Jonathan, a refugee who wants to be a Black Korean

Abstract Jonathan, a refugee who has become a renowned TV personality in South Korea, is a noteworthy figure in challenging Koreans’ negative perception of refugees and the meaning of ‘successful’ integration. This paper argues that Jonathan is an example of practicing multicultural social justice in the so-called culturally and racially homogeneous Korean society. To do so, the paper first problematizes the ‘successful’ integration of refugees through assimilation by looking into South Korea’s experience with multiculturalism. It then contextualizes its discussion with Nancy Fraser’s social justice that demands balancing distributive justice with recognition of difference. The paper also examines South Korea’s multicultural integration policies to reconsider the ‘successful’ integration in relation to the politics of recognition. Lastly, focusing on Jonathan’s adaptation strategy, the paper analyzes how he represents a new refugee figure who recognizes his distinct identity and actively engages with Korean society by negotiating the demands of assimilation.