Nationalism and Racism in Korea
By Xavier Le Fou
If you could have one wish what would it be? "A nuclear bomb on Japan." The other students nod in gleeful approbation.
Next time the lesson will be on China."I hate China. And Japan."
Please turn to page...[some students are snickering in the back]...what's wrong guys? They point to their book.
"Looks like a monkey." It is a picture of a wrinkled African.
Comments such as these are all too common in my classes. Anywhere in America or Canada these comments would be quickly construed as blatant and flagrant racism. Now, while I personally have never felt antagonism or racist sentiments (I am a Caucasian American) and have been treated with nothing but respect, I never cease to be amazed at the sheer quantity of invective against Japan. Certainly Korea, along with China, has plenty of reason to be upset with Japan, but that doesn't merit callous hatred.
I might chalk up such rage to a justified historical grievance, but the racist comments I hear regularly in class also encompass China, Africa and generally anyone dark. Any picture of blacks or Indians elicits absurd laughs and painfully bigoted remarks. When I asked them how they would feel if I laughed at an old Korean woman I got looks of horror.
These aren't the only crackpot ideas I hear either.
My students have a grossly distorted understanding of Korean history. Somehow they know very little about the only event most Westerners would recognize, the Korean War, but can marshal a fantastic assortment of heroic stories about obscure warlords fighting in Manchuria long before the Three Kingdoms period. I managed to offend a class by finding the idea that Korea has 6000 years of unified history humorous (it is funny, no honest scholar would ever make this claim). I have students who can offer rigorous details about Paekche, Silla, and Koguryo, but think I'm making it up when I say that the Silla allied themselves with China while the Paekche did the same but with Japan.
I've had students ask if Korea invented Chinese characters, claim the US fought on North Korea's side, and, my favorite, that the Mongols never captured Korea. The National Folk Museum, as far as I could tell, didn't fudge on Korean history, so I don't know where the students are picking up these warped misunderstandings. Regardless, just as the Japanese and Chinese seem to be selective about what history is legitimate, so too in Korea, history is serving nationalism again, not vice versa.
Now nationalism in itself isn't a bad thing. A bloated and misshapen nationalism, however, is the same malevolent force that caused the Imperialistic train wreck that Europe and Africa still haven't recovered from. World War One was a messy conflagration of nationalistic pride. In the worst cases, nationalism coalesces with (often bogus) claims of racial homogeneity and produces something like the Nazis or the nationalistic cults of Imperial Japan.
It is a twisted irony that Korean students today can on occasion emulate the nationalism of the country they condemn.
As far as I can tell, the latent and often overt racism of my students reflects a deformed and misguided nationalism. One could claim my students are an aberration, but I have multiple examples of extreme nationalism outside of class also. As recently as the Olympics, I saw this kind of bizarre, vitriolic anger manifest in the attitudes toward the American speed skater Apollo Anton Ohno. Judging by the Korean reactions to Ohno, you'd think he malevolently punched Ahn Hyun-Soo, laughed as they barreled into the wall, stabbed him with his skate for good measure then flipped him off as he crawled across the finish line for the silver. Never mind that it was the Chinese skater, Li Jiajun, who knocked Ohno into Ahn, who then ran into a Canadian skater. I don't see the Canadians calling for blood, but Ohno has to get a police escort into Seoul. Let it go, Ohno has nothing against you Korea.
Lest there be misunderstandings, let me be clear about what I am arguing: I have students who often exhibit disturbing remarks regarding race and nationality.
They also have an overcompensating sense of Korea's role in history. At one point I was asked to never mention Korea in a critical light because it would upset the students and their parents. But it is not just students, the treatment of Ohno and Dr. Hwang both reflect a widespread, bloated and non-critical nationalism that I fear could lead to blatant racism.
Racism is a prevalent problem throughout the world. Just last November, France was dealing with riots from disgruntled youth of Arab descent who still suffer discrimination. The U.S. continues to deal with entrenched and complex problems of its slave past. Asia someday will have to deal with its own issues. If my students are any indication, Korea is intent on doing its part to hold old grudges and ensure future animosity: And this from the country that maintains the so-called ``Sunshine Policyﾂ｡ﾂｯﾂ｡ﾂｯ towards itsﾂ｡ﾂｯ belligerent brother. The Japanese get vitriol while refuges from North Korea who are critical of North Korea get harassed or ignored.
Korea is a wonderful country. I've loved my time here. My superiors told me to never say anything bad about Korea because this upsets both students and parents. Still, I can't help but cringe at racist laughter and vindictive visions of mushroom clouds above Japan.
The writer is teaching English in Pundang, Kyonggi Province.
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/opinion/200603/kt2006032219480654060.htm