Republic of Korea has been in a process of globalization over decades. After the 1988
Seoul Olympics, alongside with ‘Segeywha’ drive by Kim Young-Sam
administration, numerous different cultures poured into Republic Of Korea; thus
it seems to be that Koreans minds and activities have changed and become
completely different from what Koreans used to be.[1] However, “No” according
to a Professor Shin Ki-Wook. He argues there is a fundamental belief of
‘Minjok’, Romantic nationalism deep down in every Koreans that has never
changed.[2] Therefore, nothing has actually changed, just Koreans adapted to a
new environment of globalization.[3] So what is ‘Minjok’? Actually Koreans, who
are very familiar with the word, cannot write any sound words if someone asks
him or her to write about ‘Minjok’. Therefore, let’s first look into Minjok and
then understand it.
Koreans
use the same word Minjok in both Korean ethnic group and Korean ethnic
nationalism. Hence there is a great need to separate the concept of ethnic group and
ethnic nationalism in order to avoid any confusion. Therefore, I will just
scheme through what happened to create the concept of an ethnic group and
romantic nationalism.
First,
I will identify the Minjok as an ethnic group because it is preceding condition
to achieve romantic nationalism. There have been many attempts to explain the
concept of an ethnic group but it is still controversial as there is no
concrete reason that one can find. Nevertheless, most plausible argument is in
Anderson’s “Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin & Spread of
Nationalism” Anderson argued that people began to imagine the concept of ethnic group after concept of mother tongue was created thanks to the invention of
printing press in 16th century.[4] In other words, the symbolic idea
of ethnic group based on cultural similarity from generation to generation
became objective by invention of printing press. Additionally, people must have
subjective desire in making a subjective choice which ethnic group he or she
wants to be a part of as Joseph
Ernest Renan said.[5] To sum up, a combination of objective and subjective
indicator of ethnic group completed the concept.
However,
in late 18th century, alongside with Independent war and French
Revolution, the concept of nation became an ideology called nationalism. There
are three main reasons for this change. Monarchy was losing its power. Accordingly
the right of people became stronger than ever before. People no longer
worshiped a monarch and they began to worship themselves thereby creating romantic
nationalism. However, romantic nationalism was so abstract that it didn't have
any real thing to worship. So, there was a necessity for visualization of a new
ideology. Therefore, a folk culture was reproduced and
reconstituted so as to allow people to imagine and visualize it.[6] Also at the
same time it developed as political symbol to enhance loyalty toward
fatherland.
.jpg) |
| Brothers Grimm |
The
representative example of reproduction and reconstitution of folklore is Brothers
Grimm. They collected two hundred tales and at the same time they were
creating, they were also modifying. For example they altered each ‘Fee’ to an
enchantress or wise woman, every ‘prince’ to a ‘king’s son’, every ‘princess’
to a ‘king’s daughter.’[7] Brothers Grimm published their modified and
idealized collection calling them authentically German. These folktales allowed
people to feel strong attachment and loyalty toward the land and ethnic group.
Capitalism emerged and become a main stream at
that time. George Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel predicted that a modern society will be
so individualized that people will only work for their own good not for the
public interest. Therefore, a government will mediate conflicts between
different interests. This came true and romantic nationalism served a function
to unite individualized society. Additionally, the church was also losing its
power. “Why I’m blind?”, “Why my daughter is a mentally retarded?” Religion
used to answer the mystery of life like those questions. Oh the other hand, modern
science or speculation system just kept silence to these questions.[8] Romantic nationalism
was a perfect alternative to fill the gap because of its characteristics of historicity, continuity,
and fatality as an ethnic group. To sum up, romantic nationalism was an
ideology that was created for necessity of the time.
.jpg) |
| Joseon Sanggosa |
Most
Koreans consider Minjok a unique concept exclusive to our country. However, as
we can see actually the general idea of it was borrowed from romantic nationalism
created in late 18th century. The concept of Minjok as an ethnic
group also existed in Korea for centuries but Minjok as an ethnic nationalism
was also artificial. In Japanese colonial era, in addition to fall of monarchy
and religion, and rise of capitalism, Koreans were being exploited by Japanese
both fiscally and mentally and Japanese tried to manipulate Koreans mind by
saying actually all Asian is the same so we have to be united. Korean
intellectuals were interested in the concept of romantic nationalism as it
could unite people in an ethnic group thereby resisting the Japanese so they
implemented the western nationalism in Korea. For example, Shin chae-ho
published Joseon Sanggosa (The Early History of Joseon) full of reproduced and
reconstructed history, claiming that Koreans are descendants of Dangun, the god
and ancestor of Korean people. He gave pride, hope and unity to Koreans to
fight back Japanese Empire. Therefore, Minjok as an ethnic nationalism appeared
in Korea.
Minjok
served as a mean to control people in later years. Presidents were very interested
in power of uniting that resides inside Minjok. Thus, they used the concept as
a necessary illusions to manipulate Koreans.[9] Kim duck-soo’s samulnori
or Anheung hawae village were created to visualize folk culture. Koreans
consider Samulnori and Anheng Hawae village authentically Korean but actually
Kim duck-soo created Samulnori and most of Korean traditional houses in Anheung
was built in 1950s. The Minjok serving as a necessary illusion was very successive
and the unity made Korea to be post-industrial country form agrarian country
just about 50 years which is amazing compared to Western Europe. Korea did what
Western Europe did for 200 years.
.jpg) |
| We shouldn't be like this |
On
the other side of what we call ‘Miracle of Seoul’, Minjok is creating problems. Minjok as an ethnic nationalism, which has been an engine of Korea’s development is actually a concept based on exclusiveness.[10]
Minjok concentrates on cultural similarity and unity as one ethnic group. Hence,
there is no place for foreigners to be a part of ethnic group. Koreans have
negative perspective in having bi-cultural children as member of Korean ethnic
group even though there are more of them in Korea than ever before. Also,
Xenophobia, detesting and looking down on foreigners is prevalent in Korea. (When
it goes to extreme Nazism happens) Minjok once had been a booster of Korean
economy now is a ceiling that Korea can never get through because without
global cooperation there is no growth.