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Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and South Korea, a significant number of South Korean immigrants and enterprises have moved to Qingdao, forming an economic and community network marked by distinct South Korean cultural characteristics. This phenomenon has resulted in a "parallel adaptation" model, which, while maintaining ethnic cultural boundaries, has hindered interactions with local residents and led to accumulated tensions and misunderstandings(Li, 2022). Around the time of the 2008 global financial crisis, the mass exodus of South Korean enterprises caused economic losses that further aggravated local residents' dissatisfaction with the Korean community. Subsequently, as labor costs in Qingdao continued to rise, many South Korean businesses relocated, leading to a steady decline in the Korean community. This intensification of cultural divides and conflicts has rendered the "parallel adaptation" model unsustainable, necessitating a transition to a cultural adaptation model(Jang, 2012; Zhou and Tang, 2023) .
Most Korean residential enclaves in Qingdao were developed around the early 2000s, and their public activity spaces are typically limited to narrow, unadorned sidewalks, scattered stone tables and benches, or small open spaces in front of shops(Chen and Fang, 2024). These spaces are insufficient for promoting cross-cultural exchanges. To explore the role of public spaces in improving intercultural interactions, this study adopts the theoretical framework of cultural adaptation and examines a transitioning Korean residential enclave in central Qingdao using a mixed-methods approach.
Before conducting fieldwork, a literature review was performed using keywords such as "Qingdao," "Koreans," "transnational migration," "cultural adaptation," "internationalized community," and "public space." The aim was to investigate the role of public spaces in enhancing social interactions within cross-cultural communities. GIS spatial analysis was employed to identify cultural resources within the community, and behavioral observations were conducted to document residents’ use of public spaces at different times of the day. Additionally, questionnaires and structured interviews were utilized to gather residents’ perceptions of the community environment and their spatial preferences. The PLS-SEM model was then applied to analyze the effects of spatial environments and activity programs on cross-cultural interactions(Fornell and Bookstein, 1982; Jo et al., 2018).
The findings reveal that multifunctional, inclusive, and highly interactive public space designs can significantly improve the quality of interactions between cultural groups, fostering community integration while preserving cultural identity through social engagement. Based on these findings, the study proposes alternative strategies centered on narrative design and community participation. Drawing inspiration from the TV series Reply 1988, iconic scenes were reinterpreted and combined with community needs to create 12 multifunctional spaces, including shared kitchens, craft workshops, and venues for cultural and artistic activities. The study also recommends establishing a "community participatory museum" and implementing acupuncture-style urban interventions along streets to rebuild neighborhood relationships in mixed Chinese-Korean communities. These strategies aim to serve as a reference for transforming the cultural adaptation model in similar communities.
References
Chen, N. and Fang, D. (2024) Exploring Public Space Satisfaction in Old Residential Areas Based on Impact-Asymmetry Analysis. SUSTAINABILITY, 16 (6): 2557. doi:10.3390/su16062557.
Fornell, C. and Bookstein, F.L. (1982) Two Structural Equation Models: LISREL and PLS Applied to Consumer Exit-Voice Theory. Journal of Marketing Research, 19 (4): 440–452. doi:10.2307/3151718.
Jang, S.H. (2012) A Study on the Korean Community in Qingdao: The Structural Fluidity of Transnational Migration in the Age of Globalization. 중국학연구, 62: 337–360.
Jo, Y.-I., Lee, J.-L. and Koo, J.-H. (2018) Effect of Physical Environment and Programs on the Social Interaction of Youth Space Users in Seoul in the Case of Pilot Projects. SUSTAINABILITY, 10 (12): 4515. doi:10.3390/su10124515.
Li, J.L. (2022) ‘The Interactive Mechanism between Internationalized Community Infrastructure and Cultural Adaptation’, Academic Research, (12), pp. 59–63.
Zhou, J. and Tang, S.Y. (2023) ‘A Study on the Social Integration of Koreans in Qingdao’, World Geography Research, 32(2), pp. 158–165.
| Keywords | Intercultural Interaction;Cultural Adaptation;Community Participatory;Narrative Design;Transnational Migration |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
