Waves of Change

Guided by Cultural Identity Theory, the construction and evolution of Korean surfers’ identities are examined amidst the rapid development of the Korean surfing scene since the early 2000s. The development of Korean surfing can be broadly categorized into two phases: the early stage (2000–2014) and the boom stage (2015–2024). In the early stage, pioneer surfers shaped their identities around ideals of freedom, connection to nature, and personal philosophy. As surfing gained mainstream appeal, identities diversified into entrepreneurial surfers focused on business and branding, coastal communal surfers rooted in local connections, and urban surfers engaging in surfing as a structured, performance-oriented lifestyle activity. Exploring how Korean surfers navigate these shifting cultural and environmental dynamics sheds light on the interaction between traditional surf values and modern adaptation and offers a view into how surfing culture evolves in non-Western, rapidly shifting contests, contributing to a broader understanding of identity among participants in global lifestyle sports.

Cultural identity · Ethnic group · Identification (biology · Identity (music · Asian Culture and Media Studies · Psychosocial Factors Impacting Youth · Social and Cultural Studies