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lush72
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: I am Penalty Kick!
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 Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2004 4:48 pm Post subject: Six Root Causes of the 'Korean Diseases' |
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I was speaking to a colleague this morning and the talk turned to the rampant cronyism that once defined Korean politics. I said that this was a ��social disease�� but he didn��t understand what that was. I went on the net today to find an example and found a fantastic paper written by Koreans about Koreas social diseases. They are:
Corruption (money, power, influence, connections),
Regionalism, Cronyism and Nepotism,
Compromising standards,
Extravagant weddings and funerals,
Social rudeness and the lack of compassion,
Inability to form group consensus.
The rest of the article (and its good- but its so much better because it was actually written by Koreans!) is at http://www2.gol.com/users/coynerhm/six_root_causes_of_the_Korean_disease.htm
The Six Root Causes are-
1. Lack of honesty and integrity.
This is perhaps the most fundamental of all root causes and it permeates through all levels of the Korean society, but it is more pronounced, and hence much more damaging, at the leadership class.
2. Lack of principles and mental discipline.
All too readily, Koreans constantly compromise their principles and standards for immediate expediency. Abandonment of principles and standards is in fact a norm.
3. Lack of fairness, openness and civility.
This too is one of the deepest root causes, both at individual level and at the level of systems (chaebols, role of government, political and financial systems). The lack of transparency and fairness is pronounced in the so-called "Asian business model" (which is common in Asia but more severe in Korea) wherein the paradigm of doing business based on personal and institutional connections is the rule.
4. Lack of role models.
Three pillars that help to shape individual characters and mental strength in any society are education, religion and role models. The Korean society has failed in all three categories.
5. Failure of education.
Korean education has served well in teaching knowledge by memorization (rather than rationalization). This is an unmitigated failure in helping to shape the character of individuals. In other words, a person should be educated fostering "solid citizenry" as the first order of educational priority.
6. Failure of religion.
Teachings of religion have failed to become the 'living' guide to population; religion is practiced more as an abstract concept. It has failed to change, improve and uplift the human qualities in daily lives. |
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funplanet
Joined: 20 Jun 2003
Location: The new Bucheon!
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| Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 4:09 am Post subject: |
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amazing...I agree with everyone of your points  good post |
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the saint
Joined: 09 Dec 2003
Location: not there yet...
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| Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 5:16 am Post subject: |
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| funplanet wrote: |
| amazing...I agree with everyone of your points good post |
Me too... however, I can't help but think that your points would apply, with a bit of latitude admittedly, to pretty much any developed country I can think of. |
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the saint
Joined: 09 Dec 2003
Location: not there yet...
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| Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 5:20 am Post subject: |
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Having now read the article and the "note" beneath it, this interested me
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| I believe that business relations based on personal ties (i.e., Jung) are one of the root causes of social malaise in Korea. |
Being a newbie here, this is the first i've heard of Jung.
Anyone got anything to say about it? |
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The Lemon
Joined: 11 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 5:32 am Post subject: |
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| the saint wrote: |
Having now read the article and the "note" beneath it, this interested me
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| I believe that business relations based on personal ties (i.e., Jung) are one of the root causes of social malaise in Korea. |
Being a newbie here, this is the first i've heard of Jung.
Anyone got anything to say about it? |
First, thanks Lush for the great piece. It's debatable whether I'd ever be willing to bring such an article to an adult free talking class, given how touchy they are about criticism of their country, and that it's from Korean-Americans probably makes that even worse, not better.
About "jung" - I'll defer to others with a better background in the culture, but the descriptive part of the end-note jives with what I've understood "jung" to mean. Here's where the Korean-American on a business trip has just been handed an envelope from one of the local Koreans he's been dealing with:
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I asked him what it was. Of course, my suspicion was 'money.' He told me it's money, a small token of gesture of their appreciation for our visit to Korea. I said 'no' immediately explaining to him that the token will make things more complicated than necessary. He insisted that this was an expression of the 'Jung,' that is based on traditional close friendship.
This was the most difficult issue to deal with as a Korean American. He was pushing the most sensitive button in human relations in Korea. 'Jung' is the fundamental fabric of social relationships. No one dare to refuse or deny the 'Jung' in Korea. Doing so is a suicidal behavior. I saw myself on litmus test and the possible answers were 'no' or 'yes,' nothing in between. |
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coolsage
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: The overcast afternoon of the soul
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| Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 7:26 am Post subject: |
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| I was with you until you mentioned religion. Organized religion is one of the most destructive forces on the planet, as evidenced in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. (Not to mention the good old USA, where faith-based Bush is conducting his crusade under the guise of democratizing a nation against its will.) Keep religion out of your argument; your point will be better taken. |
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Confused Canadian
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 7:54 am Post subject: |
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| coolsage wrote: |
| I was with you until you mentioned religion. Organized religion is one of the most destructive forces on the planet, as evidenced in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. (Not to mention the good old USA, where faith-based Bush is conducting his crusade under the guise of democratizing a nation against its will.) Keep religion out of your argument; your point will be better taken. |
'Tis not lush72's argument. Comes from the article.
Confused Canadian |
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Jensen
Joined: 30 Mar 2003
Location: hippie hell
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| Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 9:18 am Post subject: |
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| coolsage wrote: |
| I was with you until you mentioned religion. Organized religion is one of the most destructive forces on the planet, as evidenced in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. (Not to mention the good old USA, where faith-based Bush is conducting his crusade under the guise of democratizing a nation against its will.) Keep religion out of your argument; your point will be better taken. |
Religion is a necessary evil, a Korea (or an America) without religion is impossible. Religion has failed miserably in Korea, both the older traditions and the newer imports. Christianity in particular should, and could, be providing a tempering altruism in the dog-eat-dog world of Korean capitalism, and the blame for its failure to do so can be laid squarely on the shoulders of the moksas, samonims, and their simpering sanctimonious ilk. They could do good if they chose, their followers are willing, but instead they chase money and power and fame, squalling and clawing like under-fed alley cats.
Many Christian organizations in the US, and probably some in Korea, do a great amount of actual "good." Medical treatments provided, hungry stomachs filled, homes built, children nurtured and cared for. These things should hapen without scriptural justifications, but it's better that they happen for emotional, or even irrational, reasons than not at all. Unfortunately, as you've pointed out, the current politicization of fanaticism in the US, which is only superstition carried to it's logical conclusion, is truly frightening, as is the double-speak that uses a rhetoric appealing to traditional religious sentiments..."...kinder, gentler..." (shudder). |
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peemil
Joined: 09 Feb 2003
Location: Koowoompa
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| Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2004 12:12 am Post subject: |
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| Oh yeah... That's the ticket... |
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rapier
Joined: 16 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2004 12:20 am Post subject: |
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amazing and all true.
This accounts for the general lack of solid, stimulating, and admirable characteristics in about 99% of koreans. |
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crazylemongirl
Joined: 23 Mar 2003
Location: almost there...
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| Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2004 12:59 am Post subject: |
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| coolsage wrote: |
| I was with you until you mentioned religion. Organized religion is one of the most destructive forces on the planet, as evidenced in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. (Not to mention the good old USA, where faith-based Bush is conducting his crusade under the guise of democratizing a nation against its will.) Keep religion out of your argument; your point will be better taken. |
that's bollocks how many athesit orgnaisations do you see organsing homeless shelters, soup kitchens etc. One of the fundmental tennants of communism is a reject of religon. I think the problem with the places you mention is fundmentalism. A healthy dose of skeptism and tolerance for others are very important no matter which alter you worship at (and yes that includes atheists). |
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Jensen
Joined: 30 Mar 2003
Location: hippie hell
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| Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2004 1:26 am Post subject: |
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| crazylemongirl wrote: |
| ...how many athesit orgnaisations do you see organsing homeless shelters, soup kitchens etc... |
But even though atheists don't generally band together in groups defined by their common status as non-believers, it wouldn't be fair to assume that believers have a monopoly on altruistic efforts. I think an existentialistic approach to this type of work leads to a more level-headed sort of do-gooder, more actual good done with less talk, and less show. One example is emergency services in the US that rely on thousands of volunteer EMTs and firefighters, and my experience has been that these folks are a pretty even cross section of the general population. Some are very religious, some aren't. |
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Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2004 3:25 am Post subject: |
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| Should this be a sticky? |
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kiwiboy_nz_99
Joined: 05 Jul 2003
Location: ...Enlightenment...
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| Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2004 3:52 am Post subject: |
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Me too... however, I can't help but think that your points would apply, with a bit of latitude admittedly, to pretty much any developed country I can think of.
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I don't think so. I think these problems are quite specific to Korea, and if they occur in the west they much less rampant ... it's a good list, this place is truly tragic |
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Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2004 3:58 am Post subject: |
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| Should this be a sticky? How about putting it in the Korea Job Information Journal? |
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