Just over 100 years ago Shin Chae-ho, a Korean independence activist and historian, published a Korean history book in which he set forth the concept of Korean pure blood. He created this concept as a counter to the Japanese attempts to assimilate the Korean people. At that time the Japanese were trying to convince the Korean people that they were of the same racial stock. Shin’s new mythology was therefore necessary to protect Korea and its culture. Fast forward to the present day and South Koreans have grown secure enough in the strength and viability of their country and their culture to begin to fully include foreign and multicultural individuals in their society.
This embrace of the outsider is obvious to anyone who walks the streets of Seoul, Busan or other major cities in South Korea. In addition to the ubiquitous native English teacher there are professionals and blue collar workers from a myriad of countries. These days South Korean companies and universities regularly employ foreigners in positions of great responsibility and power. Individuals with foreign or mixed-race backgrounds are professors at major universities, lawyers at top law firms, and executives in large Korean companies. And perhaps the best example of this new inclusiveness is the recent elevation of an individual of Filipino descent to the National Assembly.
Although many in South Korea embrace this new multiculturalism some continue to demonstrate their ignorance by espousing a racially biased viewpoint. These individuals still adhere to the outdated and nonsensical idea of racial purity and view outsiders as a threat. But these individuals need look no further than Japan, the country which inspired the concept of Korean pure blood, to learn the folly of their thoughts. Even as the world has changed the Japanese have refused to deviate from their misguided xenophobic path and have not allowed outsiders to participate meaningfully in their society. The Japanese have suffered economically and socially because of this policy. The country faces an imminent downgrade of its debt and is forecast to suffer declines in gross domestic product, general productivity and population over the next 30 years. The United Nations estimates that Japan will need over 17 million immigrants by 2050 in order to maintain a productive economy. Considering that Japan currently has less than 2 million immigrants in a country of around 127 million people, there is little expectation that Japan will achieve that goal and even less expectation that Japan will turn around its sagging fortunes.
How different is the South Korean experience. In a country of 48 million the number of individuals with non-ethnic Korean background has exceeded 1 million and the number of individuals with multicultural backgrounds is growing exponentially. Moreover South Koreans, despite occasional missteps, are learning from the talented foreigners and multicultural members participating in their society. This rapid internationalization of the South Korean populace will soon change what it means to be proud of South Korea; for being proud of the economic, cultural and social achievements of one’s country is qualitatively different than inane boasts about one’s gene pool. The former is respected, the latter is awkward. And these days the world recognizes what South Korea and the South Korean people have achieved in the last 50 years without any need to resort to farcical notions.
But ethnic Koreans should also be reminded that outsiders and foreigners are no longer to be feared. The foreigners who live in South Korea are not part of an occupying hostile force bent on eradicating the Korean culture; these individuals are now active members of this society with a vested interest in improving this country. While often critical of problems perceived in South Korea, these criticisms are offered with the hope of improving the country for all residents, regardless of ethnicity.
Therefore, for the benefit of everyone in South Korea, the National Assembly should decree that the children of every resident will obtain South Korean citizenship by birth without regard to their ethnic background. Thus the nationality law should be amended so that it is no longer based on the notion of heritage but instead be territorial based. This change will help complete the transformation of South Korea into a multicultural society no longer constricted by outdated notions of racial homogeneity that were never more than a puerile ploy used in an attempt to resist an outside aggressor.
As South Korea continues to move purposefully towards a multicultural future one feels a sense that this country will not follow Japan down the xenophobic road to self-destruction. The South Korean experience is in marked contrast to the Japanese experience and bodes well for the future of South Korea. For all non-ethnic Koreans who reside in South Korea this gives us great hope for the future of this nation and for our chance to contribute to the place that we call home.
By Daniel Fiedler
Daniel Fiedler is a professor of law at Wonkwang University. He also holds an honorary position as an international legal advisor to the North Jeolla Provincial Government. ― Ed.
