Session 5 - November 12, South Korea Today

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What are society and culture like in South Korea?

Video: Society and Culture in South Korea

 

 

Readings (download below):

• Akli Hadid, “South Korea Redefines Multiculturalism,” The Diplomat, July 18, 2014.
• Victoria Kim, “Empowered by #MeToo, a New Generation Fights Sexual Abuse in South Korea’s Schools,” Los Angeles Times, February 22, 2019.
• Anthony Kuhn, “South Korean Women ‘Escape the Corset’ and Reject Their Country’s Beauty Ideals,” NPR.com.
• Justin McCurry, “Spycams, Sex Abuse and Scandal: #MeToo reaches Korean Pop,” The Guardian, March 22, 2019.
• James Palmer and Ga-Young Park, “South Koreans Learn to Love the Other,” Foreign Policy, July 16, 2018.
• Troy Stangarone, “Gender Inequality Makes South Korea Poorer,” The Diplomat, June 14, 2019.
• Ophelie Surcouf, “Gender and Genre: BTS versus Blackpink,” Asia Times, May 17, 2019,
• Optional: Ruth Holliday and Joanna Elfving-Hwang, “Gender, Globalization and Aesthetic Surgery in South Korea,” Body & Society 18 no. 2 (2012): 58-81.

 

Attachments:

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[Billie Johnson]

Video

[Billie Johnson]

The video and readings from this week really highlighted the stark differences between North Korea and South Korea.  South Korea is a much more open society unlike that of North Korea which also has its pros and cons. Quick question: Is this open society a result of the relationship between South Korea and America? The society is very much partiarchal but with the #MeToo and 'Escape the Corset' movements, there appears to be a shift and change in mindsets.  Women taking ownership of their bodies and prioritizing their careers has had a direct impact on birthrates as well. I wish I could say I was surprised by the scandalous behaviors by many men in power, but America has desentized me to what should be shocking. When you mentioned the 'Train to Busan' I smiled because it is such a good movie.  I watched it a couple months back and have been bugging my husband to watch it for some time.  He finally watched it and he loves it too.  In many ways, I'd say that South Korea reminds me of America. Also, in terms of multiculturalism the South Korean government is making efforts to increase its birthrates by becoming more open to foreigners. Thinking about the obsession with the standards of beauty, #MeToo movement, fight for womens' rights and equality, balancing multiculturalism, and how power and money can sometimes be a dangerous combination.  

Reading that even 'Koreans are not very good at explaining their own culture' was something that I found shocking. With the decline in birthrates and men marrying foreign women there has been that disruption in the passing on of culture because of the differences in language and even making traditional Korean meals.  I'm certain that in the years since South Korea Redefines Multiculturalism was written that there has been much more progress in the realm of what it means to be South Korean. However, it seems that their is a shift in the county towards becoming very much Americanized. There may be off shoots of groups who define what it means to be South Korean to them.  In America you will get many different answers when you ask about the culture because we are not a homogenous nation. More research is warranted on my part to see how things are shaping out now, or maybe I will learn more from our call.

[Genny Tye]

This week was really interesting to look at the current cultural influence in South Korea. At my school I am the advisor for the Korean Activities Club, so this week I smiled because items mentioned in the PowerPoint and readings my students talk about at each meeting. For examples last meeting they were obsessing over Koreans Soap operas I should watch. We YouTube a few videos and it reminded me of the telenovelas my abuelita watches. So to see Korean shows being mentioned really connected with me. I guess in my mind I had a different view of a very different Korea. An image I have from K-pop groups, beauty ads, and Korean Soap Operas. But that has changed. In the article on Multiculturalism it was interesting to see how South Korea embraces other cultures compared to the previous readings and topics. I found this fascinating how quickly South Korean culture has changed since the 1990s. Few things I was fascinated about South Koreans culture was the double eyelid surgery. I had to look this up because I was not aware of the name. After watching 30 minutes of videos on the surgery, it really helped me understand the beauty standard more set in Korea. Especially when it is considered a rite of passage. I enjoyed the article about the corset movement where the photographer was photographing Korean women fighting back against what has been come socially acceptable.

As I am finishing my response, some members of my Korean Activities Club are performing to K-pop videos on YouTube. It is really fascinating to see how obsessed my girls are by K-pop, the discussions they have about the groups, the meaning behind songs, and their obsession on learning new things about Korean culture. I have defiantly had my share of K-pop videos and discussions on the meaning of the bands. One thing I found interesting about the K-pop groups is are the flower boys. Before I had started learning more about K-pop I wondered why the boys seemed so nice or affirmative in my opinion. It was interesting to see how the K-pop boy bands have evolved, especially when you look the first group of Seo Taiji and Boys who seemed more aggressive. But they were fighting or writing against the government. Perhaps with South Koreas rapid modernization they have evolved k-pop to represent a more neutral or as BTS says “love yourself” image. I really enjoyed this week’s readings.

 

[Jennifer Jung-Kim]

Here's an article about societal changes brought about by the 52-hour work week.

http://koreabizwire.com/shorter-workweek-brings-seismic-change-to-overtime-culture-in-s-korea/139809

This is an article about the Seungri/Burning Sun scandal.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2019-11-06/k-pop-s-dark-side-assault-prostitution-suicide-and-spycams

 

[Sonia Arrayales]

I can't log on to chat

[Duane Johansen]

Here's the link to the movie: https://www.viddsee.com/video/human-form/vtirm. I love viddsee. It's a great platform to just play around on, and the videos are all short enough to use in the classroom. There's also an AMA (Ask Me Anything) with the director about the film that's available. https://www.viddsee.com/community/ama-i-am-the-filmmaker-of-human-form-viddsee-shortee-apr16-204

[Billie Johnson]

Hi Genny,

Your class sounds really interesting! I didn't know K-Pop was a thing until taking this class.  I'm going to bring this up as a discussion topic in class and see where it goes.  Feel like I need to get caught up with the times.

Thank you.

[Angelique Callicoat]

This week's lecture, readings, and discussion were really engaging. I didn't think I would be as interested in South Korean culture as I was in North Korea's mysterious one. My initial motivation in taking this online class was mostly based in learning more about North Korea. But, as a high school teacher, I think I could build stronger classroom connections between South Korean themes and texts. 

For instance, I am planning to update my unit on The Definition of Beauty with some South Korean informational texts. I particularly like the Holliday and Elfving text about the lengths people will go to--distance and financial--to meet a definition of beauty. I think my students would really enjoy learning about the innovative yet complicated beauty regimens, along with the changing definitions of masculine beauty and feminine beauty, especially when compared to their American counterparts. 

I really wish I had asked about the history of the Korean (North and South?) spa culture and if perhaps the South Korean fixation with beauty can be traced back to this. Given that both genders have traditionally used and benefitted from such regimens--scrubs, soaks, steam, massage, exfoliation--perhaps this is why there's not a whole lot of stigma surrounding elective, vanity precedures. 

I would also like to know more about how migrant brides assimilate into the South Korean culture. Are there organizations that help these women find resources like social and support groups, language education, job training, and cultural education? And I'm sure there is someone out there writing from the perspective of a mixed-race child born in South Korea--maybe a memoirist or a novelist. Any suggestions? My final question, and I should have asked it tonight, is what is the direct translation of the South Korean term for "migrant bride"? I imagine there is a colloquial version of that term, just like Americans have terms like "war bride" or "mail-order bride", with just a tinge of derogatory judgment. 

I really enjoyed the discussion and texts this week. Happy Tuesday, everyone. 

 

[Angelique Callicoat]

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/23/business/south-korea-makeup-plastic-surgery-free-the-corset.html

[Angelique Callicoat]

Thanks, Duane. 

[Jennifer Jung-Kim]

I'm not able to see the video. 

[Jennifer Jung-Kim]

Thank you! Here's a PDF in case you can't access it. 

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[Jennifer Jung-Kim]

Angelique said: 

I really wish I had asked about the history of the Korean (North and South?) spa culture and if perhaps the South Korean fixation with beauty can be traced back to this. Given that both genders have traditionally used and benefitted from such regimens--scrubs, soaks, steam, massage, exfoliation--perhaps this is why there's not a whole lot of stigma surrounding elective, vanity precedures. 

--> In the modern period, people used to go to bathhouses because some people didn't have hot water in their homes until the 1970s. That evolved into spas because people no longer have to go to bathhouses to take baths. There's probably some correlation between beauty, wellness, and plastic surgery, but I wouldn't try to link them too closely together. 

Angeliques also said: 

I would also like to know more about how migrant brides assimilate into the South Korean culture. Are there organizations that help these women find resources like social and support groups, language education, job training, and cultural education? And I'm sure there is someone out there writing from the perspective of a mixed-race child born in South Korea--maybe a memoirist or a novelist. Any suggestions?

--> First, when a Vietnamese woman applies for a marraige visa, the South Korean government requires that they take courses in Korean language and reach a minimal level of proficiency before getting the visa. South Korea also provides classes on cooking and culture to help them in Vietnam.

Once they get to Korea, there are organizations also but they may not have ready access, depending on their location and ability to get around. 

I can't think of a good fictional work, but here are a couple of more academic books: 

https://www.sup.org/books/extra/?id=8887&i=Table_of_Contents_pages

https://www.tacoma.uw.edu/news/article/assistant-professor-explores-korean-identity-new-book

 

My final question, and I should have asked it tonight, is what is the direct translation of the South Korean term for "migrant bride"? I imagine there is a colloquial version of that term, just like Americans have terms like "war bride" or "mail-order bride", with just a tinge of derogatory judgment. 

--> "Marriage migratipn" and "Marriage migraton woman" are commonly used terms -- but I took the liberty of translating it as migrant bride. I am sure there are derogatory terns used, but I am not aware of them. 

[Billie Johnson]

It works for me. I will post the link directly since I hyperlinked it the last time. Please copy and paste this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vxXQyk2T7g&feature=youtu.be

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