@article{ART003349998},
author={Miyoung Kim and Seohee Son},
title={Challenges and Coping Experiences of North Korean-born Mothers in Parenting and Educating Adolescent Children Born in South Korea},
journal={The Journal of Multicultural Society},
issn={2005-2553},
year={2026},
volume={19},
number={2},
pages={125-154}
TY - JOUR
AU - Miyoung Kim
AU - Seohee Son
TI - Challenges and Coping Experiences of North Korean-born Mothers in Parenting and Educating Adolescent Children Born in South Korea
JO - The Journal of Multicultural Society
PY - 2026
VL - 19
IS - 2
PB - Research Institute of Asian Women
SP - 125
EP - 154
SN - 2005-2553
AB - This study examines the parenting and educational experiences of North Korean-born mothers raising adolescent children in South Korea. In-depth online interviews were conducted with six North Korean-born mothers in November 2025. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed three main themes. First, the participants experienced confusion in their parental roles and diminished parenting efficacy amid differences between North and South Korean parenting cultures. In particular, they described tensions between the strict disciplinary practices shaped by their experiences in North Korea and the parenting norms expected in South Korean society, while renegotiating the meaning of being a “good mother.” Second, in a social context where parents are expected to take primary responsibility for seeking and selecting educational information, the participants encountered difficulties in accessing and utilizing the information and support needed for their children’s education. Third, they perceived themselves as occupying a marginal position, belonging neither to mainstream South Korean families nor to multicultural families, and emphasized the need for continuous and tailored support across their children’s developmental stages. These findings contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the parenting and educational experiences of North Korean-born mothers and highlight the need for institutional support that is responsive to their specific circumstances.
KW - North Korean-born mothers;adolescent children;parenting experiences;educational experiences
DO -
UR -
ER -
Miyoung Kim and Seohee Son. (2026). Challenges and Coping Experiences of North Korean-born Mothers in Parenting and Educating Adolescent Children Born in South Korea. The Journal of Multicultural Society, 19(2), 125-154.
Miyoung Kim and Seohee Son. 2026, "Challenges and Coping Experiences of North Korean-born Mothers in Parenting and Educating Adolescent Children Born in South Korea", The Journal of Multicultural Society, vol.19, no.2 pp.125-154.
Miyoung Kim, Seohee Son "Challenges and Coping Experiences of North Korean-born Mothers in Parenting and Educating Adolescent Children Born in South Korea" The Journal of Multicultural Society 19.2 pp.125-154 (2026) : 125.
Miyoung Kim, Seohee Son. Challenges and Coping Experiences of North Korean-born Mothers in Parenting and Educating Adolescent Children Born in South Korea. 2026; 19(2), 125-154.
Miyoung Kim and Seohee Son. "Challenges and Coping Experiences of North Korean-born Mothers in Parenting and Educating Adolescent Children Born in South Korea" The Journal of Multicultural Society 19, no.2 (2026) : 125-154.
Miyoung Kim; Seohee Son. Challenges and Coping Experiences of North Korean-born Mothers in Parenting and Educating Adolescent Children Born in South Korea. The Journal of Multicultural Society, 19(2), 125-154.
Miyoung Kim; Seohee Son. Challenges and Coping Experiences of North Korean-born Mothers in Parenting and Educating Adolescent Children Born in South Korea. The Journal of Multicultural Society. 2026; 19(2) 125-154.
Miyoung Kim, Seohee Son. Challenges and Coping Experiences of North Korean-born Mothers in Parenting and Educating Adolescent Children Born in South Korea. 2026; 19(2), 125-154.
Miyoung Kim and Seohee Son. "Challenges and Coping Experiences of North Korean-born Mothers in Parenting and Educating Adolescent Children Born in South Korea" The Journal of Multicultural Society 19, no.2 (2026) : 125-154.
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