Cross-Cultural Adjustment of Indonesian Expatriates in South Korea

Abstract

This study examines the cross-cultural adjustment of Indonesian expatriates working in South Korea. Specifically, it focuses on Indonesian expatriates’ experiences and ways to adjust to the Korean workplace setting. Drawing upon in-depth interviews with nine Indonesian respondents, this study follows the adaptation model by Milton Bennet and moves beyond the antecedents of cross-cultural adjustment. It elaborates the expatriates’ practices in dealing with and negotiating cultural differences in the face of Korean working culture. The findings demonstrate that adjustment entails the acquisition of new norms and modes of behaviors as well as maintenance of old practices. Further, the sense of foreignness has been found constructive for cross-cultural adaptation.