Being Korean and living in Korea

This paper investigates the effect of shared ethnic identity on social behaviors of marginalized populations by focusing on North Korean refugees in South Korea. The findings of a behavioral experiment conducted with North Korean refugees show that emphasizing the shared Korean identity promotes their integration in South Korea, despite considerable differences caused by seven-decade long separation between the two countries. Exposure to the shared identity with South Koreans increases North Korean refugees‘ trust, cooperation, confidence, and life satisfaction in South Korea. Furthermore, education and gender (female) are proposed as multiplying factors of strengthening the identity effect.