재미 한인의 세대 인식에 관한 연구: 관계적·맥락적 세대 구분을 중심으로

초록

The purpose of this study is to examine how Korean Americans, particularly 1.5 and 2nd generation identity self and other Korean Americans in terms of generation. Interviews with 17 Korean Americans revealed that 2nd gen. identity 1st gen as those who received education in Korea and came to the US as adults, and 1.5 as those who understands both Korean and American languages and cultures. 2nd gen also identified 1.5 as those “in-between” generation who belong to neither cultural group, yet mentally closer to 1st gen then 2nd gen. Current study also found that, to 2nd gen participants, ways in which others communicate with them (i.e., attitudes, language skills, open-mindedness) were important indicators in determining others’ generations rather than the age of immigration or birth country. For 1.5 gen. years of residence, legal status and whom they communicate with were found to influence self-avowed identity; and for young Korean Americans, location of residence, ethnic/racial composition of their community/city also influenced their self-avowed identity. Findings show that avowed cultural identity is not a fixed status yet continues to shift even as adults; and that social interaction is an important factor in ascribing identity to other Korean Americans, especially to 2nd gen Korean Americans.

키워드