• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.125-138
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• 2019

In this study, we examined how the self-efficacies of North Korean defectors affect their adaptation to South Korean social culture. To this end, 209 North Korean defectors living in Seoul, Incheon, Wonju, or Ansan were surveyed. The results obtained showed shorter residence in South Korea and age were associated with greater fear of South Korean society and awareness of language and cultural differences. On the other hand, age and duration of residence were not found to affect relations between social adaptation and perceptions of low social status, discrimination, or prejudice by defectors, which suggests defectors often live in South Korea for a considerable time without overcoming perceptions of discrimination or prejudice. The factor that most influenced adaptation to social culture was self-efficacy, which affected not only socio-cultural adaptation but also self-sufficiency and the ability to promote oneself, which is essential for economic adaptation in South Korean society.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.157-168
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• 2015

This study examined positive and negative marital factors on social adaptation to South Korea among North Korean refugees. In terms of previous studies, family variables play an important role in the adaptation to new society among refugees. We analyzed three major marital factors of marriage background, dyadic adjustment, and marital violence. Marital factors consisted of place of birth, place of marriage, dyadic consensus, dyadic satisfaction, dyadic cohesion, emotional violence, physical violence, and sexual violence. We analyzed the data of 295 North Korean refugees who resided in Seoul, Gyeonggi province and Incheon using snowballing sampling. The result indicated that the refugees married to non-Korean partners (including Korean-Chinese, Chinese, or Russian) are more likely to suffer in social adaptation. Place of marriage (whether the couple got married before escaping, during the escape or after living in South Korea) did not have a significant impact. Dyadic satisfaction was helpful in social adaptation, while sexual violence had a negative effect. The findings of this study suggest alternatives for more successful social adaptation by North Korean refugees to South Korea, a need for more services that target married couples and families rather than individuals, and suggestions for the use of counselors who are also North Korean refugees.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.86-96
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• 2020

This study analyzed the dietary behaviors and adaptation for Korean foods among Central Asian workers(Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan) living in South Korea to provide basic and fundamental data that allows Central Asian workers to have desirable eating habits while living in South Korea. Questionnaires were completed by 186 Central Asian workers living in South Korea. From this study, we found that 56.8% of respondents ate three meals a day, and 27.2% of respondents ate two meals a day. 29.7% of respondents had no snacks. For adapting Korean food, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan workers had difficulties adapting spicy and salty flavors and unpleasant smell while Kazakhstan workers had difficulties due to sweet flavors and spicy and salty flavors. Men adapted better than women to adapt Korean food. Women respondents ate Korean food more often than men. And the Uzbekistan ratio of eating homeland food daily was the highest. By providing understanding of dietary patterns of Central Asian workers, these results can be used as the basic and fundamental data for their Korean food adaptation.

• Child Studies in Asia-Pacific Contexts
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.127-136
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• 2014

The number of multicultural families with children are growing in South Korea. When it comes to childrearing, co-existence of two different cultures in these families pose unique challenges as husbands and wives navigate differences in norms and practices. The goal of this study was to examine what predicts involvement in child care among South Korean fathers in multicultural families. We hypothesized that the degree of wives' adaptation to South Korea and husbands' cultural characteristics, such as family ideology and cultural competence, would influence father involvement in child care. The sample consisted of 138 Korean fathers and their wives from China. Participants completed a questionnaire. Results showed that South Korean fathers engaged in a moderate level of child care activities. As hypothesized, their Chinese wives' level of adaptation to South Korea and their own cultural characteristics were significantly associated with their involvement in child care. South Korean fathers were more likely to get involved in child care when their wives were less acculturated. Also, culturally considerate and less traditional men in terms of family ideology were more likely to perform child care.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.93-110
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the adaptation and preference for South Korean food among North Korean refugees. A survey was conducted on 220 North Korean refugees regarding general questions, adaptations, and preference on consuming dishes in South Korea. The results of the survey showed that the average difficulty degree scored with the adaptation to South Korean food was 3.06 points out of 5.00 points. The adaptation to Korean food was investigated as 'average' and some North Korean refugees had some difficulties in South Korean food. Some respondents described South Korean food as having very strong flavor that tastes more sweetened, seasoned, and spicy than North Korean food. The extended residency in South Korea allowed North Korean refugees to become more familiar with sweetened flavors. Most of them enjoy an oily and spicy taste more than South Koreans. North Korean refugees like Ssal bap, Naengmyeon, Doenjang-guk, Galbi-jjim, Bulgogi(beef, pork), Chaesobokkeum, Oi-saengchae, Chaeso-jeon, Baechu-kimchi, Saengsun-twigim, Soondae, pears, fruit juice, and spring water. North Korean refugees over the age of 30 years enjoy classic foods such as Japgokbap, Gimbap, Jumeokbap, Hwedeopbap, and Chobap. On the other hand, North Korean refugees less than 30 years old enjoy new foods like ramen and spaghetti.

• Journal of the Korean Society for information Management
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.241-261
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• 2022

The present study aims to investigate the effects of information poverty on North Korean refugees' social adaptation to South Korea based on Chatman's Theory of Information Poverty (1996). Based on the Theory of Information Poverty, information poverty consists of four variables: Secrecy, Deception, Risk-taking, and information acceptance in response to situational relevance. And based on the previous studies, adaptation to South Korean life is divided into social adaptation and psychological adaptation. From August 4 to August 30, 2021, after approval by the IRB through the North Korean refugee support organization , surveys were conducted with North Korean refugees who had lived in South Korea for at least one year and were aged 19 or older. The 100 collected valid data were analyzed using frequency analysis, reliability analysis, correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis. Findings of the study indicated that information poverty had significant effects on North Korean refugees' social and psychological adaptation. In particular, the "deception" variable had negative effects on social and psychological adaptation. The study has theoretical implications that it explains North Korean refugees' adaptation to South Korea based on Theory of Information Poverty by defining them as information poor. Above all, it attempts a quantitative approach through operationalization of key concepts unlike previous studies that were conducted with qualitative approaches.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.593-604
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• 2019

This study is a phenomenological study attempted to examine adaptation of North Korean defectors to life in the South Korean society in a comprehensive and in-depth way. Data were collected from July 2016 to June 2017 by conducting interviews with 10 North Korean defectors about their experience in adaptation to life in the South Korean society. The collected data were analyzed by the Colaizzi method. The original data obtained from the participants were structured into 19 themes, 6 theme clusters and 4 category. The 4 category included 'to face the different world', 'lives as a stranger', 'to adapt something', 'to reach self-realization'. The 6 theme clusters included 'encounter with new world', 'psychological pain', 'obstacles of the reality', 'drifting in the South Korean society', 'becoming a member of South Korea' and 'an independent life'. Based on the results of this study, it would be necessary to conduct a repetitive study on the process of adaptation of North Korean defectors to life in the South Korean society, to develop an intervention program to help them adapt to the South Korean society, and to verify the effects of the developed program.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.167-178
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• 2022

Purpose: South Korea has expanded its accelerated second-degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing program to resolve its supply-demand imbalance in nursing, although how these students are adapting to and performing in college after admission remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to conduct an in-depth exploration of how Korean accelerated second-degree Bachelor of Science nursing students interact with society and adapt to college life for establishing further supportive educational policies and programs. Methods: Participants comprised 20 South Korean accelerated second-degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing students. The data were collected via online or offline in-depth interviews and analyzed using Strauss and Corbin's grounded theory and by applying a constant comparative method to achieve theoretical saturation. Results: The core category, derived using open, axial, and selective coding, was "process of the uncharted journey toward a new dream." The participants' college adaptation processes were found to involve three phases: trial and error, adjustment, and acceptance and integration. Conclusion: These findings can be used to develop, apply, test, and improve various support programs for accelerated second-degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing students and to advance the nursing profession by nurturing a workforce with diverse academic backgrounds and faster college life adaptation.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.431-441
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• 2013

Purpose: The study was done to explore meanings and essence of the experience in South Korea of men defectors from North Korea. Methods: Data were collected from March, 2011 to May, 2012, through in-depth interviews with ten men defectors. Data analysis was conducted using the process of hermeneutic phenomenological reflection. Results: Eight essential themes were extracted; 'buoyant expectation for a new life', 'feeling guilty about family left behind in North Korea', 'inability to become acclimatized due to communication difficulties', 'inability to socialize with South Koreans due to different lifestyles', 'finding strength through trustworthy acquaintances', 'continuing reconciliation with oneself while trying to assimilate into South Korean culture', 'self-realization of one's original self', and 'continuing to feel out the possibility of a future in South Korea'. Conclusion: The findings indicate that North Korean men who defect to South Korea shape their identity through three phases: forming self-image during escape from North Korea, trying to become accustomed to South Korean society, and finding their own identity by self-realization of their original self. Eventually, the whole process enables them to recover their identity, to feel a sense of belonging, and to discover possibilities for a better future.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.19-30
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• 2019

Purpose: To identify needs for pregnancy and postpartum adaptation of Chinese immigrant women and Vietnamese immigrant women in South Korea. Methods: A descriptive research design was employed. Data were collected from 244 Chinese immigrant women and Vietnamese immigrant women from 3 provinces, 20 health care centers, and multi-cultural family support centers. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-test and ANOVA. Results: An average score for needs perceived by Chinese immigrant women was significantly higher than that perceived by Vietnamese immigrant women. There were significantly differences in physical and emotional adaptation after childbirth, nutrition during pregnancy, cross cultural understanding and personal respect, and adaptation daily activity during pregnancy between the 2 groups. The highest score of needs in Chinese immigrant women was for nutrition during pregnancy and that in Vietnamese immigrant women was for baby rearing and family support. Conclusion: Based on needs of pregnancy and postpartum adaption, nursing intervention program in consideration of cultural characteristics of Chinese immigrant women and Vietnam immigrant women need to be developed for their pregnancy and postpartum health care.