"Encouraging diversity means freeing people to be what they want to be. This is democratization – for at the heart of democratization lies the equality and the rights of the individual. Koreans need to flower as individuals, without being channeled into directions they don’t want to go, and without being crushed by social expectations or peer pressure." Powerful Article. Read On (Below is just an excerpt) ---- But there is another tragedy, albeit on the micro rather than macro scale, and it is unique to South Korea. In survey after survey, Koreans state their lack of satisfaction with their lives. Long after the economic imperative to do so evaporated, many Koreans long to emigrate. And suicide is the top killer of Koreans aged 15-24. How can the people who wrote the greatest national success story of the 20th century ― the economic miracle of the 1960s and ’70s, the political miracle of the 1980s ― be so miserable? It starts early. In education ― and education begins for Koreans almost in the cradle ― narrowly defined over-achievement is pursued by parents. This leads children, I suspect, to being obsessively competitive after they leave school ― in their business, financial and social lives. Moreover, due to Korean social culture, opportunities are lacking for those without connections. Exacerbating the above stresses is the massive weight of Korean culture: Peer pressure, social expectation and group-think. In her inaugural speech, President Park stated her mission: make Koreans happy. But what is an appropriate conceptual framework to create an environment where individual happiness can be freely pursued? I would humbly suggest that Korea needs to fully embrace, and indeed promote, diversity. When we think of diversity, we tend to think race. And certainly Korea is becoming racially diverse. Yet how many naturalized Koreans have really made it? The lawmaker Jasmine Lee is one: Korea needs 100 more like her. To upgrade our living environment, there needs to be diversity of hardware. Not everyone needs to drive black, grey or white salons, nor live in identical concrete apartments. Bukchon shows how low-rise, neo-traditional neighborhoods inject charm into cityscapes. Seoul needs 100 Bukchons. Finally, there must be diversity of aspiration. Not everyone should aim to be doctor, lawyer, chaebol employee or hallyu star. Society needs to let people dream their own dreams, forge their own paths. Encouraging diversity means freeing people to be what they want to be. This is democratization – for at the heart of democratization lies the equality and the rights of the individual. Koreans need to flower as individuals, without being channeled into directions they don’t want to go, and without being crushed by social expectations or peer pressure. koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2013/06/137_137247.html
Posted on: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 16:00:32 +0000
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