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The Pennsylvania State University The Graduate School Department of Learning and Performance Systems LEARNING LIVES OF YOUNG ADULT NORTH KOREAN DEFECTORS: IDENTITY RECONSTRUCTION WITHIN EVERYDAY LIFE A Dissertation in Lifelong Learning and Adult Education by Hyewon Park © 2016 Hyewon Park Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy December, 2016 ii The dissertation of Hyewon Park was reviewed and approved* by the following: Fred M. Schied Associate Professor of Education Dissertation Advisor Chair of Committee Davin J. Carr-Chellman Assistant Professor of Education Adnan Qayyum Assistant Professor of Education Soo-yong Byun Associate Professor of Education Susan M. Land Associate Professor of Education Director of Graduate Studies for the Department of Learning & Performance Systems *Signatures are on file in the Graduate School iii Abstract There has been a rapid increase in the number of North Korean defectors (NKDs) entering South Korea, and the remarkable trend of NKDs is their demographic transition; the defectors in their 20s and 30s now constitute a majority among NKDs in South Korea. In this sense, this study aims to explore North Korean young adult defectors’ (referred to here as “North Korean Millennials”; NKMs) identity reconstruction process within their daily activities in South Korea. Using Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) as a theoretical framework, this study provided the analysis of how NKMs interact with sociocultural and historical mediations, reconstructing their identity in particular within their daily life activities and how they learn from the activities. An ethnographic approach was used to examine 11 NKMs’ daily activities to reconstruct identity in the South. This study identified four activities of NKMs within their everyday life in the South for reconstructing identities: the adaptation activity, the enculturation activity, the self- development activity, and the reunification preparation activity. As the outcomes of the daily activities in this study, the NKM participants reconstructed their identity as the active learner, independent and confident person, scaffolding for next NKD generation, and mediator and contributor for preparing reunification. By establishing their identities and roles, they made plans and goals for their future life and career within the wide consideration of national development. This study concluded with academic and practical implications and suggestions. iv Table of Contents List of Tables ................................................................................................................................ vi List of Figures .............................................................................................................................. vii Chapter 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 1 Coming to the Question ............................................................................................................ 1 Statement of the Problem .......................................................................................................... 4 Purpose of the Study and Research Questions .......................................................................... 7 Definitions of Terms ................................................................................................................. 9 North Korean Millennials (NKMs) ..................................................................................... 9 Activities ........................................................................................................................... 10 Objects .............................................................................................................................. 10 Contradictions ................................................................................................................... 10 Overview of Dissertation ........................................................................................................ 11 Chapter 2 Literature Review ..................................................................................................... 12 Overview of North Korean Defectors ..................................................................................... 12 The Process of Defection .................................................................................................. 12 Resettlement in South Korea ............................................................................................ 14 Challenges of NKDs in South Korea ................................................................................ 15 The Present Condition of NKDs in South Korea .............................................................. 18 North Korean Millennials ................................................................................................. 19 Differences between Adult North Koreans and North Korean Millennials ...................... 20 Understanding Identity ............................................................................................................ 22 The Intrinsic Features of Identity ...................................................................................... 23 Critical Review of the Literature on Identity in Adult Education .................................... 26 Sociocultural Perspectives on Identity Construction ........................................................ 29 Comparative Case: Identity Issues in The German Precedent .......................................... 31 Chapter 3 Theoretical Framework ............................................................................................ 35 Cultural-Historical Activity Theory as the Theoretical Framework ....................................... 35 Activity Systems ............................................................................................................... 36 Three Generations of Development .................................................................................. 39 Contradictions ................................................................................................................... 45 Learning in CHAT .................................................................................................................. 48 Chapter 4 Research Design ........................................................................................................ 52 Ethnographic Approach .......................................................................................................... 52 Methodological Appropriateness ...................................................................................... 52 Data Collection ....................................................................................................................... 54 Sampling and Recruitment ................................................................................................ 54 Participants Profiles .......................................................................................................... 56 Building Rapport with NKMs ........................................................................................... 60 Collecting Data ................................................................................................................. 62 Researcher Identity ................................................................................................................. 72 v Data Analysis .......................................................................................................................... 74 Chapter 5 Findings ..................................................................................................................... 77 The Early Activities of NKMs for Identity Reconstruction .................................................... 80 The Adaptation Activity ................................................................................................... 80 The Enculturation Activity ............................................................................................... 87 Contradictions in the Early Activities ..................................................................................... 90 Different Sociocultural and Historical Backgrounds ........................................................ 92 Structural Malfunction of Government System ................................................................ 99 Contradictory Situations Living as a NKD in South Korean Society ............................. 101 Learning and Identity Reconstruction in the Early Activities .............................................. 110 Learning South Korean Social Culture ........................................................................... 111 Establishing Strategies to Be Well Adjusted .................................................................. 112 Changing the Ways of Social Interaction ....................................................................... 115 Expanding the Perspectives on Life ................................................................................ 118 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 124 The Latter Activities of NKMs for Identity Reconstruction ................................................. 126 The Self-development Activity ......................................................................................