Exploring cultural identity and perspectives of bicultural immigrants: a study on 1.5 and second generations of Koreans in Australia

Abstract

This study focused on the perceived cultural identity of Korean Australians, with the objective of explaining the factors that shape their perceptions and how they are perceived in both Australia and their country of origin, Korea. A total of 142 participants representing the 1.5 and second generations of Korean Australians completed an online survey. The survey results showed that this group of Korean Australians demonstrated a bicultural identity, which is widely regarded as the optimal cultural identity for second-generation immigrants in a multicultural society (Hamers, J., and M. Blanc. 1993. Bilinguality and Bilingualism. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.). It was observed that self-rated language proficiency exhibited significant correlations with both the Korean and Australian cultural identities. The age at immigration (AI) was significantly correlated only with their cultural identity as Australian. Responses concerning Australians' views toward Koreans and the attitudes of Koreans in Korea toward themselves or Korean Australians exhibited varied themes including both positive and negative sentiments, and ambivalence. These findings not only uniquely contribute to the understanding of Korean Australians but also emphasise the broader relevance of such dynamics within immigrant communities, showcasing the study’s potential impact on a wider spectrum of socio-cultural contexts and diverse immigrant populations.