Occupational experiences of Korean immigrants settling in New Zealand

ABSTRACT

For Korean immigrants, settling in New Zealand is challenging and stress-inducing. There is growing concern that feelings of alienation and loss seem to be key features in their lives. Taking the symbolic interactionism perspective that people interpret a situation through social interaction, the purpose of this study was to explore how Korean immigrants interact with their new environment, whilst re-negotiating their reality. A grounded theory methodology was employed as it places participants’ actions at the centre of its attention. Semi-structured interviews and field observations were conducted to collect information from 25 participants who lived in the North Island of New Zealand. Data were analysed using methods of constant comparison, conditional matrix and memoing. The resultant substantive grounded theory was Regaining Control: A Journey of Valuing Self. It offers one plausible explanation of how Korean immigrants make choices about their occupations by opting to enact ‘Korean Ways’ and ‘New Zealand Ways’ until they reach a place where they will once again feel valued as members of civic society. Through increasing understanding of the impact of immigration on occupations, this study contributes to knowledge of the diversity of human experiences in the occupational science literature.

对于韩国移民来说，在新西兰定居充满着挑战性并给他们带来压力。人们越来越担心，异化和失落感似乎是他们生活中的重要特征。从象征性互动主义的角度来看，人们通过社交互动来解释境况。这项研究的目的是探讨韩国移民如何与他们的新环境互动，从而重新审视他们的现实。我们采用了基础理论法，因为它把参与者的行动作为其关注的焦点。我们进行了半结构式访谈和实地观察，从25个居住在新西兰北岛的人处收集资料。我们使用常数比较法、条件矩阵法和笔记法对这些数据进行了分析。所得到的实质性基础理论是重获控制权：评价自我的旅程。它提供了这样一个合理的解释。 韩国移民选择其休闲活动的方式是：他们实施“韩式”和“新西兰式”，直到他们重新感受到自己被作为文明社会的成员而受重视。通过增加移民对休闲活动的影响的认识，这项研究增加了休闲科学文献中关于人类经历的多样性的认知。

KEYWORDS:

• grounded theory
• immigration
• Korean immigrants
• meaning
• occupational perspective
• symbolic interactionism

Acknowledgements

We sincerely thank the participants who entrusted us with their experiences of living in New Zealand. The study was funded with support from The Korea Foundation and Auckland University of Technology.

ORCID

Hagyun Kim http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4705-5549

Clare Hocking http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0364-5157