Transgenerational influence and family ties: the differentiation of the self in South Korean families. A case-study through an arts-based visual approach

Purpose: South Korea's economy has grown rapidly, with a considerable number of enterprises managed by families who have been in business for numerous generations and that will be invested shortly by the generational transition. This research paper examined the family dynamics of the South modern Korean family through the lens of Bowen’s construct of the “differentiation of the self” to comprehend its influence on transgenerational passage. Methodology: This study employs a qualitative approach starting from an innovative approach - the award-winning Korean film Parasite as a reflection of the South modern Korean family - to construct a first analysis scenario. This will be followed using questionnaires to test the theoretical framework of the effect of self-differentiation of Bowen during transgenerational passage. Findings: Findings contribute, firstly, to the psychological literature by highlighting the developmental characteristics of Bowen's differentiation of the self in the South Korean family. Secondly, to the family business field on succession literature, with a focus on the influence of the differentiation of the self in the transgenerational passage. Managerial implications: According to the psychological literature, knowing how the dynamics of the Korean family evolve might help determine if disparities between Eastern and Western cultures still exist in forming family relationships. In contrast, the insights that emerge from the analysis in the managerial literature can be applied to family enterprises during its generational change. Research limitations: This study suggests that more research needs to be performed to field-test questionnaires and conduct interviews. In addition, but not primarily, it would be great to test the principle of this study in other Asian nations. Originality: This paper's originality resides in its examination of the connection between the concept of the differentiation of the self and the generational transition in family businesses, a topic that has never been addressed in the literature on family businesses.