NEGOTIATING TWO WORLDS AND KOREAN-AMERICAN BICULTURAL IDENTITY IN TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE

Abstract

This study analyzes the representation and negotiation of Korean-American identity in the film To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018) through a Cross-Cultural Understanding perspective. Focusing on the bicultural experience of the protagonist, Lara Jean Covey, the study examines how ethnic identity is constructed within multicultural spaces. A qualitative design with a film analysis approach was employed, and selected scenes, dialogues, and social interactions served as the primary data. The data were transcribed, coded, and grouped into themes following the logic of reflexive thematic analysis, and trustworthiness was supported through repeated viewings, theory triangulation, and thick description. The findings reveal six major themes of identity construction across family life, the school environment, and peer relationships. Lara Jean balances Korean collectivist family values, which emphasize emotional restraint and duty, with American high school norms that promote independence and open emotional expression. Her private love letters, the fake dating contract with Peter Kavinsky, and everyday practices such as shared Korean food illustrate how heritage and dominant culture coexist in her daily life. The study concludes that bicultural identity is a fluid and context-dependent process of integration and does not function as a fixed attribute. The film shows the protagonist harmonizing two cultural systems instead of experiencing a cultural clash, which highlights a dynamic integration strategy in everyday life. These findings are relevant to multicultural education and media studies.