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→‎Racism Against South Koreans in South Korea: interesting, but definitely not racism (source doesn't mention the word even once)
Edited line : it is unsourced , speculative, and without external , evidential substantiation, it is purely subjective.
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'''Racism in South Korea''' stems from the common belief that Koreans are a "pure race" that have been homogenous throughout history.<ref>[http://koreaweb.ws/ks/ksr/ksr02-03.htm Gender, Ethnicity, Market Forces, and College Choices, reviewed by Choi]. Koreaweb.ws. Retrieved on 2011-09-30.</ref> For most Koreans, the belief in the superiority and purity of the Korean race goes unquestioned.<ref>[http://iis-db.stanford.edu/pubs/20125/shin.pdf The Paradox of Korean Globalization], p. 6</ref> However, there are also racism in South Korea where foreigners are preferentially treated over South Koreans.
'''Racism in South Korea''' stems from the common belief that Koreans are a "pure race" that have been homogenous throughout history.<ref>[http://koreaweb.ws/ks/ksr/ksr02-03.htm Gender, Ethnicity, Market Forces, and College Choices, reviewed by Choi]. Koreaweb.ws. Retrieved on 2011-09-30.</ref> For most Koreans, the belief in the superiority and purity of the Korean race goes unquestioned.<ref>[http://iis-db.stanford.edu/pubs/20125/shin.pdf The Paradox of Korean Globalization], p. 6</ref>


==Race-based discrimination and hate==
==Race-based discrimination and hate==

Revision as of 06:32, 28 October 2011

Racism in South Korea stems from the common belief that Koreans are a "pure race" that have been homogenous throughout history.[1] For most Koreans, the belief in the superiority and purity of the Korean race goes unquestioned.[2]

Race-based discrimination and hate

The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has reported that racial discrimination is common in Korea, especially against foreigners and mixed-blood children; the concept of "pure blood" is widespread.[3] The Asian charity Pearl S. Buck International reports that racial prejudices in South Korea may be the worst of anywhere in Asia.[4]

Foreigners in Korea have often reported that South Korean schools only hire white English teachers.[5][6]

Korean police have been known to ignore and mistreat foreign victims of crime,[7] even committing sexual assault.[8] Korean government officials often hang up if they receive a phone call from a foreigner.[9]

Biracial men were banned from serving in the South Korean military until January 2011. Interracial couples have been forced to leave Korea; in an Los Angeles Times article, one wife reported that "people spat at her because she had been married to an African American."[10] According to Korean Broadcasting System news, it is "rare" for biracial children to successfully graduate Korean high schools.[11] A 2009 poll revealed that 47% of Korean children were uncertain or negative on the subject of whether they could make friends with a biracial child.[12] As a matter of fact, racial prejudice is widespread throughout the Korean education system.[13] One newspaper editorial commented, "Until now, we have overly emphasized the significance of our homogeneous society and have had too much pride about our pure blood tradition..".[14][15]

Racial Discrimination Cases

Bonojit Hussein

On July 2009, Bonojit Hussein, an Indian national who was working as a research professor at Sungkonghoe University was called "Dirty" and "Pitch-black foreigner" by (First name witheld) Park while riding on a bus. Park also questioned Hussein's companion, a South Korean woman whether "she was a real Korean woman" and "how it felt going out with pitch-black foreigner?" Hussein then reported Park to local police. A police officer who arrived on the scene told Hussein that "there's no racial discrimination in Korea". The Policeman also said to Park, "Why did you, a good-looking man dressed in a suit, treated a man who's having a hard life here?" in presence of Hussein. In police station, while policemen talked to Park in formal Korean, Hussein was spoken to in informal Korean. Policemen questioned Hussein, "How can a man born in 1982 become a research professor? Really, what is that you do?[16] After this story was reported on national media, National Human Rights Association gave a warning to the policeman then recommended that the policemen to have human rights education. The case of Hussein was a landmark case as it was the first time the National Human Rights Association ordered 'Recommendation Measure' for a racial discrimination case and led to prosecution for a racial comment for the first time as well.[17]

Bath House Case

On October 2011, Soojin Goo, a naturalized South Korean citizen formerly from Uzbekistan was denied entry to a public bath house in Busan, South Korea for being a "foreigner" despite showing her South Korean passport and resident registration card. According to the bath house, the denial was based on "Regular patrons' fear of contracting AIDS". After being denied entry, Goo sought help from local police. However, Goo was told to seek other baths houses since there are no legal basis for prosecuting racial discrimination in South Korean law.[18] After this story caught the national attention in South Korea, many other cases of racial discrimination were reported. Yula Jahng, a naturalized South Korean citizen originally from Philippine, told a reporter from Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation that "Department store associates see our color of face and think that we are poor and tell us to get out no matter what."[19]

Racial stereotypes in the media

The Korean branch of KFC was criticized internationally for running an advertisement where a Korean is kidnapped by black cannibals who are satisfied by fried chicken.[20]

A hate group called Anti-English Spectrum has been widely consulted by Korean newspapers about an alleged spree of foreign crime, which is mostly fabricated.[21] In 2008, Seoul.com issued a press release referring to foreigners as "poisonous mushrooms" and "viruses". In their official apology, the website stated that "our English is much better than [the critics'] Korean" and that "they must learn the Korean culture of statics".[22] In 2009, the Chosun Ilbo, one of Korea's largest newspapers, ran a week-long series of articles alleging foreigners were entering Korea deceptively to ensnare Korean women. Foreigners who complained about the series were caricatured as "indiscriminately pouring out their anger".[23]

Racial supremacism

Professor Park Cheol-Hee of Gyeongin National University of Education pointed out that there were many descriptions in Korean history textbooks regarding other nations as inferior to emphasize the superiority of Korean culture, and Japan is consistently described as culturally inferior.[24][25]

Migrant workers in South Korea are treated inhumanely, largely due to the tendency of Koreans to belittle and look down on foreigners residing in South Korea.[26] At times migrant workers are treated with great indignity.[27]

Even researchers and professors from especially other Asian countries are paid significantly less than Koreans.[28] In point and fact, foreign professors are often left out of faculty meetings by deliberately holding the meetings in Korean,[29]. David McNeil in Viet-Studies notes that there is essentially obvious discrimination even against foreign professors.[30]

See also

References

  1. ^ Gender, Ethnicity, Market Forces, and College Choices, reviewed by Choi. Koreaweb.ws. Retrieved on 2011-09-30.
  2. ^ The Paradox of Korean Globalization, p. 6
  3. ^ "UN panel faults Korean emphasis on homogeneity".
  4. ^ Biracial entertainers overcome prejudice in South Korea. Articles.sfgate.com (2004-08-13). Retrieved on 2011-09-30.
  5. ^ Ethnic Bias Seen in South Korea Teacher Hiring. Npr.org (2007-07-09). Retrieved on 2011-09-30.
  6. ^ Korea vs China: Racism. Davidswills.com. Retrieved on 2011-09-30.
  7. ^ Attack on foreigner by weapon ignored by police[dead link]
  8. ^ Naver translation. Rjkoehler.com (2007-11-14). Retrieved on 2011-09-30.
  9. ^ Who’s Calling? A Foreigner? *click*. Asian Correspondent (2007-10-28). Retrieved on 2011-09-30.
  10. ^ S. Koreans Reclaim Biracial Football Champion as One of Them. Latimes.com (2006-02-13). Retrieved on 2011-09-30.
  11. ^ Mixed-Blood Hoops Player Making Waves. English.kbs.co.kr. Retrieved on 2011-09-30.
  12. ^ Biracial Children Accepted, Shunned by Classmates. Asian Correspondent (2009-01-26). Retrieved on 2011-09-30.
  13. ^ Paul Z. Jambor (2009) Sexism, 'Ageism and Racism Prevalent Throughout the South Korean System of Education', United States of America – Department of Education – Educational Resources Information Center: ED506242. Eric.ed.gov. Retrieved on 2011-09-30.
  14. ^ JoongAng Daily. "Pure hearts, not blood". 9 February 2006
  15. ^ Gi-Wook Shin – Director at Shorenstein Asia Pacific Research Center (2 August 2006). "Ethnic pride source of prejudice, discrimination, Blood-based ethnic national identity has hindered cultural and social diversity in Korea, experts say; Appeared in The Korea Herald". Stanford University.
  16. ^ '"Dirty", "Pitch-Black Foreigner" Blunt Talking Leads to Contempt. Seoul Broadcasting System. Retrieved on 2011-10-22.
  17. ^ '"National Human Rights Commission, Recommendation Measure for a Racial Discrimination Case for the First Time. imaeil.com. Retrieved on 2011-10-22.
  18. ^ 'Denying Entry for Different Skin Color'... Bath House Racial Discrimination. YTN. Retrieved on 2011-10-22.
  19. ^ 'Anger over Racial Discrimination for Denied Entry at a Bath House.. National Human Rights Commission Begins Investigation. Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved on 2011-10-22.
  20. ^ "KFC Knew They Were Running Racist Ads In Australia and Korea". January 8, 2010 [dead link]
  21. ^ Korea Herald, Chosun Ilbo, Seoul Shinmun – see also blog
  22. ^ Seoul.com: “We Are Not Anti-Foreigner”. Asian Correspondent (2008-09-02). Retrieved on 2011-09-30.
  23. ^ Ilbo Responds to Foreign Teacher Criticism. Asiancorrespondent.com (2009-07-14). Retrieved on 2011-09-30.
  24. ^ Template:Ko icon 초등교과서, 고려때 ‘23만 귀화’ 언급도 안해, The Kyunghyang Shinmun/Empas news, 2007-08-21.
  25. ^ Template:Ko icon 초등 4~6학년 교과서, 단일민족·혈통 지나치게 강조, The Kyunghyang Shinmun, 2007/08/21.
  26. ^ South Korea. Amnesty International (2009)
  27. ^ Disposable Labout Rights of Migrant Workers in South Korea. Amnesty International (2009)
  28. ^ South Korea: Pay discrimination fallout. Education World: The Human Development Magazine. 5 February 2010
  29. ^ Lingua Frankly. Times Higher Education. 11 February 2010
  30. ^ David McNeil South Korea Brings in Foreign Professors by the Thousands—at a Cost, The Chronicle of Higher Education. viet-studies.info. February 27, 2011
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