Korean Job Discussion Forums

[agentX]

The locals seem pleased with the election of Sen. Obama to the White House this past Wednesday. That's wonderful and all, but it begs the question:

Will a mixed-race Korean ever be elected to the presidency of Korea??

I asked my co-teachers about this. All I got was deadpan stares. Maybe I should've asked the question in Korean.
There is a growing number of children from international marriages in South Korea- I got my co-teachers to acknowledge this.

So, based on what you know of Korean racial dynamics, is it possible for a qualified mixed-race candidate to be elected in South Korea, or a unified Korea?

[Rusty Shackleford]

Is there even a mixed race member of Korea's legislature? Wait for that to happen before you start talking Korean Obamas.

[itaewonguy]

well its not the first time something jaw dropping has happened like that
the first elected president of korea had a western wife.. so the first first lady of korea was infact a non korean..

now regarding a mixed raced korean for president..
sure its possible..
as long as he is smart and came from harvard or something..

[Ya-ta Boy]

I agree with itaewonguy. Korea does not have the kind of vicious racist past to overcome like the countries most of us come from. In my view, Koreans are sometimes overeager to be seen as progressive and globalized.

[bangbayed]

No, and not so much because of racism. Unless by mixed-race you mean Korean-Japanese, and even that... Korea is not a multi-ethnic nation and does not have a history of immigrants building the country. If it becomes like that, then sure.

I don't see that happening "in our lifetime" though.

[bassexpander]

[Gollywog]

That's not the issue.

Mixed race is largely irrelevant to the election. For all practical purposes, Obama was Black. In reality, he was White. He was raised by White grandparents, and his Black father was not an African-American, descended, genetically and spiritually, from America's original sin of slavery; he was African. Even so, Americans elect minorities all the time. The governors of New York and Louisiana are minorities. There are Senators, Congressmen, sheriffs, state legislators, judges, etc., etc., etc., who are minorities all over the United States, including the South. This is not news. The only thing different here is that Obama was elected President.

The real issue is can Korea ever elect a real leader?

Is it possible for someone who bucks the status quo to organize a movement to make major changes to Korea, and to get elected to the highest office in the process? Could such a person create a mass movement that Koreans would donate billions of won to, and volunteer many hours of time to?

A Confucian, slavishly conformist society, such as Korea, only works when there are some wise leaders at the top directing the course of that society. As far as I can tell, Korea totally lacks political, social and cultural leadership, aside from the marketing arm of corporations, and the political arm of the KTU.

[Bigfeet]

[Kimchi Cha Cha]

[Ya-ta Boy]

[Hater Depot]

It's also interesting to wonder if an orphaned or adopted Korean could be elected. People definitely hold strong prejudices about that.

[Ya-ta Boy]

[coffeeandmilk]

[OneWayTraffic]

Of course among the younger of us, who can say what will happen in our lifetimes? It's hard enough to predict even if you're as old and wise as YaTa boy.

I'd say it's certainly possible, but we'd see nuclear fusion and world peace first.

[Gwangjuboy]

In terms of the racial dynamics I am not sure, but let's not forget that the current Korean president came from a background characterised by abject poverty.