북한이탈주민의 남한 문화 적응을 위한 전략적 수단으로서 의복의 역할과 정체성 재구성과의 관계

Abstract

This study analyze the role of clothing as a strategic means to improve North Korean defectors' cultural adjustment in South Korea from a detailed, everyday life point of view and discusses the aspects of reconstruction of their self-identity during this adjustment process. For this, 10 North Korean defectors in their 20-40's were selected through snowball sampling. The data was collected by in-depth and semi-structured interviews and analyzed with multiple case approach. The results showed that some North Korean defectors perceive themselves as superior to South Koreans in clothing-related cultural contexts or conceive of themselves as special individuals through the realization of their unique appearance. The results also found that there were cases of construction of flexible identity by selective reception of South Korean fashion style, the pursuit of individual character, and cases where a self-defensive identity formed through passive and restrictive reception of South Korean clothing culture. Furthermore, the results revealed subjects’ resistive attitudes toward South Koreans' attire while still observing North Korean convention and clothing norms. The results of this study will potentially help the development of socio-cultural programs or social networks which can contribute to North Koreans' cultural adjustment through the use of clothing.