1.5 Generation Korean Diaspora

In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, this week's review brings together research on "1.5 generation" Koreans in the US and beyond

1.5 Generation Korean Diaspora: A Comparative Understanding of Identity, Culture, and Transnationalism

ed. by Jane Yeonjae Lee and Minjin Kim Lexington Books, 2021
210p, 9781793621115 $100.00, 9781793621122 $45.00

1.5 Generation Korean Diaspora: A Comparative Understanding of Identity, Culture, and Transnationalism book cover. Black background with white and yellow lettering. Drawing of a chameleon  on a multicolored globe.

Editors Lee (Kyung Hee Univ., South Korea) and Kim (Univ. of Cincinnati) bring together research on 1.5 generation Koreans who immigrated to the US, New Zealand, Canada, and Argentina as children. Recognizing that there is no universal definition of the 1.5 generation, the editors broadly describe this group as children born in their home country who immigrated to another country with their first-generation parents, making them not quite first- or second-generation Korean. Chapters analyze the unique and complex diversity of 1.5 generation Koreans by exploring multiple components of this group through interviews and ethnographic research. Some themes include ethnic identity negotiations, love and marriage, parenthood, health care, and Korean churches. The collection is divided into four sections: “Community, Identity, and Belonging”; “Family and Gender”; “Health and Well-Being”; and “Transnationalism and Entrepreneurship.” Each section analyzes how 1.5 generation Koreans’ upbringing shaped their identity and relationships. This volume fills a significant gap in the research on the 1.5 generation Korean diaspora and paves the way for further research on this topic. It will be a valuable resource for readers studying sociology and migration, particularly within the Korean diaspora.

Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels.
Reviewer: 
T. Chan, MIT Libraries
Interdisciplinary Subjects: Asian and Asian American Studies
Subject: Social & Behavioral Sciences
Choice Issue: Aug 2021


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