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Foreign nationals get advice at the Korea Migrants Center in Guro, southern Seoul, Monday. / Korea Times Photo by JR Breen |
By Bryan Kay
Staff Reporter
Nationalism will become an increasing problem for Korea as the country continues to emerge in ``global society,'' according to one long-time resident journalist.
Brit Andrew Salmon, who has been in the country for 11 years, said the issue of racism here is better defined as nationalism and believes this will be a real cause for concern as Korea becomes a major nation in international society.
``As Korea and Koreans become more integrated in global society this 'us' and 'them' sentiment will not be helpful,'' said Salmon.
He reckons that racism in Korea is the result of recent industrialization, similar to other recently developed Asian nations.
``In the West it used to be desirable to have pale skin, because peasants had darker skin from working all day outside. With the industrial revolution, it changed; peasants moved to the cities and worked inside all day, so they became pale. Since then it has become fashionable to have darker, tanned skin,'' said Salmon.
``Korea's industrialization came 200 years later, so it is still the fashion to have pale skin,'' he added. Salmon said the problem here is a prejudice toward people with darker skin more than toward anyone else.
Russian professor Andrei Lankov, a resident expert on both North and South Korea who has lived on both sides of the DMZ, said though racism exists in Korea, he feels it is perhaps not as serious as commonly thought.
``Racism definitely does exist in Korea, just like any other country,'' he said, explaining that Africans and Southeast Asians have the toughest time in Korea.
But, Lankov continued, ``It is not as bad as in other countries. Racism here seldom leads to violence.''
``Nevertheless, it is a problem and South Korea should pay attention to it.''
Prominent blogger and magazine editor Robert Koehler, a 13-year resident of Korea, says he has witnessed a vast improvement in the racism situation ― though, he adds, that has been commensurate with his Korean-language ability.
``The less you understand the more you fill in the gaps with beliefs like racism,'' he said.
But Koehler reckons some of the rhetoric that has followed the Hussain case has bordered on outlawing racism as an idea, something with which he disagrees.
``There seems to be a belief that racism as an idea should be illegal. It shouldn't. Although all may not agree, people have their own opinions. Certain practices should be illegal, such as discrimination in the workplace. (Racism) is a very complex issue.
``There is definitely discrimination based on ethnic origin in Korea, although I don't think it's as serious as people say it is.
``I think racism is used by some foreigners as an excuse not to integrate. Korea is not a multicultural society, and that is not necessarily a bad thing.''
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