Korean Job Discussion Forums

[pest2]

I read somewhere that the number of inter-racial marriages in Korea has increased exponentially in the past few years.

One effect of this for the future of the country will be the introduction of many mixed ethnicity people to the formerly homogenous population.

One reason Korea can seem like a racist country is (arguably) that the people, bless their hearts, simply havent had alot of experience with others who are not of exactly the same ethnicity... whereas in most other countries in the world, there are multiple common ethnicities living in the same country, Korea, until now, has just had Koreans.

As apologist will be quick to point out, almost every country in the world has had problems with racism and discrimination. What makes the current situation of those countries different is that they've already gone through the cultural and legal toils of dealing with and resolving conflicts created by racism/different races living together in the same country whereas Korea has not.

One thing we know about racist discrimination is that, despite its net effect being stronger and more noticeable in multi-ethnic societies -- simply because there are more people at risk of conflict and therefore more incidents of racial discrimination -- societies that are mostly homogenous with just a few people of other ethnicities experience a greater intensity of conflict/racism PER PERSON OF OTHER ETHNICITY. (based on nobel award winning paper published by a political scientist i cant remember details now).

So, for the near future of Korea, as I see it, there will be a sh1tstorm of conflict as mixed ethnicity Korean citizens begin to fight for rights in the naturally-racist, formerly homogenous society to which they are born... And for people who say, "Korea is racist but it is changing because there are so many mixed marriages and births now," I respond that it will get a helluva lot worse before it gets better.

[GoldMember]

Unfortunately in our own countries there is some racial discrimination. The good news however is for people who are discriminated against there is legal recourse and the discriminators can be punished. Although not a perfect sysyem, at least such systems are in place.

In Korea there is no recourse, those who are racist and in positions of power such as the police, teachers, judiciary and government officials, can continue their racist behavior with no disciplinary action taken against them. Look at the Police and Judiciary, useless and incompetent, they keep their jobs!

The Korean legal system offers few protections for the average Korean. It is designed as a tool of control for the rich. If the legal system won't protect average Koreans, it definitely won't protect non Koreans.

Koreans themselves don't care about racism. When DDD workers demonstrate for better conditions, how many Korean nationals, join them and support them? Near zero. People also don't care about children being slaughtered by reckless drivers, and other issues. Lot's of apathy and ignorance here.

There are very powerful (Chaebol) interests that want to maintain the system as it is.

[Julius]

[bigverne]

I think you may be overstating the number of inter-racial marriages. The majority of 'international-marriages', are actually between Korean citizens and ethnic Koreans from China, Japan and the USA.

[Kenny Kimchee]

[Typhoon]

Racial minorities in other countries were given a voice and equal opportunity in other countries. That is why there was social upheavel and race issues. They had the right to fight. In Korea this is not the case and will not be the case. If someone is not Korean, they are not Korean and should not be treated as a Korean. They are an outsider, or foreigner no matter how long they live in Korea. That is the culture that Korea has made based on the relationships of Confucius (SP????). There will be no fighting or issues about race in Korea becuase the gov't will not allow minorities enough power to fight for the rights.

[Ya-ta Boy]

Depend on pest to only see the negative.

In fact, the government has created a series of programs and campaigns to ease the transition to a multiethnic society. The reaction to the UN report on discrimination a month or so ago was overwhelmingly positive.

Will the process be without problems? No. Will it go more smoothly than it has in the West? Probably.

[bassexpander]

This country is built on, and survives by the Korean racial theme of one Korean nation. When conquered multiple times in the past by Chinese, Japanese, etc., they have gone underground and kept their original Korean hierarchy intact.

It will be a cold day in hell before anyone not of pure Korean blood can become president of this country, for example.

[The_Conservative]

[pest2]

[pest2]

[pest2]

[The_Conservative]

[pest2]

[Yaya]

Don't forget that many international "marriages" are for convenience, as Korean nationals get cash for being spouses on paper. Trust me, the Justice Ministry is getting wind of this.