The Korean diaspora and belonging in the UK: identity tensions between North and South Koreans

Abstract

Previous studies of North Korean migrants and refugees in the UK have focused on labour issues, inter-Korean diaspora issues and how inter-Korean peninsula geopolitics affects North Korean integration in a third country such as the UK. This paper explains the role of identity formation in processes of belonging and integration for the North Korean group. This group is significant in the sense that the group shares strong beliefs in a unified Korean ethnicity with the South Korean diaspora, and yet comes from a specific Korean state that is territorially divided from the majority of Korean migrants who emigrate from South Korea. This tension creates a number of alternative scenarios regarding expectations of the relationship between national identity, diaspora politics and processes of belonging in a host nation.

Keywords:

• migration
• Korea
• diaspora
• UK
• North Koreans
• belonging

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by financial assistance from my institutions, Ajou University, Korea. I would also like to thank Steve Lee and the London Korean Church, Kingston, UK for their hospitality and assistance during my visits (February 2013). I would also like to thank Sang Park for her assistance.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. Nicholas Sarkozy joins David Cameron and Angela Merkel view that multiculturalism has failed. Daily Mail online, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1355961/Nicolas-Sarkozy-joins-David-Cameron-Angela-Merkel-view-multiculturalism-failed.html

2. Pyongyang University of Science and Technology: The University that could be the Trojan Horse of North Korea. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/the-university-that-could-become-the-trojan-horse-of-north-korea-9102852.html

3. Promoting English Language Teaching in the DPRK. https://www.gov.uk/government/world-location-news/promoting-english-language-teaching-in-the-dprk

4. Preparing for the Possibility of a North Korean Collapse. http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR300/RR331/RAND_RR331.pdf

5. Are Defectors Traitors?. JoongAng Daily, http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2953847

6. Phone Interview with North Korean NGO representative, Oxford, February 2013.

7. Hansard Debate North Korea. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201212/cmhansrd/cm120111/halltext/120111h0001.htm: Middlesbrough Ladies Footballers back in North Korea. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-11403994: ‘Interview with Daniel Gordon’ 38 North, http://38north.org/2011/05/gordonint052011/

8. Interview with representative from Open Door, Sangdo-dong, Seoul, 20 December 2012.

9. Phone Interviews and questionnaire feedbacks, NGO organizer, London and Oxford, 13–20 February 2013.