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http://dx.doi.org/10.5762/KAIS.2019.20.2.593

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

Kim, Mi Young (Department of Nursing, Kyungnam College of Imformation & Technology)
Byun, Eun Kyung (Department of Nursing, Kaya University)
Publication Information
Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society / v.20, no.2, 2019 , pp. 593-604 More about this Journal
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.
Keywords
Adaptation; Colaizzi; North Korean defectors; Qualitative research; South Korean society;
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