The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    BTS' Jungkook to drop 2nd solo single

  • 3

    Trailblazing nonagenarian artist honored for redefining Korean fiber art

  • 5

    Opposition leader Lee again proposes talks with President Yoon

  • 7

    BTS' Jungkook drops 2nd solo single

  • 9

    Korea fails to be included on FTSE Russell's global bond index

  • 11

    Apple, China met to discuss Beijing's crackdown on western apps: WSJ

  • 13

    VIDEOBustling Chuseok: Namsan Hanok Village immerses visitors in Korea's rich traditions

  • 15

    My left arm: how right-handed shooter won Asiad medal with left hand

  • 17

    Following successful Asiad debut, swimmer Hwang Sun-woo turns eyes to bright future

  • 19

    S. Korea cruises past N. Korea in women's basketball

  • 2

    Korea wins gold in League of Legends competition; Faker tops podium

  • 4

    PHOTOSTrapped along borders

  • 6

    Pentagon's CWMD strategy document calls N. Korea 'persistent threat'

  • 8

    Are 'finfluencers' helping or harming investment community?

  • 10

    Yoon hosts Chuseok luncheon for Korean atomic bomb victims in Hiroshima

  • 12

    Swimmer Kim Woo-min captures 3rd gold in Hangzhou

  • 14

    Second release of Fukushima wastewater to start next week

  • 16

    Builders vie for leadership in modular construction

  • 18

    S. Korea eliminates N. Korea in women's table tennis doubles

  • 20

    Korean fencers prove their unrivaled prowess in Asian Games with 6 golds

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Sun, October 1, 2023 | 00:20
People & Events
Bilingual Korea can be worth it, warts and all
Posted : 2020-11-23 16:06
Updated : 2020-11-23 16:37
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Joshua Chang
Joshua Chang
Joshua Chang
By Joshua Chang

Imagine wandering the streets of Seoul knowing only English. If you're having trouble, maybe think of it like a desperate toddler looking for mom at the mall.

Now you are getting closer to entering the foreigner's nightmare where simple tasks like getting a haircut or exchanging money morph into mortifying language exams driven by anxiety and headed for embarrassment, rendering one to frantic cave-man gesticulations. College can help you become more sophisticated and job-ready, but it doesn't prepare you for the toe-curling cringe of looking like an adult but talking like a preschooler.

So when we come to the debate over whether Korea should adopt English as a second official language, it's difficult to see why foreigners in Korea would ever object to its institution. Essentially, adding English would give newcomers much better odds for a more user-friendly Korean experience. This is obviously true for English-speaking foreigners.

But non-English speaking newcomers might also find Korean life less daunting with English as another language of the land. How so?

First, they might be more motivated to learn English as a way of surviving in Korea since the language is also widely used elsewhere around the world. English is, by far, the most spoken language on the planet. By some estimates the number of either native or non-native adherents is around one-fifth of the global population, dispersed throughout dozens of countries.

This means that the time spent learning English is an investment that could be applied not only in Korea, but elsewhere too. Seen this way, mastering the world's most powerful language doesn't seem like such a bad deal.

Second, there are those newcomers who speak languages similar to English, such as Spanish. For such folks, learning English would most likely be easier than acquiring Korean, allowing for a better chance at a flourishing life in Korea.

Add a little color to white-clad folk's apparel
Add a little color to white-clad folk's apparel
2020-11-23 16:04  |  People & Events

In summary, from a foreigner's point of view, English as a second official language is like adding a vegetarian option to the table ― it motivates more people to come and join the party.

I think that the only serious objections to making English an official language come from native Koreans themselves. What might these worries be? Well, I call them the "three Ps": patriotism, practicality and the past.

The patriotism concern is that embedding English in the national mind would be a step forward towards global integration but a leap backward for Korean national pride. Adding English may seem like an admission that the Korean language just isn't good enough anymore.

Furthermore, the practicality worry is how feasible it is getting enough Koreans speaking fluent English. A second official language needs people who speak it if the designation is to be at all meaningful.

And lastly, the worry concerning the past is about Japanese colonialism ― the last attempt to institute another official language in the land was accompanied by cultural wipeout and national disgrace. It is understandable that those who are aware of this tragedy should be wary of getting anywhere near a sequel.

So where does all this leave us? As an American, it is quite easy for me to simply take the foreigner's perspective and eagerly concur that English should be added as a second official language.

After all, I wouldn't have to deal with any of the three P's myself. And the stuttering fool wandering the streets of Seoul like a lost kid who I mentioned at the beginning? That was me one summer in Jangwi-dong, and I will always remember the time I spent three days looking for a bookstore because I couldn't understand the directions to get there. So as an American, I heartily agree that Korea should adopt English as a second official language.

Yet the worries that touch upon patriotism, practicality and the past are just as real as my enthusiasm. I wish I had easy answers. I don't.

Some Koreans have likened formalizing English to the invasion of American bullfrogs on Korean soil, a species which wreaked havoc by disturbing the existing ecological balance. Other Koreans have commented that over time, American bullfrogs are integrating into their new ecosystems and are becoming more natural features of the Korean landscape ― the same would apply to English, so they say. I'm not sure which frog story is true.

But there is a fable I once heard about a princess who meets a frog, and when she kisses him, he transforms into a handsome prince. Although I won't strain to allegorize the story here, I will say that if we're going to be comparing English to frogs anyways, then maybe it's a good story to remember during a nitty-gritty public policy debate like this one.


Joshua Chang is a student at the University of California, Irvine.



 
miguel
wooribank
LG
Top 10 Stories
1Guide to Chuseok celebrations across Korea Guide to Chuseok celebrations across Korea
2Chuseok exodus begins ahead of extended 6-day holiday Chuseok exodus begins ahead of extended 6-day holiday
3Korea sees record-low births in July Korea sees record-low births in July
4Hyundai E&C to build upmarket apartment complex in Seoul's Gwanak District Hyundai E&C to build upmarket apartment complex in Seoul's Gwanak District
5Political battle intensifies after court rejects Lee's arrest warrant Political battle intensifies after court rejects Lee's arrest warrant
6Korea on track to prove esports prowess at Asian Games Korea on track to prove esports prowess at Asian Games
7[INTERVIEW] Risk-averse culture is forcing daring creators to flee showbiz INTERVIEWRisk-averse culture is forcing daring creators to flee showbiz
8Lotte focuses on health care, mobility to spur growth Lotte focuses on health care, mobility to spur growth
9DMZ Open Int'l Music Festival to be held in Goyang in November DMZ Open Int'l Music Festival to be held in Goyang in November
10Two Koreas trade barbs over nuclear war Two Koreas trade barbs over nuclear war
Top 5 Entertainment News
1[INTERVIEW] 'Coexistence of different art hubs across Asia is necessary': Art Week Tokyo Director INTERVIEW'Coexistence of different art hubs across Asia is necessary': Art Week Tokyo Director
2Trailblazing nonagenarian artist honored for redefining Korean fiber art Trailblazing nonagenarian artist honored for redefining Korean fiber art
3[INTERVIEW] With '30 Days,' Kang Ha-neul finds new level of comfort in acting INTERVIEWWith '30 Days,' Kang Ha-neul finds new level of comfort in acting
4Rwandan artists bring diversity to Seoul's art scene Rwandan artists bring diversity to Seoul's art scene
5[INTERVIEW] ONEUS returns as 'mermaid prince' INTERVIEWONEUS returns as 'mermaid prince'
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group