Tag: South Korea

The Pursuit of Nationality

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I am Korean. And, I am Americanized.

My circle of friends varies–Koreans who have never been in America, Koreans who have tasted American culture, Korean-Americans, Americans, and Europeans.

As a high school senior who began boarding in 2003 as a fifth grader at a private school in California, I know what America is. As I get older, I now face some dilemmas within the Korean and American social structures, and I am not alone in this journey of confusion and struggles.

Here is my case:
My mother completed her education in Korea while my father did in America. Weighing the benefits and disadvantages of American educational system, my parents provided me the chance to broaden my insights. Before I took off on my journey to this land of opportunities, they clarified on this one thing–you are Korean. I did not get it because I was legitimately Korean. But the more days I spent in America where the culture vastly contrasts from the one in South Korea, I started to doubt about my manners, logics in English, semi-understanding of American trend, English writing skills, Korean speaking and writing capabilities, and most importantly, adapting to the Korean and American social structures.

I do not know where I will settle to live and work.

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Crying Animals in South Korea

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More than 662,647 livestock have been slaughtered and buried, alive.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) has thoroughly pervaded certain areas of South Korea. This disease suffers domesticated animals, mainly including cattle and swine by causing a fever and other biological destruction such as oral blister and internal erosion without any acute vaccination provided to aid their excruciating pain.

Due to its high potential for contamination, the South Korean government ordered the farmers to end the lives of countless livestock.

Unfortunately, this tragedy continues to affect not only the animals but also the humans.

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Vogue Tells Something More

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Adjusting to different regions had always been my challenge.

Let me scratch, I mean adjusting to different “fashion.”

When I lived in my hometown in South Korea, different layers of clothing, matching accessories and intricate designs had been the major Asian style of dressing.

During my several years of residence in Southern California, the sunny weather helped me to define my “So Cal” fashion: thin layers of clothes, traditional pair of Rainbow flip-flops, and sunglasses.

As I entered a boarding school in Connecticut, “prep” was the word for my outfit. Blazers with khaki pants, classic patterned skirts, simple dresses, and pearl earrings had helped me to abide my school rules: knee-length skirts, shoes with heels, and no jeans.

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Unguaranteed Success

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Of course, a mother would want her child to receive an excellent education

However, in South Korea, this desire is taken far too extreme.

South Korean “Children” are forcefully sent abroad without any guaranteed success.

Often times, these students end up in committing unethical behaviors such as underage drinking and substance abuse and become anxious and obfuscated with their conflicting cultural identities; to simply put, unhappy.

Exceptions exist. They can benefit from the early experiences of independence and cultural diversity and possess careers within international range.

My point is not about tilting onto one side of this global study overseas issue. It is about recommending much more careful judgment about this experience and not merely following a trend based on an obscure success.

Check out this New York Times article, “For English Studies, Koreans say Goodbye to Dad” by Norimitsu Onishi.

Intelligence Guarantees Success?

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With an IQ 220, Kim Ung Yong from South Korea surprised the world. He spoke fluently by 6 months, read Japanese, Korean, German, and English by an age of 2, solved a calculus problem when he was just 4 years old, and divulged his talents in poetry and painting during his childhood. He even took College courses in Korea from 4 to 7.

His IQ is an equivalent of the one of Leonardo da Vinci. However, none of these fancy titles like a prodigy, Guinness recorder, and genius mattered to him. They rather reminded himself of a “monkey in a zoo.”

Voluntarily leaving from his work at NASA at an age of 14, he looked for “his” life in Korea. Due to an absence of his elementary, middle school, and high school diplomas, he began his education from the very basics.

When he chose to enter an infamous university located in rural region of Korea despite his high score on standardized tests, the world derided at his choice and called him as a failure.

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Nowhere

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What a wonderful sight! The South Korean students are chained to their desks for hours at both home and school. Neither a sign of sparkle nor spirit is observed in their eyes. Routinely, their parents, teachers, and even the South Korean government shout about the merits of entering “elite” schools.

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