Multiculturalism from the perspective of cross-cultural friendships

By Ma Kyung-hee

With the rising popularity of Korean language and culture over the past decade, the country has emerged as one of the most sought-after study destinations for international students, offering quality educational programs and vibrant cultural experiences.

In January 2023, over 200,000 international students were studying in Korean universities, according to government statistics. This is a record high, and experts predict a continued increase. Korean universities, facing reduced enrollment due to low fertility rates amongst Koreans, are expanding their campuses to the international community, while boosting global competitiveness and improving self-sustainability.

The significant increase in international student enrollment has prompted many Korean universities to reconsider the earlier narrative of campus internalization and instead drive multiculturalism, or cultural competency, to the center of higher education. Cultural competency is the ability to appreciate, understand, and interact with people whose culture is different from your own. Previously, multiculturalism in Korean universities was ad hoc, implicit, marginal, and event-based. It has gradually shifted to become more integrated and explicit as a means of quality assurance aimed at benefiting the entire university community. However, though there is one national policy, the implementation of multiculturalism takes different forms and shapes across institutions, depending on their available resources.

A multicultural campus offers many benefits to both international and local students. International students will achieve improved academic performance, stronger language skills, higher levels of emotional stability, better mental well-being, and successful social-cultural adaptation. Cross-cultural interaction will afford local students with the development/advancement of intercultural awareness and foreign language skills. Despite institutional efforts, international students have consistently reported difficulty establishing meaningful friendships with local students. The cause of this appears to be a failure to promote inclusion, key to successful multiculturalism.

Considering cross-cultural friendships, the general assumption is that international students prefer friendships with students from their own country or with other international students. However, recent studies show that international students generally develop friendships with members of their own ethnic group out of necessity rather than preferences due to social and cultural constraints they face in Korean universities. Their need for emotional and instrumental support causes them to self-segregate, and settle for only superficial relationships with local students that allow minimal social interaction.

While individual traits and personality certainly play an important role in the relationship building process, studies reveal that a proverbial brick wall exists along racial and/or ethnic lines on campuses. This wall seems to be reinforced by local students' lack of interest in international students' culture and experiences, as well as by international students' inability to challenge the status quo. Additionally, many on-campus cultural events are driven by international students with minimal support from local students or institutions. As a result, those events often become celebrations for only international students without enhancing relationships with local students.

Social exclusion does not contribute to multiculturalism. International students' participation in social activities outside the classroom is generally low, partly because information about events is often unavailable to them. Some assert that increased classroom interactions would lead to the development of meaningful intercultural friendships, but research shows that both in-person and online meetings, such as pair work and group projects, rarely translate into friendships because local students tend to rely on their native social networks. Discouraged, international students often stop initiating friendships and turn to other international students to meet their needs. This highlights the need for Korean universities to provide more structured opportunities for intercultural friendships to develop.

Some international students manage to work through obstacles and successfully establish cross-cultural friendships with local students, even keeping those relationships after returning home. Regardless, Korean universities should recognize the extent of barriers to cross-cultural friendships. International students should improve efforts to connect with local students, while local students should examine their values and assumptions about different cultures. Successful multiculturalism involves changes in both student groups. Forging cross-cultural friendships requires reciprocity and mutual appreciation. Strong and meaningful friendships that prevail on campus will help create a cohesive learning community where differences are regarded as strengths.

Ma Kyung-hee (kyungheem@daum.net) is a researcher and editor specializing in mental health.