This thesis examines three questions: (1) how have Chosŏnjok migrant brides in Korea experienced their identity transformations? ; (2) why have the majority of them reinforced ‘Chinese’ identity in Korea? ; and (3) what is the genuine meaning of their feeling ‘Chinese’ in Korea? In answering these questions, this research is based on in-depth interviews with twenty-two Chosŏnjok migrant brides in Korea.
The identities of Chosŏnjok migrant brides in Korea can be categorized into six different types (‘Korean’, ‘Chinese’, ‘Korean Chinese’, ‘neither Korean nor Chinese’, flexible/situational identity and cosmopolitan identity). The majority of them, however, have reinforced ‘Chinese’ identity. Their identity transformation experiences are dependent on: (1) their backgrounds in China; (2) living experiences in Korea; (3) future plans (e.g. in which country to settle down); and (4) different perspectives towards their being Chosŏnjok.
Their reinforcing ‘Chinese’ identity in Korea is resulted by their negative experiences in Korea (economic marginalization, socio-cultural alienation and discriminative legal policies), as well as the centripetal force of China (nostalgia towards China, family network in China, surging power of China in global community, its assimilation policy towards Chosŏnjok, and newly revived Zhonghua nationalism).
Their ‘Chinese’ identity, no matter how defensive and strong it might be, cannot be exactly same as the ‘Chinese’ identity of Han-Chinese. It is because Chosŏnjok are ethnically, politically, emotionally and culturally different from Han-Chinese. Thus, on the basis of the constructivist theory of identity formations, and the distinctiveness of Chosŏnjok migrant brides in Korea, I have the following hypotheses on the meaning of their ‘Chinese’ identity: (1) it is a reactionary identity with which they express their disappointment towards their co-ethnics in Korea; (2) it is a dual identity which includes their being ‘Korean’ regardless of their emphasis on ‘Chineseness’; and (3) it is a flexible identity which can change depending on situation and needs.
