Return Migration Experiences Portrayed in K-pop Literature: <i>Somewhere Only We Know</i> and <i>Comeback: A K-pop Novel</i>

Abstract

Korean American youth often turn to Korean popular culture, such as K-pop, to claim their cultural space in the U.S., where they are marginalized. These ethnic media influence some to return to their ancestral homeland in search of racial belonging and ethnic identity. Nevertheless, literature and media rarely address the complexities and difficulties of such return migration. Hence, in this study, I utilize two K-pop young adult books—published in the United States, not Korea—to analyze the experiences of return migration and identity negotiation of return migrants in Korea through Korean American K-pop stars and their Korean American love interests.