Don't blame foreigners

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Opinion

Thu, April 26, 2018 | 22:21

Letter to the Editor

Don't blame foreigners

Posted : 2016-10-26 16:44

Updated : 2016-10-26 16:58

I have read with utmost attention and interest your editorial in The Korea Times on Oct. 21 about "ppalli ppalli" culture in Korea. As a foreigner working in the finance industry in Seoul for two years now, I'm hereby humbly offering my views.

I'm curious about your perception that foreigners often suggest that the ppalli ppalli culture is to blame for the recent Sewol tragedy and the Note 7 fiasco. These two events hardly belong on the same page, let alone in the same editorial. They cannot and should not be compared. The first is the result of unscrupulous and inept businesspeople, who gambled with innocent lives for a few extra won, like you say, cutting corners and taking unacceptable risks. The second, like you say, is a business risk taken through and through, with significant consequences for the Korean economy (over $10 billion value wiped out in a few weeks, probably hundreds of jobs too and who knows what other future consequences), but not costing lives. They are two very different events indeed. I agree it's not about ppalli ppalli, it's about recklessness, ineptitude, corruption and greed. Whoever suggests otherwise is probably not familiar with what ppalli ppalli means. To me, it only means pushing in queues, using the wrong lanes on the road to save some seconds, eating a full meal in a matter of minutes, demanding ultrafast free wi-fi everywhere and other wonderful customs that I've come to understand and embrace.

I believe one of the problems that Korea is facing is this idea that "we need more of the same," and "we can do it without help." Bad news, Korea can't do it on its own anymore. And more of the same won't work this time. Things have changed, the world has changed, it is much more interconnected than ever before, and, like you say, Korea is stuck. Banging your head on the wall will not break the wall before it breaks your head. Korea needs to open up to the world significantly more. It needs to embrace globalism, welcome and facilitate foreign investment, foreign workers and foreign advice. Widening the gap between what Koreans think of foreigners, and what foreigners think of the Korean way, will only harm Korea's chances of more success. Nobody else.

I love Korea and have had a wonderful time so far, and I will continue to wish success and happiness for the Korean people. I do think there is a bright future ahead, but I cannot avoid feeling disappointed when opinion makers like yourself try to pass some blame to foreigners for what goes wrong. You need to work with them, not against them.

Mauricio Masondo
maurimasondo@gmail.com

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