From Korean Wave (Hallyu) to Colonial Memory: The Transgenerational Reconnection of Zainichi Korean Youth

The unprecedented global Korean Wave (Hallyu) sensation has not only transformed the world's perception of Korea but also significantly influenced the lives of the overseas Korean diaspora. This study aims to explain the "transgenerational impact of the Korean Wave in Japan on the ethnic identity of the emerging generation of Zainichi Koreans" through in-depth interviews with third and fourth-generation Zainichi Koreans in their twenties. Approximately 600,000 Koreans remained in Japan after the Japanese colonial period, becoming known as Zainichi, and faced severe racial discrimination and social exclusion. Although overt discrimination gradually diminished, pervasive social stigmas persisted, leading many to naturalize as Japanese nationals or assimilate into mainstream Japanese society, employing passing strategies to obscure their ethnic markers. Since the 2010s, however, the Korean Wave phenomenon, particularly resonant among Japanese youth, has redefined the perception of Koreanness, transforming it from a symbol of stigma into one of prestige. This positive shift in social perception has enabled Zainichi youth to internalize their ethnic identity as a positive trait rather than a source of social stigma and, unlike previous generations, gain positive recognition from peer groups. These experiences have led them to explore their ethnic roots and reconnect with ancestral heritage. They have studied the Korean language and culture, participated in community events, and sometimes communicated directly with their first-generation ancestors in Korean to learn about their Family and Ethnic Narratives. Through these processes, Zainichi youth have developed a transgenerational understanding of their historical positionality, which sharply contrasts with their parent's generation, who predominantly chose assimilation and passing in response to the discriminatory Japanese society. These findings indicate that the ethnic identity of diaspora descendants is not merely assimilated or weakened over time but can evolve differently from the previous generation through cultural triggers, leading to reconnection and a renewed understanding of identity.