The function and implication of the ethnic church in the Vancouver Korean community

• Main Author: Kwon, Soyeop
• Language: English
• Published: University of British Columbia 2015
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/53167

The Korean community constitutes one of the largest ethnic communities in Vancouver. One conspicuous feature of this community is that over fifty percent of Koreans are affiliated with Protestant ethnic churches. Given that less than twenty percent of the total population in Korea manifest themselves as Protestant Christians, Korean immigrants’ extensive involvement in the ethnic church seems to be related to their experience in the settlement in and adaptation to Canadian society. This study examines the impact of religious and social functions of the ethnic church on Korean immigrants and their acculturation. The Korean ethnic church has more organizational strengths than other ethnic associations in terms of providing services to meet the needs of Koreans for existential meaning, practical assistance, and psychological consolation. This draws a large number of church participants. This study finds Hurh and Kim’s model of adhesive adaptation applicable in the context of Vancouver, and concludes that Korean immigrants adopted adhesive adaptation, by which Korean immigrants retain their cultural and ethnic identity as Koreans while successfully adjusting to Canadian society. === Arts, Faculty of === Asian Research, Institute of === Graduate