Abstract
This qualitative research was designed to explore the use of housing among Korean Chinese people in Harbin, China. Focusing on the use which based on the epistemology of housing adjustment, this was particularly designed to examine its cultural assimilation and acculturation on the way of life course, it employed the in-depth interview on the oral history of 5 interviewees in their 60s and 70s, individualized interviews were conducted from May 28 to 31 in 2010. Key findings were summarized as follows; 1. The free market reform in China resulted in privatization that allowed respondents to become homeowners, and the ownership was viewed as part of family asset centered upon a sense of solidarity. 2. Although homeowners in multi-story houses were responsible to decorate interior spaces, the common features in using interior spaces were found: entrance had no thresholds; kitchen was small, lack of storage cabinets, tile-flooring; washers were installed inside bathroom; and newly built apartment didn't have proper space to store Korean fermented foods. It was observed that housing adaptation outweighed housing adjustment. Those who used to live in Chinese houses with indoor-wearing-shoes or Russian houses with indoor-wearing-slippers were receptive to the use of dining table and bed, and the community heating system discouraged the use of individual electric water heater because of high electricity cost. 3. In daily life, eating habit wasn't much changed to the Chinese style, meals were shared, dish sterilizer was popular, and Kimchi fridge wasn't used. Because of the influence of the Chinese culture, such Korean traditions as ancestral rites and bedroom allocation tradition faded away, but traditional family values remained unchanged. In conclusion, Korean Chinese people experience normative housing deficits and adaptation selectively incurred. It's implied that residential design meets the needs resulting from the dual culture in terms of cultural assimilation and acculturation.