Digital Capital of North Korean Refugees: A Comparative Study of South Korean Citizens and North Korean Refugees

As more and more North Korean refugees settle in South Korea, they are compelled to adapt to a “digitalized” society. This study examines whether there are differences in digital capital between North Korean refugees and South Korean citizens, and examines the sociodemographic factors associated with the distribution of digital capital. We used data from the 2019 Digital Divide Survey conducted by the Ministry of Science and ICT in South Korea and conducted OLS regression analysis. The results show how the three forms of traditional capital—economic, social, and cultural—are differently associated with the distribution of digital capital in each group. All forms of traditional capital are fully associated with the distribution of digital capital across South Korean citizens, whereas traditional capital is partially associated with the distribution of digital capital across North Korean refugees. The results imply that new forms of capital, called digital capital, are also distributed across North Korean refugees and various policies are needed to prevent inequality among North Korean refugees due to uneven distribution of digital capital.