"I Feel Safe When I listen to Korean Music!": Musical Engagement and Subjective Well-being Amongst Korean International Students in the UK

By addressing the research question, "How do Korean international students engage in music for their own well-being in the UK?", this study aims to understand a group of international students' experiences of their temporary migrant status and the coping mechanisms they employ in the pursuit of subjective well-being in response to these experiences. After semi-structured interviews, the thematic analysis resulted in five themes: (1) music as a tongbanja (sic) (companion), (2) music as a safe konggan (sic) (space), (3) music for gwangye (sic) (relationships), (4) music for gibun (sic) (moods), and (5) musical demands of international students. This led to discussions of music as: 'Being' a companion and safe space, and 'doing' in relationships and moods, including doing K-pop for 're-membering'. Therefore, this study adds depth to understanding of how Korean international students in the UK engage with music to address the challenges they face and, thus, enhance their subjective well-being.