Digital Place-Making and Geographical Imagination of Korean Immigrants in China

This study examines how digitalization reshapes geographical spaces through the lens of Korean immigrants’digital place-making practices in China. The research addresses three core questions: 1) how do Korean immigrants engage in digital place-making? 2) what geographical imaginations emerge among immigrants and local residents during this process? 3) how does digital media transform the perception and experience of geographical spaces? Drawing on multi-source data collected between February and September 2023, we employ a mixed-methods approach—including social media content analysis, eye-tracking experiments, and in-depth interviews—to analyze 238 short videos from 21 Korean vloggers and examine the behavioral and emotional responses of 40 participants. Methodologically, this study integrates content analysis with biometric measurements to quantify audience engagement , focusing on the interplay between digital and physical spaces, online and offline dimensions, and the interaction between minority group constructions and mainstream societal perceptions. Results reveal that Korean immigrants predominantly construct digital ethnic spaces through food landscapes, which foster a dual geographical imagination of Korean culture and Chinese urban and rural environments. Sociocultural attributes, particularly audience affinity for Korean culture, significantly shape differences in place perception and emotional arousal. These findings underscore how digital place-making serves as a conduit for cross-cultural negotiation, enabling immigrants to assert ethnic identity while fostering local acceptance. By bridging virtual and physical spaces, short videos dynamically reconfigure urban geographies and contribute to grassroots-level cultural exchange, offering critical insights into the role of digital media in mitigating geopolitical tensions and advancing inclusive urban integration. This research carries implications for policymakers and scholars addressing migration and digital citizenship in transnational contexts.