Kyonggi University professor Kim Gi-bong discusses the Virginia Tech shooting and how Korea should embrace civic nationalism. [Korea Herald] Frankly, I think this is an issue that will take care of itself—one in eight marriages last year involved a non-Korean spouse (22.68 percent in Jeollanam-do!), and the vast majority of those involved men marrying foreign women with the intention of raising families here.
Embracing civic nationalism
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I disagree on the point about this being something that will “take care of itself.” No matter how large the minority gets, this doesn’t guarantee anything being given over in the sense of rights, privileges, or citizenship.
Look at the case of Koreans in Japan, who are “foreigners” despite having lived there for 3 or 4 generations. And they’re supposedly from the same “race” as Japanese. At the very least, it’s not totally obvious in most cases that the person is even of a different origin – until you check their identity card.
And in terms of numbers, being the majority doesn’t even guarantee holding power or having rights, as the case of pre-reform South Africa should make clear.
I think there’s a loooong way to go before Koreans begin to change their conception of (and legal definition of) citizenship and the terms of gaining it. And since most of the terms of modern Korean national identity (민족, 인종, 국가, 문화) are either Japanese in origin or gained their meaning as filtered through Japan, it’s no surprise that, on the level of race and citizenship, Korea’s laws and notions are very similar to that of their former colonizer (and catalyst of modern Korean nationalism).
At this point, I’d say the treatment of foreigners (including ethnic Koreans) in Japan would be the best marker for the treatment of foreigners, as well as how non-Koreans will fare as societal members.
And let’s not forget North Korea, which I think is going to provide a lot of cheap labor and women to marry over the next several years, political conditions willing – what a perfect way to solve the gender imbalance, need for cheap labor, and preserve the minjok, all in one fell swoop, right?
I’d say look for work visas for mostly NK men and quick-marriage visas for NK women as soon as conditions allow.
And as that happens, look to the flow of no-longer-needed-and-never-really-wanted foreign bodies to be stemmed with more restrictive laws.
That’s what I’d bet money on. And the recent influx of foreign bodies into the minjok might be looked at as an interesting, but one-time-only aberration.
Are not a lot of the “foreigners” marrying Koreans actual ethnic Koreans themselves? What are the stats?
In a way, Metro, I hope you’re right about reunification, although it doesn’t look too likely as it stands.
“And let’s not forget North Korea, which I think is going to provide a lot of cheap labor and women to marry over the next several years”
Very optimistic about that one. I agree with the rest but I don’t see the gates of Kim Jong Ildom opening anytime soon.
“Heinz” Ward. They can’t get that right, and this knucklehead is talking about “civic nationalism” (shouldn’t it be civil rights?)
If you go to the Joongang site and search ‘foreign marriages’, you’ll hit a number of stories with various stats. All the stats are by nationality, though, not ethnicity. I imagine it’s hard to really define how ethnically Korean someone from Manchuria is, since Koreans have been there so many generations. Anyway, here’s one tidbit:
According to the report, among the Korean men that got married last year, 41 percent of those in agriculture, forestry or fishery chose foreigners as their brides. Chinese and Vietnamese nationals accounted for 82 percent of these women.
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2873856
“Heinz 57″ Ward.
Freudian slip, no doubt.
From the article about marriages:
That was funny as hell how they went from “more Koreans are marrying international partners” to “it’s because Korean women don’t want to marry” without any reasoning inserted between. Last time I checked, men were involved in marriages too.
I had a hard time trying to understand the point behind the article, the guy kept going around in circles.
Anyway, I know someone who attended Kyonggi University, and I asked her about the author of the article in question. Put it simply, she took some of his classes and had a very low opinion of the professor’s ability to teach.
right i think its more korean women dont want to marry korean guys
Rumours say that this Kyonggi professor is married to an Afghan woman.
this numbnut is obviously confused. cho seung hui was korean with korean citizenship. he never “became an american” but merely had a green card. it amazes me that this misinformation is still being bandied around in korea-let alone from a professor.
this was a very sick young man who did not get the help he so desperately needed. to even remotely suggest that adverse treatment as an immigrant caused his rampage does the victims a true injustice.
however, i think he does hit on something important here. without possible repercussions by oppressed migrant workers in korea, the status quo of inhumane treatment would very likely continue indefinitely.
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