Abstract
Serious leisure activities help expatriates overcome many of the challenges of living abroad but also can also improve their fitness and wellbeing. For female expats based in South Korea, leisure groups help them make friends, learn new skills, and overcome homesickness. Little research has been done to understand the motivations of female expat serious leisure, despite increasing global numbers. This research utilized 11 in-depth interviews with Korean based, female expats involved in serious leisure and details their motivations to join. Using grounded theory and in-depth, semi-structured interviews, the results showed that the social aspect was the core motivation, although a desire to join in was also strong, and also that the expat context meant that homesickness and a chance for new experiences also influenced their motivations. Overall the findings highlighted the crucial role leisure plays in the participants wellbeing and happiness abroad.
Recommended Citation
Leathem, Dain G. PhD
(2020)
"Female Leisure: The Motivations of Expats in South Korea,"
Perspectives in Asian Leisure and Tourism: Vol. 5, Article 4.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7275/w85c-wg77
Available at:
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/palat/vol5/iss1/4
Doi
https://doi.org/10.7275/w85c-wg77