• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.362-375
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• 2019

Since Kim Dae-jung's administration, the Korean government has established policy for overseas Koreans to provide nationalism education to their descendants. While the policy is still in effect today, as to how the recipients of the support in the USA make meaning of the programs given much changes in the social climate in respect to Korean culture, has not been examined in-depth. Therefore, through in-depth interviews with Korean Americans, the current study examined how the recipients of the educational program perceive policy on education program towards Korean Americans and whether it has strengthened their nationalism or sentiment towards motherland. The study further examines the factors that influences their sentiments towards the motherland as identified by Korean Americans. The findings show that exposure to the culture and parents' teachings of the Korean values have helped them embrace Korean heritage. Moreover, findings revealed that their sense of Koreanness were due to positive memories from visits they had when they were young and changes in Korea's status in the global arena. Future direction of the policy and suggestion for specific programs for Korean Americans, as well as implications of the findings are discussed.