The role of ethnic-based churches in supporting Korean migrants and their communities

Abstract

Korean immigrant churches have a social function as well as a religious one, as Korean immigrants face many difficulties in the process of adjustment to a new society. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the role of ethnic-based churches in supporting Korean migrants and their communities in Auckland, New Zealand. This was done through a series of qualitative interviews with individuals fulfilling two different but complementary roles in ten Korean churches around Auckland: five pastors, and five pastors’ wives. A thematic approach was used to analyse the data as this method is widely used in order to identify, analyse and report patterns (themes) within data. Through analysis of the collected data, three major themes were identified: ‘providing social support’, ‘preserving Korean identity and culture’ and ‘being brokers for other services’. The findings from the study show that regardless of the size of churches, ethnic-based churches where the participants work provide official worship service, and social support. The majority of the participants revealed that social supports they provide were community programmes, settlement assistance, senior support groups for older Koreans in the Korean community including “Noin- daehaks” and “Pyungsengkyoeukone”, pastoral counselling, and fellowship. This study also explored the significant role in reproducing and reasserting important aspects of Korean identity and their home-country culture celebrating their traditional holidays and teaching the Korean language to their second generations. The Korean immigrant church also had a role in failing to overcome barriers to integration and inclusion into New Zealand mainstream society. This study identified the role of the Korean immigrant church as brokers or agents for other social services. The Korean church was the first contact place when Korean immigrants had problems and holistic intervention was provided for them when referrals were made. This study suggests that social workers need to understand the issues of faced by Korean migrants and their communities. Understanding issues with regard to Korean culture, their different worldviews, and the Korean language would be essential principles for social workers and it would provide more culturally appropriate services for the Korean ethnic groups and their families.