Korean, Asian, or American?

The Identity, Ethnicity, and Autobiography of Second-Generation Korean American Christians

Jacob Yongseok Young

The voices of second-generation Korean Americans echo throughout the pages of this book, which is a sensitive exploration of their struggles with minority, marginality, cultural ambiguity, and negative perceptions. Born in the United States, they are still viewed as foreigners because of their Korean appearance. Raised in American society, they are still tied to the cultural expectations of their Korean immigrant parents. While straddling two cultures, these individuals search for understanding and attempt to rewrite their identity in a new way. Through autobiographical reconstruction and identity transformation, they form a unique identity of their own—a Korean American identity. This book follows a group of second-generation Korean American Christians in the English-speaking ministry of a large suburban Korean church. It examines their conflicts with the conservative Korean-speaking ministry ruling the church and their quest to achieve independence and ultimately become a multicultural church.

University Press of America

Pages: 124 •

978-0-7618-5875-1 • eBook • April 2012 • $63.50 • (£49.00)

Subjects: Social Science / Ethnic Studies / Asian American Studies, Religion / Christian Living / Social Issues, Social Science / Emigration & Immigration, Social Science / Sociology of Religion

Korean, Asian, or American?

The Identity, Ethnicity, and Autobiography of Second-Generation Korean American Christians

eBook

Summary

The voices of second-generation Korean Americans echo throughout the pages of this book, which is a sensitive exploration of their struggles with minority, marginality, cultural ambiguity, and negative perceptions. Born in the United States, they are still viewed as foreigners because of their Korean appearance. Raised in American society, they are still tied to the cultural expectations of their Korean immigrant parents. While straddling two cultures, these individuals search for understanding and attempt to rewrite their identity in a new way. Through autobiographical reconstruction and identity transformation, they form a unique identity of their own—a Korean American identity. This book follows a group of second-generation Korean American Christians in the English-speaking ministry of a large suburban Korean church. It examines their conflicts with the conservative Korean-speaking ministry ruling the church and their quest to achieve independence and ultimately become a multicultural church.

Details

University Press of America

Pages: 124 •

978-0-7618-5875-1 • eBook • April 2012 • $63.50 • (£49.00)

Subjects: Social Science / Ethnic Studies / Asian American Studies, Religion / Christian Living / Social Issues, Social Science / Emigration & Immigration, Social Science / Sociology of Religion

Author

Jacob Yongseok Young was born in South Korea and graduated from the Korean Methodist Theological Seminary in 1992. In 1995, he immigrated to America and became a naturalized American citizen. He later graduated from Drew University in New Jersey and achieved a Ph.D. in psychology of religion. Young currently serves as an ordained elder pastor of the United Methodist Church. He has also been teaching as an adjunct professor at seminaries in Virginia and New Jersey.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgment
Chapter I: Introduction
Chapter II: Identity Crisis of Second-Generation Korean Americans in the English-Speaking Ministry
Chapter III: Korean American Identity Formation through Illusionary Reconstruction of Autobiography
Chapter IV: The English-Speaking Ministry Based on Collective Korean American Autobiography
Chapter V: Conclusion
Appendix
Bibliography
About the Author