본 연구는 한국 사회에서 다문화적 배경을 갖고 살아가는 국제결혼가정 자녀의 문화 정체감과 사회적 관계를 살펴보는데 있다. 이를 위하여 서울․경기지역에 거주하는 만 3세~15세 사이의 국제결혼 가정 자녀 16명과 그 부모 9명, 담임교사 3명을 대상으로 심층면접과 참여관찰을 통해 자료를 수집하였으며, 사례연구 접근방법으로 분석하였다. 우선, 국제결혼가정 자녀들의 문화 정체감을 살펴보면, 대부분의 아이들이 한국이름과 한국어를 구사하고 한국문화를 선택하며 자신을 한국사람으로 정체화 하는 것으로 나타났다. 반면에 일부 아동들은 한국과 외국이름 두 개를 갖고 있었고, 가정에서 분리 혹은 혼합하는 방식으로 한국어와 어머니의 모국어를 사용하며, 부모의 문화적 유산을 실용적이고 혼성적으로 선택하는 성향, 그리고 상황과 맥락에 따라 자신을 다르게 정체화 하는 이중 정체성을 갖고 있었다. 다음, 국제결혼가정 자녀의 사회적 관계를 살펴보면, 대부분의 자녀들이 외국출신 부모와 긍정적인 관계를 갖고 또래들과 잘 어울리며 교사의 적극적인 지지와 배려를 받으면서 성장하는 것으로 나타났다. 반면에 일부 자녀들은 외국출신 모에 대해 부정적인 태도를 보이고, 다문화적 특성으로 인해 친구들로부터 놀림의 대상이 되기도 하였으며, 교사들의 경험부족과 부정적 태도는 이들의 학교생활을 더욱 어렵게 만들었다. 또한 이국적인 외모를 가진 아동들은 자신이 외국인으로 오해받는 것을 꺼려했으며, 공적인 장소에서 자신의 또 다른 문화적 특성을 노출하는 것을 기피하는 것으로 나타났다.

The purpose of this study was to understand the cultural identity and social relationships of children in international marriage families. To achieve this purpose, researchers contacted 16 children in international marriage families between the ages of three and fifteen, and their parents and teachers. The data collected through in-depth interviews and participant observations was analysed using the case study approach. The major findings were as follows: First, most children had only a Korean name and used the Korean language, conformed to Korean culture and were self-identified as Korean. In contrast, some of the children had two names and used two languages in separated or mixed patterns. They had a bicultural identity which was changed depending on the situation and context, they had also made a pragmatic and hybridized choice to their parental cultural heritages. Second, most of the children had a positive relationship with their foreigner parent, and peers, also their teachers gave support and careful concern to them. But in some cases, the children had negative attitudes to their mothers, and were exposed to the ridicule of their peers because of their multicultural characteristics. Some teachers had few multicultural experiences and showed negative attitudes to the children, which made the children's school life more difficult. In addition, some children who looked different disliked being misunderstood to be foreigners and avoided showing cultural characteristics of their culture in public places.

The purpose of this study was to understand the cultural identity and social relationships of children in international marriage families. To achieve this purpose, researchers contacted 16 children in international marriage families between the ages of three and fifteen, and their parents and teachers. The data collected through in-depth interviews and participant observations was analysed using the case study approach. The major findings were as follows: First, most children had only a Korean name and used the Korean language, conformed to Korean culture and were self-identified as Korean. In contrast, some of the children had two names and used two languages in separated or mixed patterns. They had a bicultural identity which was changed depending on the situation and context, they had also made a pragmatic and hybridized choice to their parental cultural heritages. Second, most of the children had a positive relationship with their foreigner parent, and peers, also their teachers gave support and careful concern to them. But in some cases, the children had negative attitudes to their mothers, and were exposed to the ridicule of their peers because of their multicultural characteristics. Some teachers had few multicultural experiences and showed negative attitudes to the children, which made the children's school life more difficult. In addition, some children who looked different disliked being misunderstood to be foreigners and avoided showing cultural characteristics of their culture in public places.

The Children of International Marriage Family, Cultural Identity, Social Relationships