Document Type

Honors Thesis

Abstract

This project examined the acculturation of the Korean diaspora in Texas, focusing on how the diasporic group shapes intercultural interactions. Drawing from the concepts of Berry’s acculturation model and diasporic histories, the study explored how Korean immigrants navigate identity, cultural adaptation, and social belonging in Texas. Employing a visual analysis methodology, a coding framework identified recurring themes and symbolic representations of the acculturation of the Korean diaspora. Ninety-nine images were collected based on three groups: business group, church group, and women's group. By categorizing denotative and connotative themes, this study searched for implicit and explicit meanings embedded within portrayals of Korean immigrants and populations. The results showed that the acculturation of the Korean diaspora in Texas relied on an integration strategy of acculturation; a dynamic negotiation influenced by both intra and iv intercultural factors. This study contributes to broader discussions on diaspora and identity in shaping intercultural experiences.

Disciplines

Organizational Communication

Publication Date

5-2025

Faculty Mentor of Honors Project

Karishma Chatterjee

Comments

I am grateful to my God for his grace and guidance throughout the journey. I give glory to God. I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. Chatterjee, not only as my mentor professor but also for motivating me to engage in my studies at UTA. I also thank two librarians for helping me with my research. My Oak family and friends gave me the inspiration and power to do this project. My study at UTA would not be possible without the support of my parents, Kwang Moon Chang and Yumi Choi.

License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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