• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.187-210
• /
• 2005

The acculturation of ethnic minorities is an increasingly important issue. This paper explores the role of two factors which may be related to Asian Americans' development of preferences for ethnic or non-ethnic shopping: level of acculturation and susceptibility to interpersonal influence. Several prior studies have found that strength of ethnic identification (a measure of level of acculturation) accounts for differences in consumption patterns among immigrant groups. The results of this study suggest that ethnic identification is not a unidimensional construct. Instead, two construct, ethnic identification and consumer socialization are found to be relatedto the level of influence exerted by culturally consistent in-group than "American." A strong positive relationship is found between ethnic identifi.cation and ethnocentric purchasing preferences. In contrast, no significant direct relationship between level of.consumer socialization and ethnocentric preferences is found. Implications for marketers are discussed.

• International Journal of Human Ecology
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.45-54
• /
• 2008

This study examines the influence of acculturation level and ethnic groups as a fashion reference group on Korean-American consumer attitude toward luxury fashion brands. Of interest is the role of Korean culture, which emphasizes luxury brand consumption due to the Confucion value of 'face', on Korean-American attitudes toward luxury brands. Data were collected from 108 young Korean-Americans living in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and multiple regressions were conducted for the analysis. In general, the respondents had relatively negative attitudes toward luxury fashion brands. Even though the acculturation level did not have a significant influence, attitudes toward luxury fashion brands were influenced by Korean reference groups. Age at immigration did not have a significant relationship with attitudes toward luxury brands. Korean-Americans who maintain ties with Korean culture are more likely to have a positive attitude towards luxury fashion, regardless of familarity with American culture.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.153-172
• /
• 2012

The purpose of this study was to find out cultural differences and types of adjustments made in response to the differences between married female immigrants and Korean men of multicultural families. The data were collected by in-depth interviews with 15 female immigrants and 5 Korean men. The major findings of this study were as follows : The female participants experienced cultural differences between Korea and their country in the areas of living culture, stereotyped gender role, and family's cultural traits. The male participants reported cultural differences in terms of the economic supports provided to the wife's family. The types and strategies of acculturation were as follows : adjusting themselves to the spouse's cultural type, the couple's mutual acceptance of the other's cultural type, and female participants resignation to accept help from their husband. The types of acculturation to the cultural differences based on couples' personal efforts and hard work invested into acculturation and the support from their family and society. The results of the study supported that multicultural families' perception of cultural differences and types of adjustment originited from their own experiences and cultural background.

• The International Journal of Costume Culture
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.85-96
• /
• 2005

The purposes of this study were to examine young women's fashion and their values in South Korea in the 1970s and to explore the dynamics of how the changes in values affected fashion. Fifteen Korean women who were college students in the 1970s were interviewed. With industrialization and acculturation to Western customs in the 1970s, Korean women's fashion reflected the permeation of new ideas and behaviors into the culture. New ideas of 'pursuing a career' or 'gaining professional success' rooted in the women's movement were most important and were reflected in the prevalence of casual and comfortable styles. However, 'having a good husband and being a good wife' was also important. In addition to the transition in gender roles, Korea was fast moving from a collectivist to an individualistic society and underwent the process of melding traditional and newly-adopted values in their acculturation to the West. This study helps us better understand Korea's acculturation process through dress and the dynamics involved between fashion and value changes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
• /
• v.28 no.12 s.138
• /
• pp.1545-1553
• /
• 2004

This study assumes a bidimensional model of acculturation theory in order to understand the acculturation patterns of Korean-Americans and their fashion and shopping behavior. Bidimensional models of acculturation suggest that acculturating individuals may possess the components of both the heritage culture and the new, host culture. A combination of email and paper and pencil surveys was conducted with a convenience sample of Korean-Americans who are living in Seattle and vicinity area (n=108). The questionnaire included questions related to the respondents' and their parents' demographic information, the respondents perceived relationship with their parents, self-reported ethnic identification, ethnicity-related behaviors/attitudes, clothing involvement, shopping motivations, and fashion reference groups. The results support the bidimensional models of acculturation process as opposed to the linear model. Three different groups among Korean-Americans based on their ethnic identification pattern were found: a group with dominant Korean identity(Segregation group), a group with dominant American identity(Assimilation group), and a group with dual identity(Integration group). According to the results of MANOVA and subsequent Duncan and Scheffe tests, the Integration group showed distinct characteristics from Segregation group or Assimilation group, in terms of their ethnicity-related behaviors/attitudes, clothing involvement, shopping motivations, and fashion reference group influence.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.121-145
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this study is to understand married female immigrants' life adjustment process in Korea by explaining the resources to which they have access and how they use them. The data were collected through in-depth interviews with ten female participants who have more than one child, have participated in programs of the multicultural family support center, have work experience, can communicate with Koreans, and live in Daegu. The major findings are as follows. The participants' personal resources differed. English language skills were very useful resources for making money and for earning the respect of family members and others. However, the participants without English language skills had sincerely and actively tried to learn the Korean language and gain bilingual competence. The participants obtained diverse family resources from their husbands and parents-in-law after adapting themselves to perform their gender role. Further, the participants used the social resources offered by public support systems as a starting point for learning the Korean language in their early adaptation process, and formed personal networks with staff members at the multicultural family support center. The results show that the participants used many kinds of resources for acculturation by interacting positively with their environment. Moreover, the resources from diverse levels of their environments affected their acculturation process.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
• /
• v.48 no.2
• /
• pp.328-349
• /
• 2024

In the last decade, Korean culture has progressively facilitated the assimilation of appearance-related norms established by modern Korean society among young generations in Vietnam. Of note, Vietnamese consumers residing in Korea, under the influence of diverse sociocultural factors, are aligning themselves with an ideal standard of Korean beauty through cultural adaptation. This study explores how Vietnamese students internalize Korean beauty standards and the resultant negative behavioral reactions. We investigated the effects of sociocultural pressures (media, in-group, and out-group pressure) on risky appearance management and irrational purchase behavior by mediating sociocultural internalization toward appearance. We tested how the mechanism underlying these variables differs based on how long one has resided in Korea. A total of 213 female participants were surveyed online. The research model was tested using structural equation modeling through AMOS 22.0. The findings show that media and out-group pressure significantly increased sociocultural internalization, which led to consumer behavior in the form of risky appearance management and irrational purchases. The influence of internalization on consumption behavior was stronger for short-term residents of Korea. This study contributes to the literature on acculturation by investigating how foreign consumers accept the host country's ideal beauty standards.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.29-38
• /
• 2020

Purpose: Understanding which product types of overseas travel (free independent travel vs. package travel) consumers will choose is one of the key issues of marketing and consumer behavior in travel agency management. Prior studies on overseas travel type preferences mainly focused on comparing regional differences (e.g., Asian vs. Westerner, or Korean vs. Australian, or Korean vs. Japanese, or American, French, Italian vs. Japanese) influencing the choice of overseas travel type. Another researchers focused on comparing cultural differences (e.g., individualism vs. collectivism, or individualistic culture vs. collectivistic culture), subcultural difference (e.g., acculturation; Koreans living in Republic of Korea vs. Koreans living in Australia), travel lifestyle, and socio-demographics (e.g., age, gender, income level, education level, marital status, occupation etc.). However, there are few studies that identify individual psychological differences (i.e., individual psychological differences within the same culture) influencing the choice of overseas travel type. Self-construal is a psychological factors that greatly influences choice behavior. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of self-construal as an antecedent variable influencing choice of overseas travel product type. Research design, data and methodology: To achieve the purpose of this study, the questionnaire survey method was used. Self-construal items composed of independent self-construal items and interdependent self-construal items. Product types of overseas travel were free independent travel (FIT) type versus package travel type. In this study, the correlation coefficient between independent self-construal and interdependent self-construal was nonsignificant. It meant that the relationship between independent self-construal and interdependent self-construal was orthogonal. Therefore it was analyzed that independent self-construal and interdependent self-construal separately. Reliability analysis, factor analysis, and logistic regression analysis (controlling gender and age) was used as the data analysis method. Results: According to the results of this study, the stronger independent self-construal, the more preference for the free independent travel type rather than package travel, and the stronger interdependent self-construal, the more preference for the package travel type rather than free independent travel. Conclusions: Self-construal is an antecedent variable influencing the choice of travel type. Travel agencies must consider the consumer's self-construal (independent self-construal vs. interdependent self-construal) before planning and designing overseas travel products.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
• /
• v.24 no.1 s.79
• /
• pp.159-179
• /
• 2006

Each ethnic group has different cultural backgrounds and each culture has developed with its own traditions. The interaction between different cultures is getting more active through acculturation and cultural contacts. The purpose of this study was to compare domestic living of Korean immigrants with Australians in the form of a Cross-Cultural study. For this, usage of domestic space and seating style of 52 Korean households and 53 Australian households in Melbourne were analyzed. Ethnographic research with questionnaire was used. The results of the research were as follows. 1. The most popular type of Living-Dining-Kitchen arrangement was L+ K. D for Koreans and L. D . K for Australians. 2. A laundry room was indispensable for both and they all wanted to do ironing in there as well as dry. Both were satisfied with the type which toilet was separated from the bathroom Drain hole on the floor of the bathroom was not indispensable for most Koreans and Australians. 3. Koreans and Australians were doing various activities in living area and both were getting together around kitchen(dining) area. The particular thing of Koreans was that they were using the main bedroom with multiple purpose. 4. The seating style of Koreans and Australians belong to chair-seating style generally. But Koreans were using floor seating style in making bed for the guest and making Kimchi. Koreans and Australians were using mixed style of floor seating and chair-seating in relaxing time with watching TV, treating guest or so. 5. Koreans were not satisfied with using carpet cause of dust but Australians were satisfied with the carpet cause of warmness. 6. Most Koreans and Australians were take off shoes inside of the house. Koreans were organize shoes around the front door of the house usually and Australians were organize shoes in bedroom usually. 7. The most popular heating system was ducted heating for both. The level of satisfaction about ducted heating was low for Koreans because they though that it could contaminate air. Australians were satisfied with ducted heating because they though that this one was fit on the weather of this area. 8. Living room was the most important one for Koreans and Australians and they also thought it should be decorated well for entertaining guests. Most Koreans were estimate that the brightness of the light of the house was not enough but it was estimated to moderate for Australians on the contrary.