ABSTRACT
The concept of nouveau-riche nationalism needs to be adequately contextualised in understanding the experiences of foreign professionals such as academics and native English teachers. The two elements diplomaism and regionalism are the contributing factors to nouveau-riche nationalism when applied to North Korean refugees, Joseonjok or low-skilled migrant workers. Nouveau-riche nationalism is applicable in general since Koreans appreciate professional workers from Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries or white professionals. There are compounding factors, as Korean universities and English language institutes in general also appreciate native English speakers without exception. Filipino English teachers or Southeast Asian academics or English teachers are not preferred and are more frequently looked down upon. The chapter also focuses on the ways in which Korean schools and private language institutes have unfavourably treated native English teachers from diverse ethnic and national backgrounds. It explains the issues of social inclusion and exclusion, or the discriminatory experiences of other ethnic groups, to be specific.
