Symbolic ethnicity and alternative adaptation among North Korean refugees in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Prior research underscores the importance of shared group identity among migrants in their adaptation to the host society. For refugees, however, both home and host affiliations may not provide a viable collective identity. Drawing on survey and interview data with North Korean refugees in the United Kingdom, this study identifies struggles to maintain coherent ethnic orientation due to the trauma of displacement, lingering resentment toward the homeland, and perceived hostility from the host society. Findings reveal the enduring nature of refugeehood, where the emotional and symbolic consequences of initial displacement continue to shape their identities in profound and lasting ways. In response, some participants have developed an alternative pan-ethnic identity as “Korean” that transcends the traditional home–host dichotomy. The imagined identity allows them to claim cultural continuity and pride without fully aligning with any single national group, fostering psychosocial stability and promoting adaptive social relationships. These findings highlight the agency of refugees in forging new symbolic identities, illustrating their creative capacity to achieve adaptation in host societies.