Korean Job Discussion Forums

[legalquestions]

An article in the Korea Times today talks about the growing number of "biracial" kids in the more rural areas of Korea (Korean men marrying Vietnamese, Filipino,Chinese, etc. women).

How can these children be called biracial? After all aren't all of these people (husbands, wives, children) all members of the Asian race? Biracial implies two different races doesn't it?

It would be like me, a white American, marrying a fair skinned Scandanavian and then calling our children "biracial." But they wouldn't be any more biracial than these children mentioned in the newspaper.

[Captain Corea]

Depends on your definition of 'Race'.

[bassexpander]

It depends on the definition you use for "race."

In the past few years, there has been a quiet push by people to change "race" to mean smaller divisions of groups. For example, in the past, we considered "Asian" a race. Now, some groups/countries have, in the interest of solidifying their invidual identity, sought to re-define "race" in dictionaries and in online sources such as Wiki.

Just using Koreans as an example of an Asian race -- for no other reason to make a point -- it's easier for someone to say, "You're discriminating against Koreans!" if the term "race" is defined differently than in the past. In the past, if someone found fault with Koreans, it was difficult to cry racism if that same individual didn't show angst for Japanese, Chinese, or other Asians, for example. But if we consider Koreans a different race from other Asians, then the "racism" card can be used.

So in the past few years, the definition of "race" has been changed. Some accept this, and others don't.

[harlowethrombey]

lol

as a fun test tell a korean and japanese guy they're the same race.

(or a chinese and japanese or a chinese and korean, you get the idea)


CC is right, it depends on what you mean by 'race'. Dont think about this topic like a westerner.

[ryoga013]

How dare you compare the mighty Korean race with that of the dirty, dirty, SEA races!

That's how a fair amount of Koreans would reply to that. They believe that Koreans are of pure blood, that throughout history despite the countless, countless times of being overrun pillaged, made Asia's ... that every Korean woman chose honor and killed herself if she conceived a barbarian's child.

[Gimpokid]

The reality is "race" is anything you feel like cooking up. What if a scandanavian married a greek or Italian? Would they have multiracial kids. What's the difference between a coloured South African and a person of color in America?

Evidentally Koreans consider themselves a distinct race. it really mean nothing, because if these kids learn Korean chance are nobody will ever be able to tell.

[mysterious700]

[tacitus14]

Some of you are getting at this...I thought I'd say this..

Race is based on examining physical characteristics that are chosen arbitrarily. People are indeed different, but to priviledge one characteristic over others, say like the amount of melanin in skin and define a people based on these characteristics is without scientific merit. There's only one human race walking around on this planet. To split them into groups is a cultural construction, not a scientific one.

I won't both going into the cultural biases of science, but discussion of race always reminds me of phrenology...

[Joe666]

I believe the Koreans are "genetocentric" to a moronic degree. It's possible that they recieved so many ass kickings over the last 10,000 years that it eventuallt lead to this idealism. I brought up the Mongolian immigration to the area of Korea/Japan, 10,000 yrs ago etc. The kids were pretty pissed off. In reality, all over this planet, people have been mixing their genes for millions of years. In the grand scheme of evolution and time, there is no more pure race of humans of any kind. If you want to hate or dismiss a particular people, don't use RACE (however you define it) as an excuse. I have no problem disliking or hating a particular people based on their ideas or culture, But don't be a donkey and say it's based on RACE. The whole marriage/genetic logging of the family tree in the planet K is a little extreme!!

[Unposter]

Tactitus 14 has the right idea here.

And, I think the OP makes a legitimate point. They should not be called bi-racial; they should be called bi-ethnic or multi-ethnic children.

The fact that it was written in an English-language newspaper makes it even more important that intelligent people point out the mistake.

[Jane]

Why not use the term 'bi-cultural'?

[bluelake]

Most Korean academics in the area of history I know don't dispute that the Korean peninsula was populated by people from all over the NE Asian region. They quickly acknowledge that Koreans came from many differing groups: Yemaek, Buyeo, Malgal, Khitan, Okjeo, etc.

The students in the Korean history classes I taught were mainly Korean nationals. Not once did a student ever take exception to verifiable historical facts. I think it is all in how something is presented; if it is done in a way that will make someone feel defensive, you may get a negative reaction. If, on the other hand, you present it with well-reasoned, supported facts, people will usually listen.

You can even discuss sensitive matters that may not always toe the national line. A few years ago, the Korea Times interviewed me about Goguryeo. My stance is the kingdom was neither Korean nor Chinese--it was a separate country unto itself. From all accounts, the language and culture were unique. At the end of the Three Kingdoms (late 7th century), Goguryeo was fractured but not destroyed; it reformed as the Balhae kingdom. It wasn't until the Khitans took over that region that the descendants of Goguryeo moved (early 10th century). A majority of them joined with the Goryeo kingdom (935-1392), thus making "Goguryeo" de facto Korean.

[English Matt]

[harlowethrombey]

[Milwaukiedave]

Interesting conversation...