Kotaji wants us all to know that the Korean left is more than just student radicals and protesting workers:
Reading conservative or liberal commentators on Korea, expat bloggers, experts or professional journalists, one thing that irritates is the tendency to lump together the Korean left into an amorphous mass of crazed stick-wielding students with a grudge against all things American and bolshie workers and farmers, who probably get paid too much anyway (to be ‘globally competitive’ that is).
Some of these stereotypes may exist in real life (I dunno), but the Korean left is actually quite a diverse and rapidly changing place. In some ways this is nothing new as anyone who knows about the various factions of the 80s (handily denoted by easy-to-remember abbreviations like NL and PD) will know. But the biggest difference these days is that much of the left is no longer dominated by Stalinism of one form or another as it was 20 years ago. There are social democrats of various stripes, Trotskyists of different hues and, as the title of this post indicates, the current vogue for autonomism is also present on the Korean peninsula.
Great post, so read the rest on your own.
(Hat tip to Budaechigae)
27 Comments
That article might be more accurate if it replaced the word “Korean left”, with “Koreans”. The country looks completely united looking from outside, but it’s really divided along various ideologies and opinions.
What a coincidence! Not all American leftists are the same, either.
Of course it makes sense that there are different sorts of Korean leftists; there are different sorts on the left and right in most countries, probably. The term ?€?conservative?€™ is thrown around in the U.S., but there are traditional/economic/neo/libertarian/etc-conservatives that all have very different opinions.
But so what.
When speaking of Korean leftists, be it the media or bloggers, it comes down to a few major topic; inter-Korea policy (e.g., the ?€?Sunshine Policy?€™), South Korea?€™s foreign, and anti-Americanism in South Korea. Maybe trade unions. That?€™s the major stuff.
On all those fronts Korean leftists seem to be, for lack of a more elegant description, a horde of mindless, nationalistic, head-in-the-sand, North Korea-loving Utopians.
Now to speak on the differences between realists?€?
That article might be more accurate if it replaced the word ?€œKorean left?€?, with ?€œKoreans?€?. The country looks completely united looking from outside,That could be true only of someone “from outside” who is paying no more than passing or superficial attention. Anyone who takes a serious look will see that’s not true. Sadly, though, many in Washington may belong in the former category.
Is there a single Korean leftist that is not an ethnocentrist? Most Western European and North American leftists are highly critical of the white race, but I doubt I shall ever see a comparable Korean leftist.
Richardson, no disrespect, but I think you are oversimplifying things in a way Kotaji warns against. There are also leftists on social-economic and even environmentalist issues as well (that do not fall under “trade union”-related issues), with many people choosing to align themselves on the left (or at least support the left) because of these issues.
When the economic crisis emerged, many Koreans were ready to support whoever was going to give them a safety net. Who is going to give them medical insurance, unemployment benefits, cheap housing opportunities, access to quality education, etc., are far more important issues to many people than ROK-US relations or anti-Japanese nonsense.
I think that may have been the point Kotaji was making.
Interesting post. I know there is a wide divergence of people in the West that fall under the ‘umbrella’ of Leftism, so it makes sense that that would be true in Korea, as well. But I still can’t fathom how a discredited doctrine like Marxism still holds so much sway with some on the Left.
Snow, watered-down Marxism represents a hope for a fairer society, one in which people do not reap the rewards of corruption, collaboration, or stepping on the less fortunate.
In word if not deed, Korea has long had an egalitarian streak: for example, with the test-taking hopes of would-be public servants open, in theory, to everyone in the country (males at least). The Marxism these kids learn promises to bring the fair, egalitarian society that the monarchy, the occupation, the military dictatorship, and now crony capitalism hasn’t.
The cherry-picked Marxism they learn also fits nicely with theories of Chinese, Japanese, and then American imperialism and how it affected Korea. People like Kim Ilsung can be heroes (if you ignore the oppression of their own people, which is probably just exaggerated by the military authorities in the South) because he fought and killed imperialists.
And then good old American “scholars” like Bruce Cumings come in and fill in the blanks, and you’ve got a nice idealistic blend that bemoans all the problems in Korea as the makings of corrupt Korean bourgeoisie and imperialist foreign powers. A pie in the sky promise that, of course, would never work. But most people never get that far.
This is why the move to reveal all the collaboration with the Japanese colonial government and then the military regimes had support by so many on the left.
What does the other side offer? Well, in defense of free-market capitalism you can argue that a rising tide raises all ships (except for some of those that are moored, which capsize and sink), but when people see that in America there are millions in poverty, tens of millions with no health insurance, corrupt corporations like Enron, etc., the alternative doesn’t seem all that appealing.
Yes, Kushibo, you’re right that the watered-down version often seems appealing to some people. I just find it disturbing that beliefs in egalitarianism and fairness need to be tied in with Marxism. After all, I believe in those things too and yet I’m definitely a supporter of capitalism. I guess I’m just registering a complaint against the dogmatism of Marxists (and of course theres plenty of dogmatism on the right, too). The thing about being a supporter of capitalism is that it actually has successes on its side. What successes of Marxism can possibly outweigh the pile of corpses it’s produced?
I’m playing devil’s advocate here, but a lot of people would point to the uninsured, the impoverished, the corporate-related corruption in government, and the corporate rape of the environment and not exactly agree that capitalism has success on its side.
When Pez Roh and his cronies say they want to “redistribute wealth” it’s Marxism of the Groucho kind–as in so many countries when that happens, it only means the ruling clique steals from the mercantile and industrial sectors, and the whole country goes down the toilet. Even the Chinese have wised up about that.
Yes, Kushibo, and impoverishment, corruption and rape of the environment are things unknown in Marxist countries. And in NK and other communist countries, with their universal health care, I expect they get some wonderful medical services-hey, some of those countries may even have electricity in their hospitals (Cuba?).
Somehow Marxists seem to forget that party members are more equal than everybody else, too (I recently read an interesting Lankov article describing how party members in communist countries always seem to have alot more than everybody else-better medical care, more goods, better housing). Sorry can’t provide a link cause not sure where I read it.
What’s “must” about this read? It’s hardly news that the left, and particularly the politically impotent left, is often faction-ridden. And that goes in spades for the Korean left. What Kotaji characterizes as stereotypes of the Korean left is pretty accurate insofar as the conventional tropes used to represent it correctly capture the common threads of intolerance, racism, profound igorance of most everything outside the frog’s well, hysterical nationalism and truly looney irredentism and revanchism.
If you don’t read it Marmot will personally pay a visit to your abode and beat the ever-living snot out of you. Hence, “must”.
Heeeeeuuuwww some of the left are Trotskyites and not Stalinists!!!!! I feel a whole lot better:)
Kushibo. I know you are playing devils advocate but I would have to disagree with the following passage.
“In word if not deed, Korea has long had an egalitarian streak: for example, with the test-taking hopes of would-be public servants open, in theory, to everyone in the country (males at least). The Marxism these kids learn promises to bring the fair, egalitarian society that the monarchy, the occupation, the military dictatorship, and now crony capitalism hasn?€™t.”
I think your test example more apply applies to meritocracy although I see your point. Students can take an SAT type test and go to any college if they merit it. They can even get a full ride. This is a core principle of western free market democracies. One person one vote is an example of egalitarianism that is also inherent in free market democracies. It is a mistake to imply meritocracy or/or egalitarianism is Marxist and not a core principle of free market democracies.
Krz: Let me know when he’s getting close, will ya, so I can get hunkered down
No need to worry — I’m a man of peace, especially when it involves currently serving or former military personnel who could probably kill me with their bare hands.
I’m fascinated by your view of the political systems developed by the human race to date as a binary or possibly one dimensional system jtb, it’s refreshing to know that governments and political systems are so astoundingly simple.
Agreed with KrZ. JTB types make me want to turn in my conservative credentials. Ugh.
“Jesus died for leftists, too” — You need to read your Bible more. Jesus was no conservative.
Hmm… I’m not sure whether my post deserves the hallowed status of a ‘Marmot must read’ either
Seriously, though, I know a lot of people here are not going to agree with my political views or those of any section of the Korean left. So for them my post was certainly not a ‘must read’. Hopefully though there are some people who are interested in this subject either from a standpoint of academic curiosity or political sympathy.
One other thing: this post and the other stuff I’ve written about the left in Korea are precisely designed to get rid of this idea that the whole of the Korean left is nationalist/ethnocentric/racist etc. Of course there are people like that, but to generalise this way is just complete nonsense. And ignorant too.
BTW I’m surprised Baduk hasn’t turned up to denounce me as a traitor. Is he on holiday or something?
I don’t have any quarrel with Kotaji’s pedantic and sympathetic interest in the taxonomy of sub-species of the genus Coreana Sinistir. And I acknowledge that there are some rare categories thereof, mostly academics themselves, who are not intellectually, morally and politically hobbled by the complex of afflictions that are characteristic of the Korean left as a whole. The fact remains that, as a political phenomenon (rather than a subject of idle curiosity, the elan vital of the Korean left inheres in a mentalite that best might be described as resentiment .
Marmot: rest easy; my last LRRP was 35 years and 35 pounds ago
Just thinking out loud. I wonder if slaves in Old Choseon were eligible for the exams? In the 1600s, approximately one quarter of the population was slave, so the egalitarian vision couldn’t have been shared by all. Which prods another thought. Supposedly North Korea was the most conservative part of pre-war Korea, and South Korea the most liberal. If true, the regional divide is interesting. What would a study of class origins on the left and right show? My experience in Latin America is that it is usually the sons and daughters of the upper classes who veer off to the extreme left, and the leaders of Vietnam’s early communist party were the sons of Mandarins. Would that hold true for Korea?
For Kushibo, Cuba did have a fairly good health system. Not much of a surprise, since immediately prior to Fidel Cuba had the highest number of medical doctors per capita in Latin America. But with the loss of Soviet subsidies, the health care system has taken a fall. Nowhere nearly as badly as North Korea, though.
The stats for all this presumably come from Castro’s own people, and your unstated assumption is that these are fully valid and can be unquestionably cited as a source for argument.
I would imagine that the highest-ranking medical authorities in the appropriate Cuban state ministries would not find it “healthy” to present any contrary-indicating data on the overall state of health to their “maximum leader”, wouldn’t you agree? Considering how much he has invested in the propaganda image of Cuba as one of the world’s healthiest places.
Such statistical manipulation must be similar to what goes on in the parallel NorK health ministries.
Perhaps the Cuban and NorK medical authorities can get together one day and commiserate with each other over their plight; ideally in sunny Cuba, while enjoying a Cuba libre.
It’s always interesting to see where this assumption shows up. I finally got around to seeing the notorious recent Bond film when it showed up here on pay TV here; you know, the one with the North Korean villain. (I have to agree with the Koreans who vociferously objected to it, it was pretty awful).
You’ll recall the Hollywood scriptwriters for that film took the progressivity of the Cuban medical system for granted, in that they set their fantastical DNA “transformation” facility in Cuba.
I just wanted to point out the obvious that the Korean right is just as racist, ethnocentric, bigoted as their Korean left counterpart. Only difference is political motivation. Some American conservatives seems to forget this since Korean conservative is so ultra-uber-pro-America. All those old guys wearing Korean marine uniforms burning DPRK flag goes back home and talk about how the “Jjanggae” are planning to subvert Korea. Well, I guess this viewpoint resonates well with certain americans with certain political leanings…
As the cliche goes, one’s political leaning is determined by the company he keeps.
Also I want to point out the obvious, when we talk about leftist or rightist, we are usually talking about, as definition, the most extreme wankers of the group.
It just seems to me that the Korean student radicals nowadays are just a group of kids who unfortunately, “inherited” the culture of student demononstrations without a concrete cause. Some kids join bible studies and go to church. Other kids join various dongaree and pick up a hobby. And others still, join the Demo Dong-a-ree known as Hanchongryun. Hey, it’s fun to break up crap when you are young and angry at the system.
Paul and Snow, the stats come from the CIA factbook (hence the links). Sure, we can’t know for definitively if they’re right or not. But I’m guessing that the CIA isn’t throwing in stuff they believe to be nonsense, either.
“But I?€™m guessing that the CIA isn?€™t throwing in stuff they believe to be nonsense, either.”
OK, Kushibo, I’ll take it as gospel, if you will promise to be equally supportive of all the CIA’s other assertions.
I recall the CIA produced a now-notorious study in the late 80’s, predicting the continued long-term good “health” of the USSR. Do you suppose these are the same folks who did the CIA’s factbook? And of course there’s the perpetually-to-be repeated mantra about the Iraqi WMD’s.
I’m inclined to give the CIA the benefit of the doubt, but I’m always amused by the selectivity [an unconscious one?) of the CIA’s credibility on the Democratic side of the spectrum (or perhaps I should say simply “the anti-Bush crowd”).
And even the “best case - middle case - worst case” methodology can produce egregious error, if the input data is mush; if there’s one thing the world’s dictators have learned, it’s how to anticipate and manipulate the oh-so-predictable CIA methods (all they really need to do is pay close attention to the US press).
I’ll take a look at the factbook, but absent the ability for knowledgeable independent operators to examine the audit trail of said CIA factbook, I think I’ll remain skeptical.
Infant mortality statistics are so easily manipulated in a totalitarian regime that probably nobody knows what really happens; I’d go with any anecdotal evidence from reasonably honest doctors at the local level, assuming such doctors feel free to talk openly.
The AIDs rate may well be considerably lower, I certainly hope so for the Cubans sake. But I suspect it’s likely that the transmission rate is kept low by the use of drastic quarantine measures and threats of punitive action; methods that you and many others would find thoroughly objectionable were they used in our society, Kushibo.
I wish such methods could be used here; in my mind the model for AIDs suppression should include drastic isolation, the way our society used to do for tuberculosis. I don’t dare propose this publicly, of course (other than on this relative anonymous forum); I’m definitely not in any danger from the disease myself, and I’ve no particular desire to be publicly denounced and picketed by purple-faced thousands of California “progressives”.
snow said “I?€™m just disappointed that the anti-capitalist mantra has spread throughout the world.”
I’m with ya. And considering this is a board about Korea, probably the most interesting case study for capitalism vs communism, it astounds me there are still Communists left in the world. Sixty years ago we had the same ethnic people pick their form of economics here in Korea. If anything the North had more industry and raw materials to start the race with. Well….here we are 60 years later and the success of the South over the North is amazing.