Study examines North Korean defector entrepreneurs in South Korea
Researchers conducted a 27-month field study of North Korean defectors who started businesses in South Korea to understand their entrepreneurial approaches.
Research team focuses on specific group
Erin Powell co-authored a paper exploring how refugees from common backgrounds adopt different business strategies. The study focused on individuals who defected from North Korea and gained legal citizenship in South Korea through a structured process. These founders often face few social ties and are viewed as an out-group by many locals.
Fieldwork involved multiple interviews and observation
Researchers spent time with 23 business founders, with an in-depth focus on 13 of them. Data collection included interviews, visits to businesses, and observations in public settings over the course of the study. The analysis aimed to reveal processes harder to see in other refugee contexts.
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