2021.03.15 19:12
Are Koreans Human?
이민진 lectures in Harvard.
2021.03.16 08:52
2021.03.16 14:18
It is true all Koreans are not the same, but Koreans typically want to be like others.
If other people are beautifying their faces with cosmetic surgeries, many Koreans
are almost obliged to have it done. For example, nowadays many Koreans have
the same eyebrows that are permanently ingrained, men or women alike. In a way
Koreans are conformed by others. It is stressful for someone who wants to live
as he or she wants to live. Lifestyles, dresses, makeups, etc are not up to oneself
but how other people think about it.
Korean university student selection processes have changed a lot over the years.
It used to be a one-shot examination. Nowadays it is very close to the U.S. system.
They look at high school scholastic achievements, extracurricular activities and
volunteer works as well as standard examination scores. And each university
conducts an oral examination(면접). 학원(as in Min's lecture) expanded its business
variety tremendously because of the change. Now students have to travel one
hagwon to others; music, arts, sports, and sometimes doing researches in the lab
to build up specs. Of course, volunteer works during vacation. High school teachers
are sometimes bribed for better recommendations and scholastic achievement.
Some high schools encourage a group of selected students to enter SKY and
help them to do extracurricular activities and volunteer works to increase high schools
prestige. It is apparent discrimination against other students who can not participate
in the group activities. I think Min needs to do more investigation on hagwons.
It is commonly acknowledged that the root of Korean's educational drive is Confucianism,
but I think it is because of 신분차별-양반 vs 상놈. many Koreans were not even 상놈,
but 노비 and 천민. Believe it or not 상놈 means common people. Strangely enough
common Korean people had never tried seriously gotten rid of their oppressor 양반 who
deprived of 상놈. Instead, they tried their best to become like them. I think they are
still trying like hell. I think that's why parents are spending large sums of money
for their children to become a powerful person like 양반, modern-day 판 검사.
Koreans must have done 유교청산 as I stressed many times on the site.
2021.03.18 14:23
I would say such condition reflects one aspect of unavoidable steep competition in a small crowded country on top of the overheated educational drive, whether it is originated from Confucianism or cast struggle of 신분차별-양반 vs 상놈 as you pointed out. I used to believe such dedication to education was the influence of the Japanese. But I found/confirmed the same doggone condition/competition among Chinese as well as Indians through my numerous visits to these two countries with different cultures and religions.
Anyhow, I am so glad I no longer belong to them/한국인, especially for my three daughters. Indeed, the major motivation for me to call off the original plan to go back home/Korea when I achieved my primary aim here in the U.S. to get the American board of surgery and decided to stay put here in the U.S. was for these three girls’ future with such unbreakable glass ceiling for the women if I should go back to Korea to resume Korean way of life. Indeed, when I should look back, I really made the right decision not only for my three daughters’ future but also for myself to get out of 우물안 개구리 status limited to Korea, now giving worldwide contribution with due respects as much as I want.
BB Lee
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Very interesting, Dr. Ohn, but we all are so familiar with it all along!
But I was quite surprised with a death threat on her comment in regard to such popular plastic surgery among young girls in Korea, I am so disgusted as typical self-degrading behavior. Though some blame society to force (?) them to do such self-humiliating behavior as a logical excuse for survival, I rather remain skeptical on this new norm (?) only to ruin their self-integrity/self-respects.
I am sure many would disagree but-----
BB Lee