By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter
Kwon Young-kee, president of the Korea Multicultural Congress (KMC) says "education" is the key to promoting multiculturalism in Korea.
"The response to the organization from people from diverse backgrounds and centers is more positive than we expected. It seems that they've been wanting some window to express themselves and we are apparently providing it," Kwon said.
Kwon added that Korea should redefine its concept of multiculturalism.
"Multiculturalism is not at the ethnic or racial level. Cultural distinction is the key phrase and basically, it includes all minority cultures outside the mainstream one," he said.
Kwon, a former judge, first became interested in multiculturalism when he ruled over the "Pescamar 15" case in 1996, in which six Korean-Chinese sailors murdered 11 Korean and Indonesian colleagues on a deep-sea fishing vessel in the South Pacific. "It was a tragedy caused by the collision of capitalism and socialism," he said.
Afterward, he started researching how to resolve problems stemming from cultural clashes and his efforts have come to fruition in the KMC, which opened on March 3.
Acceptance of North Korean defectors into Korean society will provide a litmus test for the unification of Korea, Kwon said.
"There are around 1.2 million foreigners in Korea, but the number will soon rise to 4 to 5 million. When we unify, we'll have to embrace some 18 million North Koreans who have to be incorporated into the capitalist system.
"If we can smoothly absorb North Korean refugees in a harmonious way now, the difficulties involved with reunification will also be lessened."
The KMC president sees Korea's future as a war for human resources, not natural resources, and emphasized the importance of attracting young, good talent.
"For example, Japan has experienced rapid aging, but they did not open their minds and policy to expatriates," he said. "Japan has good infrastructure, but this is of no use when there are no people to operate it."
He noted that multiculturalism is a necessity, not a choice, citing Korea's low birthrate.
"Korean women deliver none or only one child, while married immigrants have three or four. In some 50 years, the faces of Koreans might change, too," Kwon said. "If it is unavoidable, we have to open up our hearts and break away from the stereotype of the homogeneous ethnic group."
According to Kwon, social welfare makes up just a small portion of multicultural issues. "Multiculturalism is a concept that should be discussed at the historical and philosophical level.
"There are many Koreans who live in more difficult circumstances than people here from other cultures. Multiculturalism is not simply a synonym for welfare."
Within several years, children from multicultural families will be reaching the age to enter mandatory military service, but the Ministry of National Defense may not be prepared to accommodate them. "Should we mix them with Korean soldiers in barracks or segregate multicultural soldiers?" Kwon asked.
He also thinks it is crucial to train civil servants in multiculturalism. "Government employees distribute social resources and they have to properly understand and realize what multiculturalism is," he said. "We will have many professors interested in multiculturalism at our research institute, which will be established in April."
Another factor will be to educate children. "Young children need to understand that we live with people who might look different and being different is a sign of diversity, not a bad thing.
"We can give hope to young people by providing them with role models who have settled in Korea and achieved success. The Pakistani community has already composed a group of such examples," Kwon said. "I want smart expatriates to come to Korea, as they can be the driving force for the development of the country."
"The accomplishments of the United States are based on outstanding talent from overseas. Korea should accept brilliant youngsters from Asian countries," he said.
Kwon hopes that within 10 years, Korea will become a society where people feel comfortable with those who look different from them. "Some might still feel reluctant, but when the majority open up their hearts, Korea will be a truly multicultural society."