‘탈북자’에서 ‘사회적 가장’으로: ‘젠더화된 초국적 이주’의 관점에서 살펴 본 영국 거주 북한이주남성들의 이주 경험과 사회 활동의 의미

This paper examines the migration experiences of North Korean migrant men who have re-immigrated to Britain via South Korea from the perspective of ‘gendered transnational migration.’ The research results are as follows. First, North Korean immigrant men signified their re-migration as a plan to overcome life crises experienced as men/heads of family in South Korean society and to change their family status. Second, they judged that by moving to British society, they were able to function reliably as breadwinners and thus play a minimal role as ‘head of household.’ Third, this self-assessment and New Malden’s special locational characteristics have led them to various ‘social activities.’ Combining the cultural elements of North Korea and the hegemonic masculinity of the U.K., these ‘social activities’ can be regarded as both the achievement of their transnational migration and attempts to construct their identity as valuable and respected men.