For a country that makes frequent references to its national pride, it appears Korea has surprisingly little of it.
A University of Chicago survey placed Korea 31st out of 34 countries surveyed in national pride. Japan placed 18.
The United States topped the list, while bringing up the rear behind Korea were eastern Germany (not that western Germany was much higher), Poland and Slovakia.
Finland placed 14th, destroying Olympic ice hockey gold medalist Sweden, which placed a mere 25th.
33 Comments
isn’t Germany one counrty? And the UK? Aren’t they like 5 countries?
My two won: Koreans get uri nara dinned into them from birth, and it evolves into nationalism rather than patriotism…the journalist Sydney J. Harris defined the distinction better than I could:
Patriotism is proud of a country’s virtues and eager to correct its deficiencies; it also acknowledges the legitimate patriotism of other countries, with their own specific virtues. The pride of nationalism, however, trumpets its country’s virtues and denies its deficiencies, while it is contemptuous toward the virtues of other countries. It wants to be, and proclaims itself to be, “the greatest,” but greatness is not required of a country; only goodness is.
Damn, I wanna rematch of that survey.
And, isn’t Taiwan a renegade Chinese province, heh?
This video begs to differ:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....=t&f=b
Michael
I agree with most of what you say. From what I can gather, Koreans have (or had) the nationalist bullshit drummed into them at school to a degree that the average North American, and certainly the average European, would find shocking.
But I don’t think America is immune to fits of nationalism according to the definition you provide, especially among those toward the right of the political spectrum. Criticism of the States, whoever it comes from and however well intended, is so often dismissed as “Anti-Americanism.”
There is, I think, a sizeable chunk of opinion in the States that holds a) the American model to be inherently superior in almost every regard, and b) America has little or nothing to learn from overseas.
Michael,
That’s a great definition.
Erik Ritter von Kuehnelt-Leddihn, the self-described “ultra-rightist arch-Liberal,” described Patriotism as Rightist and Nationalism as Leftist.
Here’s more: Patriotism vs. Nationalism.
D.Mouse, you’re right, the amendment to ban flag burning, the abductions by the CIA, the attacks on the media by the Bush administration over the latter’s increasingly nonsensical abuse of civil rights, and so on, all don’t make me too proud of my country right now. But even this kind of crap is not irreversible, hopefully the next administration will end the more egregious abuses and we can get on with life.
Katolik Shinja, your post is interesting as well–since moving to Korea the whole “nationalism as a social construction” thing has become abundantly clear
The dictators in Korea did a great job building up nationalism along with the economy, or so that they had a motivated workforce.
katolik shinja, nationalism may have leftist elements in its modern incarnations — look at Korea, Venezuela, and so on — but it was historically something the left opposed, since international class-consciousness was the paramount concern of the left, and nationalism was a stumbling block to that consciousness. Similarly, nationalism was historically a right-wing phenomenon in countries which already had well-established national identities (Germany, Greece, etc.). The lines get muddled when we talk about stateless nations, such as the Kurds. Among these groups one finds both left-wing and right-wing nationalists.
And Marmot, man, did you see the Chicago researcher’s declaration that Korea, Japan, and other Asian countries probably ranked lower because it’s considered bad luck and rude to boast about things in Asia? Has he ever even talked to a Korean?
so, america is patriotic while korea is nationalistic. do i have that right? that’s interesting because we can see that yahoo american patriotism brings about the death of 30,000 civilians while korean nationalism brings about the crashing of the fifa website.
please open your eyes.
korean nationalsim is harmeless. american patriotism, as practiced by the good ol boys, is downright deadly.
‘pawi, have you no shame?’ won gyun
well, yes, i do. i feel shame that koreans eat dogs.
30,000 civilian deaths? So simplistic…In a part of the world where death was meted out so regulary the American presense has simply redirected it away from Kurds and Shiites towards the Sunis, the previous lords of chaos in Iraq. But of course with Americans there the media are all over that like stink on shit. They didn’t care one iota when people were dying away from any American presence. America’s presence saves lives. Ask the Kurds!
Korean nationalism is harmless? Only because it hasn’t achieved the means to wield it. The spirit of nationalism here is in the same vein as Deutschland, Deutschland über alles, Über alles in der Welt!
Korean Nationalism is going down a road that will show how much of a threat it has really become, given the same opportunity and motive as the 3rd Reich.
Korean nationalism is not harmless in the form practiced in the North, which has led to the death of millions.
There is no shame in eating dogs.
Here’s the link to the study: http://www-news.uchicago.edu/r.....lpride.pdf
Please read the study in its entirety, as most news reports I have read have misrepresented the results of the study.
The study defines “patriotism” and “nationalism” as follows: “patriotism is love of one’s country or dedicated allegiance to same, while nationalism is a strong national devotion that places one’s own country above all others.”
The study found that, of 34 countries surveyed, Korea was 19th in “nationalism” (comparable with Japan, Israel, Finland, and Portugal) and 29th in “patriotism.”
I would argue that an average Korean is, as the study shows, neither very patriotic nor nationalistic. The primary reason they are perceived as “nationalistic” by ex-pats is their strong inclination to hide any and all weaknesses in front of “outsiders.”
“The pride of nationalism, however, trumpets its country’s virtues and denies its deficiencies, while it is contemptuous toward the virtues of other countries. It wants to be, and proclaims itself to be, “the greatest,” but greatness is not required of a country; only goodness is.”
Sometimes I think some expats in Korea are living in another world. Most Koreans would not claim that their country is the greatest on earth. That is just a stereotype held on by the expats who get their impressions from the Konglish media. This poll is consistent with my opinion.
The “nationalism” of Korea is not about Koreans thinking that they’re the greatest people and that other peoples’ virtues are inferior. Koreans themselves are some of the harshest critics of Korea, and biggest admirers of Western culture. If not so, how is it possible that Korea is rapidly changing based on the western model? Just because Koreans don’t like to display their shit in front of foreigners doesn’t mean that they don’t acknowledge the bad in front of Koreans.
Rather, the “nationalism” of Korea is about protection and struggle against perceived and real injustices from the outside forces, against Korea. This explains such components like VANK, netizen attacks on foreign servers, 2002 candle light demonstrations, Tokdo
It’s also about fullfilling the national desire to transform Korea, from a weak and helpless country, to a globally respected strong developed country. This explains why the need by Korean media and academia to constantly compare of stats and figures with other nations that are perceived as more developed.
“Koreans themselves are some of the harshest critics of Korea”
Some Ns are calling others Ns and, to show that they are not Ns, they are so eager to diss his brothers.
WonJoon Choi, for example.
For outsiders, he is N, too. The more he paints his brothers black, his face looks darker to non-Koreans.
Black comedians used to make a living by dissing other blacks. How lazy they are, how ignorant they are, etc.
But now, few black comedians do that. They have learned the fact when, they diss other blacks, they are dissing their race. So, they stopped, mainly for their children’s sake.
When would Koreans learn this simple fact?
Matthew, did you ever co-star in a film with Matthew Broderick?
Curiously the top of the list seem to be largely English-speaking countries or places with high English proficiency (Philippines and Israel).
I’m wondering if the study is either too kind to the Anglosphere, if English speakers are automatically more ‘patriotic.’
I think if the survey were couched in terms of minjok (ethnic or racial) pride, Korea would shoot up near the top. Isn’t it ethocentrism that causes outsiders in Korea or readers of a pawi or bluejives screed to bristle and which explains South Koreans’ sentimental attachment to North Korea?
CM,
Koreans do not claim to be the greatest nation on earth, but they aspire to be, and they specifically aspire to “beat” their rivals, Japan and the US. I saw in two different places the same symbolic wish:
A Samsung commercial during the 2000 Olympics featured that famous marathon runner whose name escapes me. His mother was shouting “him ne!” as her son was running past the other competitors. In the next scene, we see the Korean marathoner standing on the gold medal podium, flanked by bronze winner Japan and silver winner US, represented by a black man.
This same “beat Japan, beat the US, be #1″ dream appeared on the last page of a manhwa style children’s history book of Korea. The last chapter talked about Korea’s economic development and achievements like hosting the 1988 Olympics. The very last cartoon showed a proud Korean man with his shoulders erect, striding ahead of a multinational crowd. In the front row were a blond man dressed in Uncle Sam garb and a Japanese man holding a rising sun flag to help the kiddies figure out he was Japanese. Both were gaping with mouths open in surprise at KoreaMan out in front of the world, and the Korean language caption expressed as much.
Koreans don’t think they’re #1, but they certainly give the impression they’d like to be.
As for “real and perceived injustices,” you lumped together quite a diverse set of examples, “VANK, netizen attacks on foreign servers, 2002 candle light demonstrations, Tokdo”
We know all about Korea’s past and its geographical position. It would be interesting to compare the attitudes and worldviews of Koreans with the Polish. Their nation, too, is sandwiched between two giants, and with no oceans to protect them, other armies have marched back and forth across their land, whose borders have changed so many times.
You have described well Korea’s self-perception of its history and place in the world, but the problem is, our perceptions are not always natural responses to reality. They can be distorted or even manufactured. I have heard from Koreans a number of times and read in Korean literature statements like, “No other country has suffered like Korea has” or “Few countries have a history as tragic as Korea’s.
Huh? Isn’t the history of Africa and the Middle East taught in Korean schools?
I really wish Koreans wouldn’t dwell so much on their past tragedies and lost hopes and appreciate in a healthy, non-nationalistic way, the wonderful nation they have built.
Yes, I know. Korea is divided. The minjoks of Africa are separated by borders drawn by European colonizers. The native peoples of the Americas lost most of their lands a long time ago. Koreans apparently think their sufferings don’t matter because they aren’t a “danil minjok.” I read once in one of the newspapers the following statement,” Korea is the only ethnically homogenous country that is divided.” Notice how that statement was qualified by the word “homogenous,” as if the division of an ethnically hetergeneous country is less significant. If Abraham Lincoln were alive today, I don’t think he’d agree.
Koreans themselves would be better off if they viewed their historical sufferings in a global context.
CM, take my views in the spirit in which they are given. I like and respect Korea and Koreans very much. I would like more Koreans to develop a healthy respect for their own country and its place in the world.
Spain ranking over Korea????
Something’s wrong with this …
Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.
Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind. (Albert Einstein)
“Koreans don’t think they’re #1, but they certainly give the impression they’d like to be.”
And that comes right back to my previous point. Koreans badly want to see their nation take its place and be recognized as a highly industrialized economic power. Wishful dream? Maybe. But it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re trying to say Korea is better than US or Japan (the commercial that you’re talking about).
Back when I was in Korea, my students would often break out the ‘Korea is the only divided country’ statement from time to time. I would usually reply with something like ‘Oh? What about Cyprus? Or Ireland? Or the Roman Empire?’ I suppose adding ‘ethnically homogenous’ might bolster the argument, but it only really holds true for certain definitions of ‘homogenous’ and ‘country’. After all, one could easily say that many of the pre-colonial African nations fit both descriptions, especially where the colonial carving up of Africa put many members of those nations cross-border with their kinsmen. Likewise, the phenomenon of African slavery certainly divided many countries by sending a good chunk of their population overseas, even if the actual borders might not have changed at the time. Would Austria and Germany count?
On the other hand, ‘homogeneity’ greatly depends on how you define it. If you don’t do so fairly narrowly, you tend to end up with the view that all of Northeast Asia is pretty much ethnically homogenous (which didn’t serve Japan very well in WWII). On the other hand, draw it finely, and you find that Korea has a pretty large amount of diversity in its ‘homogenous’ ethnicity. I suppose ultimately, it also comes down to how you define an ‘ethnic group’. Given the relative levels of animosity and difference of opinion between the various regional factions in modern South Korea (let’s not even mention North Korea), it might be difficult to say that ethnic homogeneity in Korea is anything more than a common myth. But I don’t know that I want to exactly stand behind the position that ‘Korea is the only divided country where people have deluded themselves into believing that they still constitute (or ever truly constituted) one people’. It just doesn’t have enough of a ring to it.
Just on a side note… don’t expect the ‘divided nation’ rhetoric to end if North and South Korea ever do finally decide to do more than just talk about ‘reunification’. After all, there’s still Gando.
CM,
I participate in a weekly Buddhist meditation/study group. Our prayer chant includes this oft repeated phrase:
To see things as they really are.
Koreans need to ditch that “yaksoguk” mentality NOW. Economically speaking, Koreans haven’t been a small, weak country since the 80s. Maybe Koreans don’t recognize their global economic power, but most of the rest of Asia does. Qingdao, China, my home for four years, boasts an expat population that is 90% Korean. The city government kissed Korean butt to win a 40 million dollar LG petrolchemical processing plant two years ago, and our school was pressured by the Qingdao Education Commission to let in the kids of LG executives regardless of their English. Korean-owned businesses large and small have boosted the local economy, and the Chinese respect Koreans for their economic achievements and close economic ties. Korea is one of only two countries honored with a week-long festival sponsored by the Qingdao Municipal Government.
Throughout Asia, billboards with Korean names like Samsung and Hyundai can be seen in cities and small towns. Korean-made appliances fill prime floor space in department stores in China, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. Korean-made products are prestigious in Asia outside of Japan. Chinese women splurge on Korean-made cosmetics and learn the secrets of Korean beauty in fashion magazines. My custom tailor in Qingdao stitched Korean labels into her clothes.
Korean expats are all over East Asia and moving into Europe and South America, CM, mostly working for Korean-based multinationals or as small business owners. Who do you think is buying all those Samsung phones, Hyundai cars, and LG TV sets? The world, that’s who.
Koreans badly want to see their nation take its place and be recognized as a highly industrialized economic power. Wishful dream? Maybe
Koreans already ARE!!!
Their per capital GDP was over $22,000 in 2005, and they are ranked 12th in the world in terms of total GDP. That’s 12th out of 200!
Here’s the crux of the matter, CM. Koreans are never ones to rest on their laurels, always trying to do better. That’s great. But sometimes this strength can be a weakness when it becomes competitive. Look the “il-deung” madness in schools. Even the kid who’s #1 can’t feel too satisfied because #s 2, 3, 4, and 5 are gunning for him.
If Koreans feel they still “haven’t made it,” it’s because they see only the handful of nations that enjoy a higher standard of living than Korea. They do not see all those countries, the entire continents of Africa and South America, whose economies are behind Korea’s.
To see things as they really are
Hmm ..Korean National Pride..Patriotism..Nationalism..
I remember that I started my elementary with “Can do” campaign on Sae Ma Eul WoondDong in 70s, and I witnessed how previous régimes love to use “We DID, We can do just like all developed nations” theme to the people. My generation taught and learn by teachers and older generation that “We could only survive or catch up when we *only* work hard, study hard”, Social welfare, living conditions…not even on agenda until 80s.
In 80s as a college student, I start hear about GwangJu and working condition of blue collars and all other harsh conditions. My generation had college life with tear gas but we also experience and learn that “We can - change”
Starting 90s, Gov lift up the restriction on media that we could easily access different views of current affairs. There was Liberals, Lefty over conservatives…they all could make voices. Even more College students afford travel to abroad with backpack experiencing a bit more outside of well.
Also, Korean Gov. pushed information Highway that could show the world that “We can do it”. Internet connected Korean to the world.
Ironically, the Internet also accelerated Korean to share all the shadows that forgotten for decades under the name of development. I, just like other millions of Koreans, realized that how far we are behind to develop countries in terms of standards of living conditions. And realized how much we are ignored in the main stream of world.
And another bomb, IMF woke up most 30s and 40s that there’s no more life-time job and “hard work” does not guaranteed job and realized how weak was Korean economy….
My younger brothers, the Young Generation in 20s or teens (majority of Naver.com), grow up with more disposable incomes, overflow of information with internet and mobile.
They grow up as more N.I.M.B.Y and far more exposed to western culture. They grew up to believe that “information via internet” are mostly true and depends on it.
They share all the information via Internet and mobile. They also experienced “We can do or We can beat” other developed countries over 2002 World cup even if it could happen with lots of help from ref. and experienced that how powerful was 2002 candle lights demonstration. World cup 2002, They were not afraid of “Red” and started to were “TagGukGi” that my generation or older didn’t even try.
These bla bla influenced so much on Korean main stream generation, in their 20’s 30’s 40s or early 50s including myself thru the experiences and Internet.
So..
No surprise for me that Korean’s National pride ranked 31st out of 34 countries.
Why?
Korean rated political influence, economic success, sports and history by comparing developed countries. I would rate same level on the survey by comparing other developed countries.
And as cm wrote clearly “Koreans themselves are some of the harshest critics of Korea”, I would not compare with less developed countries. Simply that’s not the way of “We can” sprit.
The other side of coin on these “We can” is , powered by Internet, that these experiences lead the Korean public to be more nationalistic towards domestic issues such as USFK, Dokdo, World cup since it involves other country that we could show them “We can”. Even if the issues were dangerously manipulated by media and internet.
I don’t know how my Konglish provided a Korean view on these issue. Just that there would be less rant and criticism over the issues if you do start accept as we are.
My turn to weigh in on the ‘koreans are’ fest. Sonagi, I don’t think it’s simply a matter of greed, or of a refusal to consider anything but the next notch on the totem pole of prosperity. (Nor do I think you think only that, I’m merely responding to your last paragraph above for argument’s sake.)
I mean, yeah, the above is true. Koreans do want to do better, no matter what. And Korea is rich, and with that wealth comes an inevitable complacency: Koreans care a lot less about ‘big ideas’ these days, and much more about their washers, dryers, toy dogs, funny blue visors…
I do get CM’s point tho. There IS a sense of anxiety, or at least of fragility when it comes to Korea’s new-found wealth. It’s based on sweat and hard work, after all: Korea doesn’t earn easy billions off of tourism since there isn’t too much left by way of natural beauty, and architecturally speaking there isn’t a great deal of history left on the peninsula, aside from garishly bright reproductions of structures razed to the ground many times over the centuries.
THe IMF crisis exposed a number of things, but the strongest impression it left behind I’d say is a powerful sense of both how hard-fought and how fragile Korea’s prosperity is.
And if Korea’s refusal to be a kinder, gentler Korea is based on a lingering sense of victimhood, well yeah…damn that’s tedious. But Koreans aren’t JUST a bunch of crass, heartless nouveau-riche arrivistes. (Tho they certainly are that.) You’d be surprised, for instance, if you actually asked some of the blue haired and Burberry-bedecked ajimmas on the street for their opinions on a few subjects. Take development and poverty, for instance. Now, the typical visored and permed ajimma I’m propping up for argument’s sake might not be Amartya Sen on the topic, and Allah only knows where she gets her information from, but even if it’s based on wrong/no information, I’d take a chance and bet that what would emerge would be a sense of empathy with the difficulties faced by (insert poverty stricken nation here.)
I took my aunt and uncle to Hanoi 4 years ago, for instance, and they loved it: the energy, the bustle, the squalor. I hadn’t seen them for years but my uncle in particular surprised me with the thoughtfulness of his observations on all things big and small down there. Naturally, he also was greatly smitten with the vigor with which the Vietnamese set about doing things. More impressively, and surprisingly, he expressed a kind of wistful, head-shaking remorse over the fact that the origins of Korea’s economic miracle lie (in his opinion) in Vietnam: according to him Hyundai and other chaebols initially stayed afloat and grew through US military contracts to build infrastructure in South Vietnam. Then there’s the ugly fact that the few Korean marines fighting along side the Americans were even more vicious than their Yanqui counterparts….again tho I was impressed that he showed such a fine appreciation for the nastiness–and cost–of Korea’s economic success…
I’m on my 4th beer now, and am no longer sure if this is even coherent. Cutting to the chase:
Granted, one big reason for that response would be the fact that Koreans, especially of his generation, are full of maudlin sentiment…and especially when it comes to suffering. Still, that’s infinitely preferable to a boorish reaction along the lines of “where’s that country?! And don’t they eat people there?” one would expect from other quarters.
That said, I’m still waiting for the sorts of insightful and empathetic things I hear from many Koreans, not just my uncle, to manifest itself into more substantial phenomena: like 1) a denser, more sophisticated civil society, with more NGOs focussed on a broader expanse of issues, and not just Korea-based issues at that; and 2) a decent Korean government that’ll finally accept that Korea is a rich nation, and should start seriously thinking about what the hell it wants to achieve with the money it gives, now that Korea’s a money-lending nation.
luke drift
..
That I wanted to add…
I googled to find the actual survey and here it is:
http://www-news.uchicago.edu/r.....lpride.pdf
Reading the questions asked and the actual results reminded me that little news stories like this one can misrepresent research.
Below are the questions:
GENERAL
strongly agree/agree/neither agree nor disagree/disagree/strongly disagree
1. I would rather be a citizen of (country) than any other country.
2. There are some things about (country) today that make me ashamed. (I corrected a presumed typo in the survey)
3. The world would be a better place if people in other countries were more like (country).
4. Generally speaking, (country) is a better country than most other countries.
5. People should support their country even if their country is in the wrong.
SPECIFIC:
How proud are you of (country) in each of the following?
very proud/somewhat proud/not very proud/ not proud at all
1. the way democracy works
2. its political influence in the world
3. (country’s) economic achievement
4. its social security system
5. its scientific and technological achievements
6. its achievements in sports
7. its achievements in arts and literature
8. its armed forces
9. its history
10. its fair and equal treatment of all groups of society
As the top of p. 2 notes, the two statement groups have a different tone. Group 2, domain specific, is “not overtly nationalistic, imperialistic, or chauvinistic.” Group 1, general, asks respondents to explicitly express their country’s superiority and even put country over morality (Q5).
The scoring explanation is found on the first page. Scoring the general section is easy, a 5-point scale with “strongly agree” the highest and “strongly disagree” the lowest. Scoring the second section seemed complicated. If I understand it correctly, only “very proud” answers are counted, so with ten questions, the lowest score is 0 and the highest 10.
Given the chauvinistic nature of some of the questions in the general section, a high score is not desirable, in my opinion. Below are some general scores:
Venezuela - 18.4
USA - 17.7
Australia - 17.5
Canada - 17.0
Russia - 16.7
South Korea - 16.0
Japan - 15.9
Britain - 15.1
West Germany - 14.5
I took the survey myself for my own country (the US), Korea, and China. My results:
US - Korea - China
GENERAL:
1. D - D - SD
2. SA - A - SA
3. D - D - SD
4. A - A - A
5. SD - SD - SD
SPECIFIC:
1. SP - SP - NAP
2. SP - SP - SP
3. SP - VP - SP
4. SP - SP - NVP
5. VP - SP - VP
6. VP - VP - VP
7. VP - VP - VP
8. NVP - SP - NVP
9. SP - SP - SP
10. SP - SP - SP
RESULTS:
US - KOREA - CHINA
GENERAL: 10 - 11 - 5
SPECIFIC: 3 - 2 - 3
According to these results, I am as proud of Korea as I am of my native country and significantly less proud of China. Hope Jing doesn’t read this!
“Economically speaking, Koreans haven’t been a small, weak country since the 80s. Maybe Koreans don’t recognize their global economic power, but most of the rest of Asia does.” - Sonagi
I think Luke Drift counters your point very nicely:
“a powerful sense of both how hard-fought and how fragile Korea’s prosperity is.”
I don’t think not too many Koreans aren’t aware of Korea’s recent rise in prosperity. What they do have though is the recognition that it may not last, that it can all dissappear with a twinkling of an eye. They see with unease, the growing influence of China, compared to Korea - a nation sandwiched between China and Japan.
Thus explains Korean media’s constant obsession with the “Hallyu Wave”. Behind the fascination of seeing Korean pop culture being recognized and admired in Asia, there’s an overwhelming sense of wanting to be reassured - reassured that Korea has indeed arrived, and that it will stay there. To me, it’s a sign of national insecurity. Thus in turn explains why Koreans go ape shit over a scene in a James Bond movie (a scene depicting a poor Korean farmer plowing his field with an old ox). Koreans roll their eyes and say “MASH, here we go again, why do they (Westerners) continue to make fun of us? Can’t they see we are not poor anymore?”
Take the English Spectrum controversy for instance. What is the common denominator complaint that you read from Korean netizens? It’s the old “they’re still treating and disrespecting us like Third World people!”.
I think this type of sensitivity based on insecurity is also one of the major contributing factors to Anti-Americanism amongst the youth.
Sonagi - in case you’re interested:
http://www.djspooky.com/articl.....s_mix.html
for a compilation of buddhist hip hop. Just a suggestion
Thanks for the link, Luke. I must be lacking a plug-in because I couldn’t get the music to load. I”ll figure it out.
In case anyone takes the patriotism survey, I should add that general question #2, about shame, is a negative question and should be scored in the reverse with “strongly agree” given the lowest score of 1.
The nationalism practised in the North is only one facete of an complex, insane personality cult with ingredients of stalinism, confucian malpractice and paranoid isolationism.
That said, the chance of Korean nationalism transforming into a type of going-abroad-and-killing-other-nationals is far beyond being realistic. If Korean nationalism does damage, than it’s always narrowed to a domestic space.
Luke_Drift:
> Korea doesn’t earn easy billions off of
> tourism since there isn’t too much left by
> way of natural beauty, and architecturally
> speaking there isn’t a great deal of history
> left on the peninsula, aside from garishly
> bright reproductions of structures razed to
> the ground many times over the centuries.
Man, do I strongly disagree with every phrase of this statement. The only reason that Korea doesn’t earn billions more from international tourism that it already does is that it’s many sites of extreme natural beauty and excellent architectural relics (many of the stone ones over 1000 years old, and quite a few mostly-wooden buildings between 200 to 620 years old) are not nearly as well-known as they should be, mostly due to historical circumstances. South Korea boasts a tourism-site legacy that easily compares with — in most cases supasses — any comparable-sized territory in all the other countries of the world.
Signed,
Professor of Korean Tourism