Place attachment in relationship to ethnic identity reconstruction: the Korean adoptee's first visit home

Deborah Sue Napier

Place attachment research in academic and professional venues suggest that people's place attachment experiences inform a positive identity and enhance psychological well-being. From these emotional attachments, identity and dependence to a place augment the experience. In addition, place attachment to one's birth country implies an ethnic identity. Specifically this paper examines the relationship between place attachment and ethnic identity among adult Korean adoptees after their first trip back to their birth country. The specific cohort are Korean adoptees who were previously displaced from their birth country at a very young age. Surveyed individuals self reported place attachment experiences in relationship to natural, urban and cultural environments. Their recorded experiences suggest ways architects and interior designers may minimize the sense of ethnic separation and support ethnic identity reconstruction. Research for this paper was collected via an online survey. There were 451 participants from11 countries. The survey consisted of 9 sections and 29 questions. Questions explored demographics, information regarding the adoptee's formative years and family characteristics, the first visit expectation and experience, and urban and natural places visited. Efforts were made to identify their most memorable locations visited and those location's most memorable characteristics. The following sections explored place attachment experiences which were defined by place identity and place dependence frameworks. Finally, survey results did indicate how the trip contributed to the ethnic identity reconstruction for the adoptee. Adoptee self-documentation literature review and preliminary survey findings support the importance and meaning of specific memorable locations and cultural characteristics. Preliminary interpretation also supports a reciprocal relationship between place attachment experiences and the adult adoptee's ethnic identity reconstruction. From preliminary review, the adult adoptee's experience guide future research in designing for the displaced Korean adoptee child. Perhaps an example for incorporation into the young adoptee's living environment might be characteristics from the temples and palaces, such as vibrant colors, patterns, unique building materials and complexity. These qualities may enhance a Korean ethnic association for the young adoptee and from this ethnic identification, the young adoptee may feel proud and a sense of belonging to their previous culture, now thousands of miles away.

Place attachment in relationship to ethnic identity reconstruction: the Korean adoptee's first visit home

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