Transnational Belonging of Bangladeshi Migrants in South Korea

Md Golam Hafiz

Chonnam National University, South Korea

Abstract

This study aims to examine transnational belonging among Bangladeshi migrants in South Korea. The results showed that Bangladeshi migrants in South Korea have strong transnational belonging to their homeland. The highest degrees of transnational belonging were found to be a motherhood-like relationship with their homeland, in the category of autographical belonging; talking in their native language and eating traditional food in the area of cultural originality belonging; watching Bangladeshi television in cultural entertainment belonging; taking care of families who stay in the homeland in economic livelihood belonging; saving money for future wellbeing in economic financial belonging; feeling proud of being a Bangladeshi citizen in legal psychological belonging; and feeling secure as a Bangladeshi citizen in legal safety and security belonging. Transnational belonging to the homeland varies more by present occupation, visa status, and reason for migration, while labor migrants who hold E9 visas and migrants who migrated for economic reasons showed stronger transnational economic livelihood belonging and economic finance belonging. This study suggests subsequent studies to compare transnational belonging of various migrant groups through sampling based on socio-demographic factors.

Keywords:

Bangladeshi migrant, international migration, Bangladesh, South Korea, transnational belonging

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Biographical Note

Md Golam Hafiz received Ph.D. in International Studies from Chonnam National University, South Korea. His research interests include cultural anthropology, diaspora, international migration, political sociology, and transnationalism. E-mail: mghafiz.bd@gmail.com