Multigenerational Approaches to Cultural Capital in South Korea

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the significance of a multigenerational perspective on the (re)production of cultural capital in South Korea, where social stratification is increasingly entrenched, and to propose qualitative methods as an approach. First, through an extensive literature review, we outline the rationale for employing the multigenerational mobility model and examine how cultural capital is addressed within this framework, reconstructing it as a theoretical resource. This perspective acknowledges background factors such as social institutions and demographic processes that shape patterns of inequality across generations. It also provides a comprehensive understanding of the ‘lagged effect’ and ‘cumulative advantages and disadvantages’ inherited from ancestors, along with direct resource transmission. While the multigenerational model underscores cultural capital as a hidden pathway to social reproduction, its manifestations in studies vary. Cultural capital, often in conjunction with education and other class-related indicators, can serve as a possible path for the ‘grandparent effect,’ where grandparents directly influence their grandchildren. It can also function as family culture, acting as a "toolbox" for formulating action strategies that impact social mobility, akin to norms and reference frames. We argue that while most multigenerational mobility research relies predominantly on statistical analysis, the mechanisms by which cultural capital operates across generations are more effectively illuminated through qualitative data and methods, particularly through an examination of rich narratives from actual actors. Finally, we discuss the unique characteristics of Korean society that create a fertile environment for multigenerational research on cultural capital, emphasizing the historical context of ‘compressed modernization’ and the prioritization of family community and education. Representative cases of in-depth interviews conducted with a diverse range of Koreans are also presented.