Koreans still love Korea
Courtesy of Bart LARue
David A. Tizzard
I’ve always been puzzled why the media only reflects the tragedy of Korean life. Why those with the most social influence are those decrying everything that has been built. And why those whose voice is heard loudest tell us that the country, the culture, and the very fabric of society is rotten to the core. Politicians build careers out of this. Influencers make millions.
And the result is that the Korea created in the collective conscious is a depressed, gray, and brutal culture that enslaves people, providing no spiritual respite. It teeters on extinction; death surpassing life. The shadows, the dark side, growing ever larger.
And when people read these stories, they feel a sense of compassion. A blithe condescension for the poor Asian people suffering in an orientalist techno-dystopia. “When will they be allowed to be themselves? To be more like us? Won’t they ever overcome this lethargy?” question people on Instagram and YouTube comments. The echoes of "Parasite," "Sky Castle" and "The Glory" ringing in our ears.
Patriotism
Korean people love their country. So much so that they sometimes find it difficult to look objectively at history and politics. But beyond the passionate nationalism common to every state, there is a love of all-things Korean. Flags fill hallways, roads, and office buildings. The anthem is sung with gusto before baseball games. The local food and drink consumed with a deep pleasure. Heroes are elevated. The very word “Korea” bringing with it a sense of pride, identity, and belonging.
It’s difficult for some of them to see their country portrayed on the world stage as something rotten. As possessing some uncurable disease that results in suicide or nihilism. On one hand, the country is finally being seen. It has emerged from the shadows of China and Japan and finally established itself as recognized by millions of people around the world. “Do you know kimchi?” was once asked in earnest. It’s now seen as bordering on offensive. The food, the cities, and the culture have entered the global lexicon. Mukbang, daebak, japchae, kimbap, and a whole assortment of other words were added to the Oxford English Dictionary. Even the letter K is now officially defined there as “Forming nouns relating to South Korea and its (popular) culture, as K-beauty, K-culture, K-food, K-style, etc.”
Young adults
I recently sat down with three young Korean adults and asked them about living here. How do they feel about living in Korea? Does the media get things right? Or does it gaslight us into negativity and nihilism I wondered. What was interesting was how Yunseo, Yewon, and Kyunghoon’s voices are often otherwise unheard. You can watch the whole conversation here online as they joke about their experiences and talk together freely about the Korean experience of Korea.
“Compared to other countries, we have the best safety and social welfare system. And we don’t have to worry about getting shot,” said Yewon laughing. Yunseo agreed, “The area is quiet and I can go anywhere because the metro is really good. The only thing I have to worry about is not missing the last subway home. I don’t feel a threat of being attacked.” Yunseo also lives in a women’s only apartment in Seoul. She’s not even allowed to bring her dad or her boyfriend into the building. The surrounding complexes are the same and so there’s a sense of safety that not only comes from the accommodation but also from the community among whom she lives.
Kyunghoon broadened the conversation: “If you really think about the average human experience on this earth, it’s not great. You have 1 billion people living in poverty and some people who don’t have access to very very basic things. We have easy access to education which is not the case for some people. Seoul, for me, is the best city in the world. I can go out of my house at 1 a.m. and eat whatever I want. Koreans work hard and they play harder than anyone else I know. We have an urgency to get things done on time. And if you can survive that, Seoul is a safe place. You have a lot of opportunities here. The subway system gets crowded at times, but it works. Korea has a lot of things that people can utilize to make their lives significantly better, but it’s not appreciated enough.”
Humble comparisons
Having seen the educational standards from hundreds of international students every year, I must agree that Korean people are doing excellently. They not only compete with their peers, they often outperform them. And, it should not be forgotten, are generally doing so in their second language. It’s easy to dismiss Korean people as suffering from a lack of creativity or victims of rote memorization. But give them an opportunity to do something, give them a challenge, and watch them take it with both hands. Watch them turn-up every day and be willing to work. To improve.
Korean university students come to me all the time and ask, “How can I get better?” The simple humility of the question and the desire to better themselves, to step forward, is always there. That attitude can be felt throughout society. Yes, some people find it hard and oppressive. But how else do you turn poverty and hunger into safety and affluence? By simply asking people to give you stuff for free? Good luck with that. Koreans have not been given a rich and safe country. They have built it themselves.
Yewon concluded our conversation by saying, “I really love Korea and I really respect how we went through such a rapid development. We still have some problems because of this but if we go abroad, meet other people, and have an open mind, we can make our country better.” And yes there are problems here. The trio talked about the economic challenges, the racism that exists, and the difficulty of being gay here. There is still much that the country can and should do. They will probably get most of it right in the end, I think.
The immigrant
Last week I was in Jeju to climb the country’s highest mountain. As we landed at the airport, one of the Korean members of the group asked me (in Korean) why I was here. “Patriotism,” I replied. I want to experience as much of this country as possible, climb its mountains, talk to its people, and breathe its air. She looked at me with a mixture or puzzlement and curiosity: “That’s the first time I’ve ever heard a foreigner say they have patriotism for Korea.”
Hopefully it’s not the last.
Dr. David A. Tizzard (datizzard@swu.ac.kr) has a Ph.D. in Korean Studies and lectures at Seoul Women's University and Hanyang University. He is a social-cultural commentator and musician who has lived in Korea for nearly two decades. He is also the host of the "Korea Deconstructed" podcast, which can be found online.