The Effect of Higher Education on the Acculturation and Assimilation Processes of North Korean Defectors

Abstract

This thesis looks to identify (1) the central motivations for and against enrolling in higher education institutions as a North Korean defector and (2) the effect of higher education institutions on the acculturation and assimilation processes—or the cultural and economic adaptation—of North Korean defectors in South Korea. The qualitative analysis is based on data collected through 30 semi-structured interviews conducted with North Korean defectors with various higher education backgrounds. The major conclusions of the study are (1) that higher education institutions often provide defectors with formal or informal opportunities for achieving higher levels of acculturation and economic stability, (2) that intra-ethnic networks provide stronger professional support than weak ties with native South Koreans, and (3) that defectors’ lack of economic independence or academic experience can significantly undermine their higher education experience.