Korean Job Discussion Forums

[retrogress]

There's been some discussion on this forum about the MC/2MB protests recently. After nearly 4 years in the country, off and on, there isn't much that suprises me. There isn't really much that I really care about here, to tell the awful truth. However, during these days, I've had a chance to talk to my co-teacher, someone who I admire a lot. She seems more reasonable than most people that I have met, and she said something to me a couple of times--it didn't register until the second time she said it, so I let her explain what she meant and I came to a different understanding of the recent riots and what they all mean.

Her explaination of the way "the protesters" are feeling was naive in some ways, but so sincere that I couldn't simply pass is aside as naivity or ignorance. It seemed genuine and heartfelt. She said:

"We Koreans don't really know what Democracy is. We see what happens in our country and we think: this isn't democracy."

When I pressed her to explain, she said that with democracy the people should have a voice in things that happen (such as decisions to import this and that, go to war, whatever). Her talking reminded me of a 9th grade civics course that left me feeling really confused. When I was 14, I decided that America didn't really have a democracy because we the people don't vote for anything that happens in our country. There are local votes (for example, should our county be wet or dry?--for the Canadians out there, a dry county is one where you can't buy booze).

While I listened to my coteacher, I suddenly had quite a lot of sympathy for the cause, though at the same time I was wondering how a population could have such a terrible misunderstanding of what democracy really is. But then I thought, why shouldn't they be disillusioned.

Let's look at another example: Take Buddhism for an example. It's not a good one, but it will do. When we first learn about it, we see it as an ideal religion, a higher enlightenment so to speak. Then we read about it, some adopt it, some "become" it. As time goes by it is revealed as a whole and TADA! it's just another religion.

I think that for Koreans this is happening to some degree. They "think" that democracy is going to bring some power to the people. But we "know" that it really doesn't. So we look at them and we say, "Well, you elected him. What are you complaining about? Just wait 4 years." And when Nafta happened to N.A. even people who were opposed to it just kind of shrugged as if to say, "IT's in the hands of those to whom I gave the power to. Let them deal with it". In the US especially, we tend to beleive that punishment comes by not being re-elected.

On a side note, my co-teacher couldn't understand why, when Bush went to war in Iraq, that Americans let it happened. She wondered, "Do they [the citizens] want to go to war?"

What do you think?

[nautilus]

Koreans don't have a clue about democracy. Its all about not offending those in power, and believing all the propoganda you hear.

I am sick and tired of hearing irrational, emotional koreans trying to blame america for all their problems. i'm no great fan of the US either but its just pathetic to listen to their victim complex over and again.

If they want democracy first they have to get a free, independent and impartial press.

[doc_ido]

Your co-teacher doesn't have a "terrible misunderstanding" of what democracy is - her view sounds more like what it should be. And it sounds like your thoughts in 9th grade weren't too far wrong - in other, some would say more democratic, countries (e.g. Switzerland), referenda are held regularly so that the government doesn't forget that it's supposed to be representing the electorate (instead of doing whatever it feels like, including stuff it wasn't elected for).

Don't forget as well that 2MB was elected with 49 % of the vote on a 60 % turnout, so there are plenty of people out there who feel misrepresented.

I actually really hope that Koreans keep their protest culture - if they're going to go down the Western economy/government roads then they'll be needing it.

[Ya-ta Boy]

"Democracy" in the modern world is used as shorthand for "democratic republic" (rather than, say, 'aristocratic republic' or 'theocratic republic'). There is a lot of misunderstanding because of that shorthand. It's unfortunate that more high school civics classes aren't more clear about the differences. It leads to a lot of misunderstandings.

On top of that, Lee has not handled himself well here at the start of his administration. Didn't he appoint his entire cabinet from the richest 1% of the population? His bulldozer style has opened him up to legitimate criticism from the opposition. It hasn't helped that the opposition is about as amoral as they come and are brazen about exploiting the public's fears and the governing party's weakness.

You might mention to your co-teacher that the official name of this country is REPUBLIC of Korea, not Democracy of Korea and encourage her to do some reading about political philosophy.

[retrogress]

[Captain Corea]

[PBRstreetgang21]

Are you implying that North Korea isnt democratic? I mean what more democratic support can you have than EVERYONE agreeing that one guy really is that Christ-like. He has more people saying Seig Heil than 2MB so he has more democratic authority, its all from the power of the people, he cant stop it if they love him that much!


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[Unposter]

Retrogess,

Great Post!