Case Study on Communication Behaviors of North Korean Refugees in Korean Society: Focused on Intercultural Sensitivity
This study embraces the viewpoint that intercultural sensitivity can be efficiently increased by accepting the communication behaviors(CB) of different groups which are closely related to the components of world views. This study is to examine the CB of North Korean refugees with South Korean people in terms of intercultural sensitivity. It surveyed six North Korean refugees who could share their broad experience of CB. The results show that the participants experienced harsh communication behaviors caused by the dichotomous views, and the stereotypes due to the political impact in denial and defense stages of ethnocentrism. Although the CB based on human empathy in minimization stage was experienced, this situation was made when they tried concealing their origin or putting down their self-esteem. Also, in this stage their revealing the North Korean way of CB inadvertently caused misunderstandings and conflicts. Finally, based on the research findings, this study suggests some ways to accept the CB of North Korean refugees in terms of increasing intercultural sensitivity.