Communication Experiences of North Korean Defectors in Los Angeles: An
Abstract
The present study is to explore the communication and adjustment experiences of North Korean defectors in the U.S. Based on Y.Y. Kim’s integrative cross-cultural adaptation theory (2001), we examine communication-related difficulties, interpersonal networks, and overall psychological health vis-à-vis an unfamiliar host environment. In-depth personal interviews were conducted with four North Korean defectors who lived in South Korea and now living in L.A. in April and May, 2014. The results show that the North Korean defectors faced difficulties and challenges such as language distance, different cultural norms, and discrimination in their adjustment to the South Korean immigrant community in L.A. In addition, their interaction patterns show two different types of relationships including networks with South Korean immigrants and networks with North Korean defectors. The present study confirms that language competence of North Koreans was an important factor in determining their comfort level in the U.S.