Transnational Culture Through Migration: Insights from India and Nepal

On Aug. 31, Professor Emeritus Kim Kyung-hak retired from the Department of Cultural Anthropology and Archaeology at Chonnam National University. He specialized in international migration and South Asian regional studies, focusing on India and Nepal. Through this interview, the Chonnam Tribune invites readers to discover his academic journey and perspective. – Ed.

What led to your anthropological research centered on India and Nepal?

When I was preparing for my doctoral degree, there was growing interest in area studies within Korean academia. At that time, many scholars specializing in particular regions pursued studies at universities in India, which in turn influenced my decision to focus my own research there. While studying in India, I came to realize that the country, with its vast population and countless migrants, possesses profound anthropological significance. It is a land of diverse institutions, religions, and social hierarchies. Through my anthropological study of such societies, from India with its multifaceted cultural layers to neighboring Nepal, where I have many close friends, I continue to gain new insights.

What do you consider the most impressive social change in India and Nepal that you encountered during your research?

Caste systems still exist in India and Nepal. Although India legally banned the caste system in 1949, a law alone could not erase a hierarchy that shaped their society for thousands of years, and its influence persists today. Nepal, which is culturally linked to India and where about 82 percent of the population is Hindu, exhibits similar patterns, though the system has gradually weakened. Migration has played a positive role, allowing even formerly “untouchable” groups to work abroad, particularly in the Middle East and Malaysia, gaining economic opportunities. India’s growing global consumer culture and emergence as an IT leader have also fostered great openness to diversity. Rather than abandoning tradition, India is blending cultural values with modern technology. The transformation of the caste system is one of the most significant social changes affecting both India and Nepal.

How are the concept and form of migration changing?

In the past, migration was largely forced, driven by external powers rather than personal choice. A clear example is the case of Indo-Fijians, who were initially brought to Fiji by the British as indentured laborers during the colonial period. Later, political instability and coups in Fiji prompted many to migrate onward, this time to places such as Sydney. Today, however, migration is more commonly voluntary, motivated by economic opportunities and the desire for a better quality of life. Transnational migration has become increasingly prominent. Even without physically returning home, migrants can maintain close ties with family and communities in their countries of origin. This connectivity helps sustain family life and cultural identities. Improvements in transportation and communication have transformed migration from a collection of small scale phenomena into patterns of mass migration. For example, in Nepal, approximately 1,500 to 1,700 people migrate abroad each day.

What does community mean to migrants in other countries? How do they personally experience it?

Migrant communities naturally form when people move to another country. Even if the initial number of migrants is small, information shared among them attracts more migrants over time. Before moving, people usually seek advice from their compatriots already living abroad, leading new migrants to cluster around existing groups. These communities provide mutual support and aid in adaptation. In Korea, although migrant communities exist, their spatial development differs from patterns commonly seen in other countries. Korea primarily accepts migrants from specific treaty partner countries as temporary labor workers, many of whom live in factory dormitories rather than independently in residential areas. As a result, large, concentrated migrant neighborhoods have not fully developed. However, advances in information and communication technologies allow migrants to maintain strong digital community networks. Within these networks, invisible hierarchies can emerge between registered and unregistered migrants, yet people from the same country generally still continue to support one another.

What are the most significant cultural differences between Indian, Nepalese, and Korean societies? 

In my opinion, the most significant difference lies in the sense of belonging. India and Nepal have strong cultures of family-centric collectivism. As a result, migrants from these countries send most of their earnings back to their families at home. It is common for a few high earners to support the majority of their extended families, and since these societies remain largely patriarchal, gender roles are clearly defined. Korea, by contrast, is gradually becoming more individualistic, as evidenced by the rise of independent living and single-person households. In addition, India and Nepal still exhibit a large gap between the rich and the poor, while upward mobility is very difficult for those in the lower classes because social hierarchies remain rigid. This is why middle-class individuals in India and Nepal often choose to migrate in pursuit of social and economic advancement.

What advice would you give to young people living in a transnational society?

I hope people cultivate a sensitivity to diversity. Such awareness forms the foundation for communication that allows us to see and understand things from others’ perspectives. When we develop the capacity to accept differences, borders will no longer be a limitation. I believe that if we are open and receptive to new ideas, we will continue to grow and be able to develop.

What are your special plans after retirement?

Although I have retired from my position as a professor, I want to continue my research. I am currently involved in a research institute project that will run until Aug. 27, 2027, so my work will continue for the time being. The topic of migration is consistently evolving and taking on new forms. That is why I want to keep observing these changes closely, following their development without losing sight of the big picture.

By Ok Hui-kyeong, Reporter