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Experience of Adaptation of North Korean Defectors in the South Korean Society

북한이탈주민의 남한사회 적응 경험

  • Received : 2018.10.04
  • Accepted : 2019.02.01
  • Published : 2019.02.28
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Abstract

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.

본 연구는 북한이탈주민을 대상으로 남한사회 적응 경험을 포괄적이고 심층적으로 파악하기 위하여 시도된 현상학적 연구이다. 자료수집은 2016년 7월부터 2017년 6월까지로 하였고, 북한이탈주민 10명을 대상으로 그들의 남한사회 삶의 적응 경험을 인터뷰를 통해 이루어졌다. 수집된 자료는 Colaizzi 방법으로 분석하였다. 연구 참여자는 총 10명으로 남성 5명, 여성 5명이었고, 나이는 40대가 5명, 50대가 5명으로 나타났다. 결혼상태는 미혼이 4명, 기혼 6명으로 나타났다. 연구 참여자로 부터 얻은 원자료에서 남한사회 삶의 적응 경험을 분석한 결과 180개의 본질적인 의미단위를 추출하였고, 본질적인 의미단위에서 19개의 주제와 6개의 주제모음, 4개의 범주로 구조화할 수 있었다. 4개의 범주는 '다른 세상 마주하기', '이방인으로 살기', '적응하기', '자아실현하기'였다. 6개의 주제모음은 '새로운 세상을 만남', '심리적인 고통', '현실의 벽', '남한사회에 표류', '남한 사람이 되어감', '주체적인 삶'으로 도출되었다. 본 연구를 바탕으로 북한이탈주민의 남한사회 적응 경험에 대한 반복연구와 남한사회에서 적응을 도울 수 있는 중재 프로그램 개발과 그 효과를 확인하는 연구가 필요하다.

Keywords

Table 1. The Characteristics of Participants

SHGSCZ_2019_v20n2_593_t0001.png 이미지

Table 2. Analysis Experience Adaptation of North Korean Defectors in the South Korean Society

SHGSCZ_2019_v20n2_593_t0002.png 이미지

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