“Who Are Us and Them Today?” Dynamics of Korean Migrant Identity revealed via an Online Social Movement in Germany

Abstract

The nature of Koreans’ migration to Germany has become increasingly diverse over the decades, encompassing varying age groups, purposes, socioeconomic statuses, and durations of stay. This process aligns with the concept of “superdiversity” in the landscape of international migration, eliciting the complex sociocultural transformations that lead to dynamic shifts in group identity. The paper aims to present a contemporary overview of Korean migrants’ identity in Germany by examining a 2019 online social movement sparked by one German company’s discriminatory television advertisement. Focus is on internal contestation over defining who the “us” are in Germany, shedding light on why a clear divide between nationalist and transnationalist identities manifested on two respective social media platforms. Thematic analysis of the online debates occurring among Koreans reveals the complex nature of group-identity formation through the five stages of the movement’s lifespan, with members of each community simultaneously navigating historical and sociopolitical issues in Korea, Japan, and Germany alike. Findings resonate with numerous studies on intergroup conflict within migrant communities, particularly over the values respectively upheld by older and younger people of shared origins. Migrant identities are thus multifaceted and context-dependent, being shaped by interaction with various sociocultural groups. Ultimately, the importance of considering “superdiversity” a central framework for grasping the complexities of contemporary migrant experiences and identities is emphasized.