Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the sociocultural context and condition of social connectedness, social identity and social comparison criteria that affect social well-being. Additionally, it examined qualitatively how people's social well-being is affected by the social comparison standards of the Korean society. For this, the FGI methodology was utilized. Adults in their 20s to 60s made up five age-based focus groups, each with seven participants, for a total of 35 people. Afterward, the data were coded by themes, and thematic analysis was conducted to identify patterns and draw conclusions. The following are the primary conclusions: First, social connection was experienced through things like other people's unwavering kindness, events evoking national solidarity, social security programs, and the exercise of civic rights like voting. Second, people's primary social identities in daily life are divided into three dimensions: material self, social self, and psychological self, while social identity as a Korean is reinforced by international contexts. In particular, the sociocultural contexts of experiencing the Korean identity were identified as differentiating themselves from other foreigners in the international community, feeling like an outsider in a strange setting, and feeling more engaged by national prestige events and sporting events. Third, perceptions of the Korean society through social comparison varied depending on the standard of comparison. Upward comparisons caused feelings of tension and frustration, while downward comparisons offered some relative comfort. The study's findings have important ramifications since they can serve as a basis for advancing social well-being. The study specifically showed a tendency for less frequent experiences of social connectedness. Thus, it implies that in order to make this connectedness a regular occurrence rather than a phenomenon reserved for special occasions, psychosocial and cultural interventions are required. Furthermore, by highlighting the sociocultural contexts in which Korean identity is experienced and the ways in which important social identities vary across generations, this study highlights the necessity of tailored methods for each generation to reinforce Korean identity. Last but not least, the study highlights the significance of taking into account the beneficial role of downward comparison in preserving balanced social views and fostering social well-being in Korean culture, where upward social comparison is common due to the development of SNS.