Ethnic identity of children from multicultural families in the Global South: Korean-Vietnamese adolescents in Vietnam

Abstract

This study explores the ethnic identity of Korean-Vietnamese adolescents in Vietnam, focusing on the role of multicultural family dynamics and broader societal factors. Interviews with 11 adolescents and seven parents show that despite being raised in Vietnam, many adolescents maintain strong Korean identity, influenced by the Korean immigrant community and transnational connections to South Korea. From Vietnam’s perspective, this trend signifies a separation from mainstream society, whereas South Korea may view it as preliminary or mediated assimilation, suggesting these multiethnic adolescents are assimilating into Korean society in anticipation of potentially relocating there, using the immigrant community as a transitional space. This paper builds upon the working paper “Ethnic Identity of Korean-Vietnamese Adolescents Living in Vietnam: A Qualitative Study with an Ecological Approach,” (2023) originally published in Korean through the Migration Research and Training Centre (MRTC).

Keywords

Global South multicultural family multiethnic adolescent ethnic identity north-south international migration

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