The influence of Korean-Chinese on the Korean tourism industry through acculturation and adaptation using the medium of food

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of the Korean-Chinese on the development of the Korean tourism industry through acculturation, adaptation and assimilation into Korean culture using the medium of food. For this purpose, the researchers conducted in-depth interviews with Korean-Chinese migrants, Chinese nationals and Korean nationals. From the survey, the idea of a Korean-Chinese food culture street in Jayang-dong in eastern Seoul was born, and the impact of these migrants was perceived not as invisible but as a local reality. On the other hand, from the perspective of Koreans, evaluating Korean-Chinese ethnics is generally through a double standard. This means that their Korean ethnicity is Korean by bloodline, but it is categorized as Chinese by nationality and culture. Nevertheless, Korean ethnicity is a starting point for accepting the Korean-Chinese as members of Korean society using the medium of food.

KEYWORDS:

• Korean-Chinese
• international migration
• Seoul
• lamb skewer street

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Mina Jo, PhD, is an Associate professor of Hotel & Tourism division at the University of Suwon. She received her Master's Degree and Ph.D. in Food & Nutrition (Foodservice Management) from Yonsei University. Previously, she worked as a senior researcher at CJ Corporation and worked as an assistant professor in the Dep. of Foodservice Management at the Jeonju University. Her fields of study include foodservice management, Marketing Research.

Jaebin Cha, PhD, is an assistant professor of Health & Medical administration at the Kyungmin University, Uijeongbu, South Korea. He received Ph.D. in Business Administration (Marketing) from Kyung Hee University. Previously, he worked as a senior researcher at the Kyung Hee University Management Research Institute. His fields of study include Medical Tourism, Service Marketing, Marketing Research, and various projects related to Marketing.