North Korean Refugee Women’s Consumption of South Korean TV Dramas and Movies

This study attempted to explore the ways in which North Korean refugee women consume South Korean media contents, and experience changes in the perception of women’s identity after watching South Korean media contents. Research Question 1 was set to observe characteristics of North Korean women’s consumption of South Korean TV dramas and films while applying the notion of cultural proximity. Research Question 2 was established to investigate how an experience of watching South Korean dramas and movies influences North Korean refugee women’s perception of women’s gender identity. This study is distinctive in two aspects; firstly it included the time prior to coming to South Korea and secondly, it used both quantitative and qualitative methods. The results showed that in the quantitative study, North Korean women enjoyed South Korean media products and also used dramas and movies as a means to learning about South Korean society. Qualitative analysis revealed more specific areas where the interviewees felt cultural differences from South Korea dramas and movies.