Una Latina en Asia

I have had many blog entries with cute anecdotes and interesting stories about life in Korea. Most of my stories, if not all, are positive about living here but there is a very prominent reality that exists and is rarely discussed. A friend of mine came across some interesting articles in the newspaper about just this subject, racism, and its presence in everyday living here which are at the end of this article.

I want to preface this blog entry with a quick disclaimer. Being a latin woman in Canada has its share of difficulties. Being a "curvy" woman also has its share of difficulties in Western and Asian societies. Being a woman, period, poses some restrictions, too. So I know that prejudices, sexism, ageism, racism, etc., etc. exist everywhere. But these are my thougts on Korea.

I am a 'way-guk' in Korea. The translation means, 'foreigner.' But ultimately it is a term used to categorize people into 'outsider' and 'Korean.' There is an underlying fear of the outside world in Korea, which is why there is a need to differentiate people into 'us' vs. 'them.' I can understand how this mentality is justified, to some extent. Korea has been invaded more than 1,000 times in its history. Most people coming to the country were trying to spread their message and/or annihilate its people, squash its beliefs and ban traditions. This would make me as wary as the next guy. In fact, what this has done is make Korea and Koreans very proud of their culture, its language, its heritage, its history, etc. It's a beautiful thing but it also comes at a price.

Having pride and being proud can be sharp swords to balance. I think many Koreans have been cut by this sword - especially the older generations.

Foreigners are categorized as such... they are not Korean and will never have the same laws applied to them. Someone who is here illegally has even less rights - which is also a contentious issue. But for those of us who are here legally, who pay taxes, who pay into the pension fund, who pay rent, etc., etc., we still have no rights. It is perfectly ok for someone to charge me an insane amount in rent just because I'm a foreigner. It is completely ok to deny me a cell phone just because I'm a foreigner. And the most recent absurdity is denying me a credit card simply on the basis that I'm a foreigner. These small things are simple but demonstrate how there is a huge 'us' vs. 'them' mentality.

These attitudes carry on in a bigger scale which can lead to some problems. For example, the Asian Stock Market Crash in 1997 is known as the 'IMF Crisis' in Korea. Why is it called the IMF Crisis here? According to 'Diamond Dilemma,' a book I recently read by Tariq Hussain, the name itself suggests a conspiracy by foreign powers, rather than a full understanding of what actually lead to Korea's downfall during the crash in Asia.  So instead of looking in on itself, Korea tends to blame other countries for its troubles. As a developped country, and a powerful nation (15th ? strongest economy in the world), it needs to stop thinking of itself as a victim but rather as a nation that is accountable.

In one of the articles I read, there was this thought that made resounding sense: "Ethnic homogeneity for many years gave us a strong identity which helped us to defend ourselves against outside forces. But this idea no longer holds water. Korea has achieved great prosperity in the global market and now must face up to its responsibilities as a member of the global community."

Did you know, 1 in 8 marriages in Korea is mixed? Isn't that incredible? For a country that prides itself on having 'pure blood,' there is a lot of non-pure blood going on. But what is happening is that the children of these mixed marriages are finding it difficult in school, facing terrible teasing and bullying. Some of the spouses, usually Thai or Philippino wives, have little to no rights if there is a divorce. Usually, exportation follows.

What is the difference between Korea today and Canada in the 1950s? Well, not a whole lot in terms of women's rights and sensitivity training, but surely nations have been able to learn from each other over the past 60 years in terms of acceptance and social justice? This again comes back to Korea's reluctance to internally reflect and incorporate positive things from the outside world.

Korea has so much to learn. Am I here to change the country? No! I know that. But at the same time, I have been employed in this country, largely, to bring about an international perspective. As such, I can share my perspectives and make my criticisms not because I feel my way, or the Western way, is the right way, but because I think we can promote a more global understanding through frank discussions and openmindedness. Personal reflection and comparaisons also offer a lot... and believe me, I know Canada could learn a thing or two from Korean philosophies and way of life.

Articles I recommend to read:

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200708/200708210007.html

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200708/200708200011.html

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200708/200708020019.html