In Korean society, most Koreans consider Korea
as racially homogeneous nation. This is a common belief among Koreans, and even
textbooks define Korea as a racially homogeneous nation. Assuming that Korea is
a racially homogeneous nation, I started to wonder about the definition of
Minjok. If Korea is a racially homogeneous nation, we would be able to define
what ‘Minjok’ is by thinking of the characteristics of Korean society. If
Minjok is defined as people who share same blood, there is a contradiction
since it excludes the multi-cultural families. In addition, in Korea Dynasty
back around eleventh century, many monarchs were engaged with Chinese monarchs,
so it is incorrect to define Minjok as community who share same blood. If
Minjok is defined as community of people who share same culture, such as
ideologies and languages, it is incorrect since it excludes Korean residences
abroad. Thus, I personally believe that it is extremely difficult to clearly
define the concept of ‘Minjok’.
According to Benedict Anderson’s ‘Imagined Communities’, he admits it is hard to define the concept of Minjok, but that Minjok itself poses great importance. He states that the concept of Minjok was formed because people wanted to be treated equal, and liberal from Kings and Popes. Kings and popes in the medieval period were considered to be the ones who were selected by god, and in contrast, the public wanted an ideology that can bring every member of the society to an equal stance. Thus, we can infer that concept of Minjok can be described as something that unites every member of the community, guaranteeing equal social level. Later on, in the 18th century, Johannes Gutenberg invents printing technology, and brings shift to the concept of Minjok in each society. As printing is developed, and as languages are translated into other languages, there increased communications, and understanding of other cultures. This event can be interpreted as a catalyst for globalization, and complex concept of Minjok. Benedict Anderson also describes that Minjok can be split, by exemplifying the independence war. Americans were originally British, but as they settled in the new colonies, two societies began to show differences in languages, religions: they became two distinct communities. With this, in ‘Imagined Communities’ the author argues that it is hard to clarify the concept of Minjok, but that it is undeniable that the concept of Minjok is useful in causing illusions, and is related with the identity of people.
It is definitely
difficult to tell what Minjok is, but to help the understanding, it is better
to think that Minjok is similar to a community that shares similar characteristics.
Then, how did the definition and role of ‘Minjok’ Korea changed overtime?
Korean society can be divided into mainly 6 eras: Danggun, The period of three
states, Korea Dynasty, Chosun Dynasty, Colonial period, and now. In the period
of three states, Shila, Baekjae, and Kokureo, three states shared the same
roots of Danggun, but their political actions were based on their interests. In
Korea Dynasty, though is lost significant amount of land of Kokureo, it was the
first time that Korean Minjok were assimilated, and started to share similar
characteristics. Such characteristics further developed in Chosun Dynasty, but
during the colonial period of Japan, there were severe damages on Korean
identity, and what it means to be Korean. Scholars such as Shin Chaeho, Seu
Jaepil, and Lee Gwangsu tried their best to keep the cultural identity, but it
was not able to fully resist the policies of Japan. After Korea became liberated,
in 1960s and 1960s, President Park, Jeonghi introduced the concept of Minjok by
using the legend of Danggun and Baekdusan. This necessary illusion of Minjok is
what actually we believe as the concept of Minjok these days. We now believe
that as a Korean Minjok, we all share some homogeneity, that we are from the
same root Danggun, that we are polite country, that we all love Kimchi. Such
are definitely arguable. For instance, by arguing that we are polite, it is an
overgeneralization, and at the same time implies that other countries are not
polite compared to Korea. However, it is indisputable such illusions were necessary
in the development of Korean economy.
Not
only Korea, but also in Europe, we can find some characteristics of Minjok. In
Europe, concept Minjok is defined as nationalism. Before the 18th
century, many people were generally loyal to their religion or to a particular
leader than their nation. Thus, citizens were eager for a securing system,
liberal from popes and kings as mentioned earlier. Therefore, they started to
create the emergence of a public sphere. At first, the concept of ‘belonging to
a same community’ meant having same ancestry, and same ethnicity, such as
Germanic people, Latin people, Anglo-Saxon. However, as time passed, the concept
‘Civic Nationalism’ became popular, which defined ‘belonging to a same
community’ as having equal and shared
political rights, and being allegiant to similar political procedures. Therefore,
not only in Korea, but also globally, it is plausible to infer that the concept
of Minjok itself is related with community.
Back
to Korea, what would be the most accurate meaning of Minjok? Considering the
situation of Korea, it is divided into North Korea and South Korea. The characteristics
of communities in North Korea seemed to have changed after 1950. The country is
under communism, having close relationships with China rather than South Korea,
and most importantly, merely affected by the globalization. Meanwhile, South
Korea is now one of the well-living countries, with economic boom and spreading
of Korean culture called Hallyu. Such contradictions between two countries, who
were actually integrated 63years before, can be interpreted as the effect of
globalization. Globalization has definitely changed the life style of people.
In North Korea, Kim Ilseung, Kim Jeungil, Kim Jeungeun has formed a society
that is barely able to contact with the outer world except China. Due to this,
the history of Korea Dynasty, and Kokurea-one of the states in ‘the period of
three states’, are being distorted by the Chinese government by the plan called
‘Dong Buk Gong Jeung.’ In contrast, the South Korean government is trying to
have more contact with the global society, such has holding treaties, and
investing on other nations. Thus, such different actions of government could be
said to have distorted the meaning of Minjok to both countries.
There are things to retain, while there are things to discard. Obviously, to use the concept of Minjok effectively for Korea, there are things to retain and things to discard. For instance, like the 2002 world cup, and efforts people put on to host the 2018 winter Olympics, concept Minjok should definitely be something that can aggregate people, unite people, and lead people to bring advantages to Korean society. Nevertheless, since it is evident that people, despite of continuous globalization, Korean will never forsake the virtue of being Korean, as mentioned in professor Shin, Gi Wook. Thus, it is clear that Korean will have strong pride in being a Korean itself, which means there is potential risk of discriminating other people. Such discrimination, and tendency to look down on other people residing in different community, should be discarded. The concept of Minjok was, is, and is going to be in Korean heart always, but we should never forget to use it properly.
Noam Chomsky 'Necessary illusions'
