Redefining Adaptation through the Perspective of Latin American Return Migrants from South Korea

Keywords: Return Migration, Migrants, Adaptation, Latin America, South Korea
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Saturday
Session Start / End Time: 2/26/2022 09:40 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/26/2022 11:00 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 58

Abstract

The present research seeks to reflect on the concept of migrant adaptation as a relational discourse through the case study of Latin American return migrants who previously lived in South Korea. This qualitative study relies primarily on in-depth interviews with said migrants to describe how they perceived their own experiences and time spent in South Korean society after having had time to reflect, as well as how they are now coping with the unexpected changes that occurred after their return to their countries of origin. With a declining and aging native population, the South Korean government has aimed to attract high skilled immigrants to the country. Though most Latin Americans migrants in South Korea are higher educated and skilled, many ultimately end up returning to their countries of origin or migrating to a third country, citing acculturation experiences as a main push-factor. Immigrant adaptation and the patterns of acculturation have been extensively studied within the field of Geography, and other disciplines. However, these previous studies give the impression that adaptation is a clear-cut process with an (un)successful end. In contrast, through the unique perspective of Latin American return migrants, this study argues that adaptation is a process that is neither finite nor measurable in terms of success or failure, but rather, is a constantly free-flowing and ongoing process of diverse scales.