Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nautilus]

Judging by the way Koreans swear under their breath and move away from wherever I am sitting....no.
But the recently founded Korea multicultural Congress (KMC) is planning to rectify all that.


Korea Times march 31

Kwon Young-kee, president of the Korea Multicultural Congress (KMC) says "education" is the key to promoting multiculturalism in Korea.

"There are around 1.2 million foreigners in Korea, but the number will soon rise to 4 to 5 million.

He noted that multiculturalism is a necessity, not a choice, citing Korea's low birthrate.

"Korean women deliver none or only one child, while married immigrants have three or four. In some 50 years, the faces of Koreans might change, too," Kwon said. "If it is unavoidable, we have to open up our hearts and break away from the stereotype of the homogeneous ethnic group."

According to Kwon, social welfare makes up just a small portion of multicultural issues. "Multiculturalism is a concept that should be discussed at the historical and philosophical level.

Within several years, children from multicultural families will be reaching the age to enter mandatory military service, but the Ministry of National Defense may not be prepared to accommodate them. "Should we mix them with Korean soldiers in barracks or segregate multicultural soldiers?" Kwon asked.

He also thinks it is crucial to train civil servants in multiculturalism. "Government employees distribute social resources and they have to properly understand and realize what multiculturalism is," he said. "We will have many professors interested in multiculturalism at our research institute, which will be established in April."

Another factor will be to educate children. "Young children need to understand that we live with people who might look different and being different is a sign of diversity, not a bad thing.

Kwon hopes that within 10 years, Korea will become a society where people feel comfortable with those who look different from them. "Some might still feel reluctant, but when the majority open up their hearts, Korea will be a truly multicultural society."
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/04/117_63403.html

[TK421]

Has to start somewhere. Hopefully this upcoming generation that we're currently teaching will change things. The only Koreans that I'm friends with are ones that spent time abroad. I don't think that's a coincidence that those are the ones willing to give me the time of day. I don't think it's a coincidence that those are the ones that don't show signs of extreme geographical and cultural ignorance.

[oldfatfarang]

I was thinking about all this 'globalisation' and 'multi-cultural' stuff just last weekend. I was walking through the red light district to get to the public bus terminal (a weekly jaunt). I passed a nightclub that has hundreds of little foreign flags flying outside it's main entrance. Quite impressive - especially with a huge sign in English (NIGHT CLUB).

I had to laugh, as I remember walking past this place last year - much later at night - and having the bouncers walk out and gesture "No way you're getting in here" gestures. As if I'd want to.

Multi-cultralism and globalisation. I don't think so. Not yet, anyway.

[Ukon]

[Olivencia]

Like an on the spot amputation. There will be screaming and crying and cursing because of it but in order to survive it must be done.

[AsiaESLbound]

Materialistically yes, but culturally no. They embrace the worldly material trappings, but not the foreigners. I was walking down a city street today and a man in his late 40's stopped, stepped aside, gave me a hateful face, and pointed for me to move away. I just said, "adjoshi, what?" He scampered off as if he were scared of me. Because he is xenophobic, he simply could not just walk by me without being rude. These sorts of awkward situations are a daily occurance multiple times so it's not just a few isolated incidents like it might be in most countries, but Korea is not most countries. Korea is for the Koreans only, but it will probably be more open to multiculturalism in 10 or 20 years from now. An unintended effect of the English teaching will be a Korean people who act like people do in most places giving no special attention to those who are a bit different than themselves. I mean what if you were in the West, you seen an Asian man walking towards you, stopped, gave him a mean face, and pointed for him to move away? Think about it.

[crossmr]

[Yangachi]

[nautilus]

[crossmr]

[misher]

[crossmr]

[caniff]

I'm no fashionista, but I've found dressing well seems to work wonders with the older crowd's attitude.

[PatrickGHBusan]

For what its worth...considering the low birth rate in Korea (like other countries..ie Japan), immigration and the ensuing multi-culturalism will become economically inevitable at some point.

What will be interesting then is HOW this is handled....it can differ from working reasonably well in Canada to creating a sub-class of people that are treated as social outcasts like non-whites in France...

Pick your poison.

For what its worth...multi-culturalism and mass immigration has started creating social tensions in Canada in recent years.

Social change, esperically when its so fundamental tends to do that.

In the Korean context there will be some unavoidable growing pains but I would not go and conclude that all Koreans would react in unison one way or the other. Variances will occur depending on age for example.

[CentralCali]

Worked really well for Betty Osborne, didn't it?