Column contributed by Mark Juhn / CEO of Hyundai Corporation
Korea has, for a long time, been accustomed to a belief in pure-blood nationalism and a homogenous nation.
The mindset of the mainstream up until now was that blood is thicker than water, and this thick blood should be none other than Dangun (the founding father of the Korean nation) blood. This kind of pure-blood nationalism, however, won’t be regarded as the mindset of the mainstream any longer.
A case in point is Hines Ward, a Korean-American sports star of the United States’ National Football League who recently visited Korea, and his mother Kim Young-hee. His father being an African-American soldier stationed in Korea in the past has led to the rapid, widespread interest in mixed blood families and multi-ethnic societies in Korea. In response to the frenzy demonstrated by Koreans over her son’s success, Kim Young-hee fiercely criticized the pure-blood nationalism of Korea by saying, “When did Koreans ever treat black people as human beings?”
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Many “Koreans” living in the nation are no longer “pure blood Koreans”, nor are they “pure blood Korean families”. The number of such people is continuously increasing. According to recently announced statistical figures, 35.9% of men working in the agriculture and fisheries field married a foreigner last year. Marriages with foreigners account for 13.6% of total marriages.
Among newborns, the percentage of babies from mixed blood families is rapidly
rising.
Whether Koreans like it or not, the nation is on the verge of becoming a multi-ethnic
society. The family structure in Korea is forced to do away with its tradition of pure-blood nationalism. The crisis in France that resulted from issues in a multi-ethnic society as well as racial problems in the U.S. is not something that can be ignored by Korea anymore.
On the 29th of last month, Hines Ward announced that he is planning to set up a charity foundation in his name in Korea, hoping that “mixed-race and unfortunate children will be able to determine their future”.
What kind of action should be taken in response to his hopes of advancing Korea into an open society that is broad-minded to the extent of embracing people from different ethic groups?
America was mostly a white nation and it became the most powerful nation on earth. Japan is also one ethnic group and has become the second larget economy. Sorry, but the idea that multiculturalism and multiracialism will lead to "Hub" korea is not logical.
답글삭제@Komerican - 2007/08/21 19:57
답글삭제You might have heard about the UN's recent message to Korea's pure blood nationalism. I would like you to think about it. Anyway I appreciate your visiting my blog and leaving a comment.