus on Korean adults. The researchers conducted in-depth interviews on a total of thirty-six women and twenty-one men who lived in foreign countries more than two years and have been back in Korea longer than one year. The major results indicated that in addition to personalities, age, length of stay, activities during stay, gender, and cultural distances played important roles in bringing long-term changes on people. Re-established self-identity, changes in values, and openness toward diversity were major common changes observed in the interviewees. In addition, they became educated consumers with good knowledge of diverse brands and prices, and emphasized value as opposed to price. Changes in clothing styles were noted mainly among women. They placed high importance on having their own style, coordination and appropriateness, which were consistent with the general changes. Influences of different cultures were also noted.

지구촌화가 가속되면서 많은 소비자들에게 해외 체류의 기회는 증가하고 있으며, 이러한 해외체류 경험은 소비자들에게 깊은 영향을 미치는 것으로 알려져 있다. 그럼에도 불구하고, 해외체류경험이 소비자들에게 장기적으로는 어떠한 영향을 미치는지에 대한 연구는 부족한 상태이다. 따라서 이 연구에서는 해외체류경험이 소비자에게 미치는 영향과 관련된 변인들과 경험에 따라 나타나는 소비자들의 일반적인 변화와 의복스타일의 변화를 고찰하였다. 연구를 위하여 해외에서 2년 이상 체류하고 귀국한지 1년이 지난 36명의 여성과 21명의 남성을 심층 면접하였다. 연구결과에 따르면, 개인적인 특성 이외에도 연령, 체류기간, 체류시 활동, 문화의 차이 등이 장기적인 변화의 유무와 관련이 깊은 것으로 나타났다. 또한 정체성의 재발견, 다양성의 추구, 확대된 집단의식이 공통적으로 나타난 일반적인 변화였다. 쇼핑과 관련되어서는 주로 여성들에게서 변화가 감지되었는데, 여성들은 자신을 가치를 추구하고 다양한 브랜드와 제품의 지식을 지닌 소비자로 느끼고 있었으며, 자신만의 고유한 스타일을 가지고 시간과 장소, 상황은 물론 주위의 자연 환경과 어울리는 유연한 의복스타일을 강조하는 것으로 나타났다. 연구결과는 또한 한국문화의 특이성이 해외체류경험의 영향에 배경 이 된다는 것을 시사하였다.

Keywords

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