There has been a story attached to Koreans’ travels to Europe: racism. Koreans who have visited to Western countries may have experiences of racism, ranging from cat calling to being targeted in hate crimes. Actually, within the international society, Koreans usually take the position of the victim of racism. However, what if we narrow it down to Korea, focusing solely on the domestic society?
The OECD classifies a country as multicultural if it has a foreign population of at least 5%. According to data released by the National Statistical Office last year, the rate of immigrant population is 4.9% of the total population, and the rate of international marriages is 10.3% of the total marriages. In 2022, the number of multicultural students in elementary, middle and high schools was also 169,000, which has increased 3.6-fold in 10 years from 47,000 in 2012. As these surveys show, the complexion of racism in Korean society has increased. Let's discuss the direction to progress and address the appearance of racism in Korean society just before entering a multicultural society.
In Korean society, the fact that we are the perpetrators of racial discrimination against other Asians is not well mentioned, compared to many experiences as victims of racism. However, research cases prove that Koreans are internalizing a hierarchical view of Whites and Asians. Dr. Noh Kyung-ran and Professor Bang Hee-jung (Department of Psychology at Ewha Womans University) surveyed Korean college students’ preferences for each other race group consisting of △ White △ Korean △ Black △ Southeast Asian in the study 「Explicit and implicit attitudes toward race in Korea」. According to the survey, Koreans had the highest preference for white people, and Southeast Asians and blacks had the lowest preference. Especially, the preference for Southeast Asians was remarkably low compared to other foreign students staying in Korea.
As such, there is a bias in Korean society that treats whites relatively high and Asians low. Professor Son In-seo (Sociology Department) pointed out, “It is confirmed through various studies that Koreans have racial notions that are more favorable to white people than the same Asians,” adding, “In most mass media programs featuring foreigners, white people are portrayed as modern people and Southeast Asians as pre-modern people.” For example, whites in Korean dramas are often described as admired groups engaging in professional jobs, and Southeast Asians are often described as sympathetic groups such as the lower classes of society.
There are many reasons why Korea has these aspects of racial discrimination; it is about interpretation that Korea’s intermediate position in the international society has had a significant impact. According to the term ‘intermediate country’ first used by Professor Jeong Hoe-ok (Department of Political Science and Diplomacy at Myongji University), although Korea is in the world’s top 10 economically, it is still difficult to regard Korea as an advanced or developing country considering various aspects. That’s why she coined the word; intermediate country. It can be said that racism in Korea is distinguished from other racism in that it is affected by the target of discrimination’s economic situation. This feature is noticeable when aspects of discrimination are different, depending on whether the target’s nationality is the United States that is perceived advanced or African countries that are perceived underdeveloped.
Also, the concept of ‘Western racism’ is also used to explain Korean racism. In the process of achieving modernization, Korea uncritically accepted Western literature, textbooks, academic books, and media, and accepted Western racist perceptions together. This means that the internalization of racism has resulted in Korea identifying itself with the West, and discriminating against other Asians (ex. Chinese, Southeast Asian) like ‘we are different Asia.’
In addition, Koreans’ antipathy toward all foreigners regardless of race is relatively massive. According to the 2018 General People's Multicultural Acceptance Survey, Korea recorded an overwhelming figure compared to the United States/Germany/Sweden/Australia in these questions; 1) favor of hiring its own fellow countrymen when jobs are scarce, 2) do not want to have foreign workers/immigrants as neighbors. It is true that Korea has a short history of ethnic diversification. Therefore, there is still a lack of awareness of global citizens based on the tendency of emphasizing a single-race nation and community.
On the other hand, South Korea joined the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in 1978. However, in 2018, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination(CERD), which is the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination by its States parties, pointed out that Korea hasn’t been working on a law and banning racial discrimination despite the CERD’s recommendations in 2008 and 2012.
<Excerpts from UN recommendation>
‘The Committee regrets that once again the State party has failed to adopt comprehensive legislation that prohibits and defines racial discrimination, in spite of the Committee’s previous recommendations. ··· Furthermore, it is concerned about the absence of a provision in the Criminal Code establishing racist motives as aggravating circumstances leading to enhanced penalties. ··· The Committee reiterates its recommendation that the State party expedite the adoption of a comprehensive law that defines and prohibits direct and indirect racial discrimination on all prohibited grounds. ··· The Committee reiterates its recommendation that the State party expedite the adoption of a comprehensive law that defines and prohibits direct and indirect racial discrimination on all prohibited grounds.’
Just a little search on the Internet will give us access to many racist groups. They claimed people have to take care of their fellow citizens, not immigrants. However, the more people suppress immigrants and social minorities living in Korea with racism and hatred, the more the overall level of human rights and solidarity will be retreated.
For example, let’s look at the Small and Medium Business Federation's argument that migrant workers should be paid only 80 percent of their wages in the first year, 90 percent in the second year and 100 percent in the third year since the minimum wage has risen. Also, they argued that more immigrant workers are introduced to small and medium-sized enterprises. These arguments could deprive immigrant workers of a legitimate offer, which will act as a downward pressure on wages and eventually affect the wages and employment of domestic workers. (As companies try to use more cheap migrant workers.) Solidarity is needed for domestic people and immigrants to promote rights together.
Experts point out that “racism is not an individual’s fault but a historical construct”. This means that racism should not be treated as a problem for each perpetrator or victim, but it should be immediately recognized that racism has existed deeply in Korean society. The cause of the phenomenon must be accurately diagnosed to come up with a solution. And only when discussions on racism are activated can the discussion continue at the social structural level and further suggest the right solution. Populations with diverse cultural spectrums are increasing, and in order to move toward coexistence with them, it seems that it is time for discourse related to racism to surface.
For example, in Germany, a representative multi-ethnic country, civic groups are actively making efforts to address various issues on racism. In Berlin, where more than 40% of the population has a migration background, about 30 multiracial groups work in solidarity with the common values of anti-racism within one district.
As Korea is becoming a multi-ethnic country where diverse races live together, we should be sensitive to racism. Have you ever looked at the other person with a discriminatory view involuntarily? If so, it is a moment when decisions are needed, no longer embarrassed. In order to ensure that everyone who lives in this country feels safe and happy, we should reflect on the fact that we have been silent on racism and should start active discussions on it.
source : https://www.ildaro.com/9740