2023 Theses Master's

The Civic and Political Engagement of the 1.5 and Second Generation of Korean Immigrants in São Paulo

Lee, Thiago

The Korean immigrant population has created a significant presence in São Paulo, Brazil, over the past six decades, and the majority of its 1.5 and second generations are currently in working age. Formal surveys on the political and civic participation of the community is lacking, however anecdotal references are observable: many ethnic associations have emerged and waned over the decades, while changes in economic conjuncture have recently propelled the creation of new ones; a handful members of the community attempted to be elected for political positions but none has yet succeeded; Korean churches are common catalysts for civic services for vulnerable groups.

This research aims to understand how the 1.5 and second generation are presently involved in civic and political activities and to contribute to the discussion on its determinants. A historical study on the community and its main ethnic enclave – the neighborhood of Bom Retiro – was conducted followed by a literature review on conceptualizations about immigrants’ identity and their relationship with their community and the host country. The latter involved studies from the fields of political sciences, sociology and urban design and was the foundation for semi-structured interviews that ensued, in which members of the 1.5 and second generation from diverse backgrounds were interviewed and their responses analyzed. From these incursions, this thesis proposes a new understanding of the civic and political engagement of the Korean community in Brazil and look into its possible future developments.