Lately, as a considerable number of foreigners reside concentrating in certain places in response to the increase in foreign workers in our country, the areas densely populated with foreigners are formed, resulting in our country being recognized as m...
Lately, as a considerable number of foreigners reside concentrating in certain places in response to the increase in foreign workers in our country, the areas densely populated with foreigners are formed, resulting in our country being recognized as multi-cultural society. Such phenomenon is becoming known through mass media(TV, radio, magazines) or becoming social issues through studies. But those areas overpopulated by foreigners haven't come to public notice fully yest. Especially, although the areas overpopulated with foreigners are isolated from Korean and spatial alienation exist in those area, the study on such phenomena is in beginning stage being inadequate and slanting toward theories. Accordingly, this study aims to conduct empirical analysis to find out what things are happening in the areas in a compact mass with foreigners.
This researcher confirmed public awareness of the areas densely populated with foreigners, and the factors have brought such areas into being , and what are their correlation. First, I looked into the concept of the areas densely populated with foreigners and then sought for if Korean and foreigners are aware of it differently through the consideration of the theories and previous studies. Documentary research and on-the-spot survey were referred to figure out the forming process of the areas and their major environment & facilities and managerial policies. Then, prepared an analysis frame to find out the differences in place-cognition between Korean and Chinese. As the next step, this researcher conducted questionnaire for the Korean, Chinese visitors to those areas & the people residing there to see the traits of Korean, Chinese respondents residing in the areas, their purpose to visit there & traits to use facilities and their differences in perceiving the images of the areas, and then confirmed through the statistical analysis on the collected data from the questionnaire that Korean and Chinese are obviously different, and continued analyzing on the factors forming the areas only for their own, on how such factors being related to facilities use and images.
Following are the extracted results from such process.
First, there exist the differences in Korean and Chinese residing in Wongok-dong multi cultural special zone in perceiving places. Most respondents in the area were Chinese, and as for Korean, no one but the workers for commercial facilities responded. Commuting to the work or to school were the biggest purpose of the Korean to visit here which means they just go through here. On the other hand, Chinese visits were confirmed as ' homesickness' and activities for livlihood indicating that Chinese are affected grately by mental factors like feeling, emotion etc.
Second, Korean and Chinese showed differences in the frequency of using facilities in Wongok-dong multi cultural special area and their images about the area. Most Korean were not using the facilities in the area despite they are residing there, while Chinese were using all the facilities no matter whether they are residents or visitors.
Besides, Korean had negative images on the facilities such as 'unstable', 'dirty', 'unfamiliar', 'unaccustomed', while Chinese had positive images such as convenient', 'comfortable', accustomed', familiar. The difference in the frequency of using the facilities in Wongok-dong multi-cultural special zone and their images to Korean and Chinese proved obviously that the area is isolated from Korean.
Third, the factors that Chines have formed Wongok-dong
multi-cultural special zone turned out to be four of them such as 'culture. commerce factors', 'activity factor', 'physical environment factor', 'communication factor. Physical factor as well as activity factor and communication factor were turn out to be positive perception for Chinese seeing from the correlation between such factors and the number of using the facilities in the area.
The synthesised analysis results tells that Korean have negative image on the area filled with foreigners isolating it, while Chinese obtain mental tranquillity here for relieving homesickness & communication. What it implies is the need of amalgamation along with understanding of social, cultural diversity and the factors inherent in it.
The significance of this study lies in objectifying the study on the area densely populated with foreigners through empirical analysis on spatial basis instead of limiting it to theoretical analysis which has been dominant till now, and identifying what the areas stand for.