Article

Changes of Values of North Korean Defectors on Materialism, Collectivism, Individualism, Familism, and Gender Role Attitudes

Author

이순형, 진미정

Information

pp. 1~19 / 2006 Vol.13 No.3

Abstract

This study ascertains how political ideology influences the value systems of individuals by examining the cases of North Korean defectors who currently reside in South Korea. These individuals, who had lived under the two different political and social systems, experience the changes in their value system. Focusing on materialism, collectivism, individualism, familism, and patriarchal gender role attitudes, the study asked North Korean defectors to assess the changes in these domains after they had entered South Korea. Paired-t test and logistic regression were used for statistical analysis of the survey data obtained from 195 recent North Korean defectors. The results indicated that North Korean defectors\' subscription for these values, except for individualism, were much stronger when they were in North Korea than when they are in South Korea. Moreover, if they exited North Korea with their family or were married at that time, the level of their materialism were less likely to decrease after the defection. The longer they stayed in the third countries after the exit from North Korea, the less likely the level of their materialism and familism to decrease.

Keywords