What We Do
The "Becoming Bridge Citizens" project is a pioneering research and social initiative that fundamentally seeks to re-engineer public perception surrounding migration and peace on the Korean Peninsula. Central to its mission is a shift in focus toward the crucial and often-overlooked potential of North Korean migrants to act as agents of social integration and peacebuilding.
1. Research Goals and the Foundational "Bridge Citizen" Concept
The core intellectual endeavor of this research is to comprehensively uncover and detail the unique mechanisms through which North Korean migrants can significantly contribute to peace, mutual understanding, and social integration across the Korean Peninsula. Traditional narratives often frame these individuals solely through the lens of victimhood—as migrants, refugees, or those requiring external aid. This project consciously rejects this limited perspective.
Instead, the initiative formally defines these individuals as "Bridge Citizens." This conceptual pivot recognizes that their journey, encompassing life in North Korea, the challenging process of defection, and adaptation to life in the South, endows them with an unparalleled set of life experiences, insights, and bicultural competency. These experiences are not burdens but invaluable assets, which can be leveraged to consciously build and sustain connections between disparate societies and countries (Cheong, 2022, 2024; Cheong et al., 2025).
2. Identifying the "Bridging Civic Identity"
Building upon the "Bridge Citizen" concept, the project identifies a specific, multi-faceted internal framework—the "Bridging Civic Identity"—that is either naturally developed by these individuals or can be intentionally cultivated through civic engagement. This identity is characterized by three essential, interconnected dimensions:
A. Humanizing and Justice-Oriented
This dimension moves beyond abstract political or economic concerns to focus on shared human experience. It is a deeply humanizing aspect that actively encourages individuals to practice empathy and care for others, irrespective of their political, social, or geographical background. By drawing on their own history of hardship and displacement, Bridge Citizens are often compelled to treat the pursuit of social justice—for themselves and for others—not merely as an institutional duty but as a profound personal responsibility. This perspective lays the moral groundwork for inclusive community building.
B. Interconnected and Inclusivity-Focused
The second dimension emphasizes interconnectedness. The Bridging Civic Identity inherently fosters an ability to navigate and translate between different cultural values, societal norms, and political ideologies. Having lived within two vastly different systems (North and South Korea), Bridge Citizens are uniquely equipped to find and articulate common ground. This skill is critical for building genuinely inclusive communities, as it facilitates dialogue and shared understanding, helping to dissolve the entrenched biases and stereotypes that plague inter-Korean relations.
C. Imagined and Future-Oriented
Finally, the identity is fundamentally an imagined one. It is a deliberate, forward-looking perspective that allows the individual and the community to look past the painful, divisive, and often traumatic history of the Korean division. By envisioning and actively working toward a peaceful, integrated future for a unified society, the Bridge Citizen transcends the limitations of the present reality. This creative, aspirational element of the identity is crucial for sustaining long-term peacebuilding efforts, offering a hopeful blueprint for political and social reunification.
3. Contributions to Migration and Refugee Studies
In addition to defining these core concepts, this research makes a significant impact on the field of migration and refugee studies by introducing new ways to think about people's life journeys. Most earlier studies focused only on how refugees settled down initially, but this project views migration as a series of "Migration Rhythms." By applying Henri Lefebvre’s idea of "Rhythmanalysis," the study explores migration as a dynamic process of movement and stasis rather than just a one-time loss of home (Lefebvre, 2013; Leroi-Gourhan,1965;Merrifield, 2006; Stein, 2021). Moreover, it introduces a paradigm shift in policy and theory by treating North Korean migrants as active leaders and "human resources" for peacebuilding rather than just passive recipients of aid. Methodologically, the study uses a unique combination of long-term surveys and personal "digital journals" where participants use photos and writing to share their stories in their own words.
4. Global Understanding and Human Rights Advocacy
Lastly, the project aims to bridge the gap in global understanding regarding the North Korean diaspora outside of East Asia while advocating for human rights. For instance, the community in New Malden, UK, serves as a rare "transnational contact zone" where North and South Koreans interact daily, making it a symbolic "litmus test" for future reunification. Meanwhile, in Northeast China, many North Koreans live without legal status, making them highly vulnerable. Following the example of organizations like Refugee Action in the UK, which campaigns for the rights of refugees and helps them resettle safely, this research project aims to provide the evidence needed for stronger human rights advocacy. Ultimately, by sharing these life stories, the project seeks to launch campaigns that protect the rights of stateless migrants in China and help the global community see North Korean diasporans as vital partners in building a more just and unified world.
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