This study aims to examine the residential environmental factors that affect the building of local communities for North Korean defectors integration and to analyze the mediating effect of cultural adaptation strategies selected by North Korean defect...
This study aims to examine the residential environmental factors that affect the building of local communities for North Korean defectors integration and to analyze the mediating effect of cultural adaptation strategies selected by North Korean defectors as immigrants. A survey was conducted involving 100 North Korean defectors. The data from this survey was used in a multiple regression analysis to examine the relationship between residential environments and the sense of local community. The Baron & Kenny method was employed to analyze the mediating effects. The results show that the use of outdoor facilities such as parks and trails, participation in group activities with North and South Korean residents in the neighborhood, positive perception of the physical environment such as easy-to-find structures, and comfort and satisfaction with the internal environment of the house affect the sense of local community. The adoption of integration strategies partially mediates the relationship between residential environments and the sense of local community. These results suggest elements to consider when planning residential environments to foster local communities that support the social integration of North Korean defectors.