Minjok essay

 ‘Minjok’, this word is very controversial word in today’s Korean society. Some people relate this word

with ultranationalism and exclusiveness and others interpret this word as identity. However, looking at the history of ‘Minjok’, it is shorter than the history of telephone in Korea. In the era of Japanese occupation, Japan tried to assimilate Koreans into their empire as ‘imperial subject’ around 1920s. Therefore, to prevent complete assimilation to Japan, Korea needed ‘something’ which can serve a role of shield from Japanese cultural and mental invasion. In this situation, scholars like Shin chae-ho invented the concept of the notion of a unitary nation with Korean history and myths like Dangun joseon. This movement is called the theory of ethnic history (MinjokSaHak.) This movement made the concept of Minjok first and contributed to the preservation of Korean identity from Japanese imperial ambition. After independence, president Park Chung-hee took this concept, Minjok, as a motivation of economical development. Therefore, under the name of Minjok and in the closed and restrictive situation, Koreans worked very hard even sometimes practiced patience of human right violation. As a result of labor for the sake of ‘Minjok,’ Republic of Korea becomes one of the richest countries in the world. Looking at the results, ‘Minjok’ contributed to development of Korea.

 Above is about the history of the concept of ‘Minjok.’ However, I live in the present. The concept of ‘Minjok’ still has a lot of impact on my generation as the past did. For example, there is no evidence that I had my first-birthday party. First of all, I can’t remember that I had my first-birthday party. Second, there is no picture left because someone stole the camera which saved all my pictures of first-birthday party. Finally, there is no ring for the first-birthday party. In Korea, people give first-birthday ring to celebrate the baby. However, I don’t have any first-birthday rings. Actually, many cousins and parents’ friends gave me first-birthday rings. However, in 1998, when I was two years old, my parents donated all my first-birthday rings to the nation which had enormous debt. One day, I complained mom why she donated the rings and asked if she ever regretted it. She said she was always sorry for me but she has never regretted her donation. This is because she donated it for the nation and ‘Minjok.’ Like this, even my generation has been influenced by the concept of ‘Minjok’ and some influences are positive and others are not. (In fact, the donation of my first- birthday rings is negative for me.)    

 ‘Minjok’ has a lot of beneficial impacts on Korea. ‘Minjok’ could give economical benefits to Korea. The

example is ‘gold gathering campaign.’ On January 23^rd, 1997, Hanbo group bankrupted. Starting with the bankruptcy of Hanbo, a lot of Korean companies bankrupted. As a result, the Republic of Korea fell into debt from IMF. As the conditions of loan, IMF demanded some abandonment of economical sovereignty of government and the government followed. To regain the economical sovereignty, citizens conduct ‘gold gathering campaign.’ At that time, the debt of the Republic of Korea was around 30billion dollars. Then, citizens donated almost 227 tons of gold. At economical sight, participating in this campaign is very unreasonable behavior. Like my first-birthday rings, there isn’t any kind of rewards for the donation. However, because of the only reason that they are the members of ‘Minjok’, they donated voluntarily. This campaign shocked all around the world. Due to export of gold by Korea, the international price of Gold decreases 15%. The campaign like this is impossible for other countries such as Greece, Spain. Only Korea could do this because there is strong belief in ‘Minjok’ in Korea.

Also, Minjok can make the image of a country better. For example, in 2002 world cup, the world was surprised by Korea’s group cheer which can’t been seen in other countries. Koreans cheered like that because they are members of Minjok. This enthusiastic cheer was embedded in people’s heart around the world. To illustrate, when KMLA students visited one restaurant in Switzerland, the clerk shouted ‘Dae~ Han Min Guk!’ He thinks Korea as very enthusiastic countries. This is a kind of National brand which could have good impact on the nation.

Also, the concept of ‘Minjok’ can help unification of South and North Korea. One of the main reasons of unification is ‘Minjok.’ People of South Korea and North Korea are the same ‘Minjok,’ so Korean peninsula should be unified. This is the reason why many South Koreans support unification in Korean peninsula in spite of enormous economical burden by unification. In other words, the concept of ‘Minjok’ has key of unstable political and military situation in the East Asia.

 However, the concept of ‘minjok’ also has negative impact on the country. The main reason of problems is

the 100 thousandth immigrant 

unchanged meaning of ‘Minjok.’ As the world changes, the meaning of Minjok needs to be changed. The number of foreigners who live in Korea is already over 1million and the number of immigrants is over 100 thousands. The basic concept of ‘Minjok’ in Korea is based on lineage, ‘Danil Minjok.’ Therefore, the Korean who don’t look like native Korean such as immigrant is not fit for the past standard of ‘Minjok.’ Then, this confliction between the new social trend(globalization) and the old concept of ‘Minjok’ causes some side effects like human right violation.

 To look at more deeply, I classify the three responses by three different countries related with Minjok. First one is response to western countries and their cultures. In the report from Shin Gi-Wook who is the professor of Stanford, he points out that Korea’s nationalism is contradictory. Many companies like Samsung or LG consider good English test score as an important criterion of hiring new employees. Also, a lot of Korean students study abroad to study English and enjoy western culture like Pop. However, there are still some evidences Koreans still have nationalism such as cheer in World Cup. It seems they coexist in Korea. However, they just partly coexist. Koreans are only positive to globalization by Wealthy countries – usually western countries like USA, France or UK-. English is the language of UK and United States, and communication devices are usually made from western countries and users are also from western countries. In this case, it seems western cultures and people have higher position than Korean ‘Minjok.’ For example, some unqualified white people teach English in academies for the reason that they are from western countries. Furthermore, a lot of Korean treat them well and they get a lot of payment. It is similar with Chosun’s attitude to Myung dynasty. In this case, the national pride is defamed. We can interpret it as a phenomenon of cultural toadyism. It is right to respect foreigners but we don’t have to worship them.

 Second one is response to poor countries especially southeastern countries. Foreign laborers are usually from southeastern countries. In this case, we can find exclusiveness of ‘Minjok.’ It is true that Koreans also have little discrimination and exclusiveness to western people. However, it is also true that exclusiveness to southeastern countries is more severe than to western people. According to the research, 41% of immigrants-especially Asians- experience discrimination from native Koreans. In reality, many native Koreans including me feel repulsion when a Southeastern Asian says he is Korean. It is also similar with Chosun’s attitude to other countries. I think this is a huge problem because during 400~500 years, there’s no improvement of it. Just the object has changed.

the situation of descendants of fighters f
or the national independence

the situation of descendant of
pro-Japanese

 The last one is response to Japan. I’m sure that over 90% of Koreans hate Japan. It is natural because the concept of minjok was created to be against to imperialism of Japan and the concept descended. Also, many Japanese also have aggressive attitude to Korea. Severe antipathy would be a problem, but antipathy is quite natural. The problem that I want to point out from this response is an ironic patriotic spirit. A lot of Koreans become angry when they watch the cruel torture that Japanese police officer did to fighters for the national independence. However, a lot of Koreans don’t know well about those great fighters. Many of them confuse An joong-geun and Yoon bong-gil. Furthermore, the Korean government doesn’t treat the descendants of the fighters well. Except the descendants of Kim Gu, most of family and descendants emigrate to other countries or live poorly in Korea. Korean government gave badge for the contribution to independence and a little subsidy-but only sons of fighters could get subsidy, not after grandsons-. In contrast a lot of descendants of pro-Japanese group live well. In the era of Japanese occupation, they had earned a lot of benefits and after independence, Korean government didn’t punish them strictly. Therefore, a lot of politicians or business men are the descendants of pro-Japanese group. This is contradiction. At least, we should reward the descendants of the fighters for independence. It is irony that Koreans have pride for Minjok when Koreans soccer teams play well in the world cup but not interested in the real patriots and martyr for the country. 

The reality of Korean history education

 I wrote a lot of things about Minjok. I show the history, benefits, disadvantage of the concept of Minjok. It is obvious that the concept of Minjok have a positive impact on Korea. If we fix some side effects of Minjok, to keep the concept of Minjok will be beneficial for Korea’s future. I want to suggest some changes in Minjok for the better and brighter future of Korea. I think Minjok needs wider range of meaning. As I mentioned before, the concept of minjok based on lineage has limitation in the era of globalization. Minjok needs to embrace Koreans who don’t share blood. Also, if we really have pride of Minjok, we should know more about culture and history of Korea. Then, don’t forget about why we can stand on this land. If ‘Minjok’ changes that way, the future of Korea will be brighter.

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