The relationship between language ideologies and workplace bullying towards North Korean defectors

Lee, Dong geon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2123-9937, Sanz Vergel, Ana ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1983-422X and Daniels, Kevin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8620-886X (2026) The relationship between language ideologies and workplace bullying towards North Korean defectors. International Journal of Human Resource Management. ISSN 0958-5192 (In Press)

PDF (Language ideologies for repository) - Accepted Version Restricted to Repository staff only until 31 December 2099. Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Request a copy

Abstract

Previous studies on Social Identity Theory (SIT) have revealed the role of social categorisation in power imbalances between languages, linking it to negative acts in workplaces (e.g., discrimination). We focus on subtle social categorisation along the linguistic dimension, investigating whether North Korean Defectors (NKDs) working at South Korean organisations perceive workplace bullying as a result of linguistic discrimination. Repeat interviews were conducted with 20 NKDs, and one-off interviews with 6 NKDs. Our study shows that the use of North Korean accents or lexical items has been regarded as illegitimate in South Korean workplaces, leading NKDs to feel bullied. We also investigate NKDs' identity formation in response to workplace bullying. Our results show that the majority of NKDs hide their North Korean ethnicity in the workplace for fear of being bullied due to ingrained stereotypes about NKDs.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	The dataset cannot be made available due to its sensitive nature and security concerns
Uncontrolled Keywords:	workplace bullying,social identity theory,self-categorisation theory,reactive ethnicity,4*,das in place,the dataset cannot be made available due to its sensitive nature and security concerns,2026 ,/dk/atira/pure/researchoutput/REFrank/4_
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Norwich Business School University of East Anglia Research Groups/Centres > Theme - ClimateUEA
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Employment Systems and Institutions
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	10 Nov 2026 10:42
Last Modified:	10 Nov 2026 12:20
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/105038
DOI:

Actions (login required)

View Item