In progress...Demographic Change in Korea

I am in the process of writing the next blog on demographic change in South Korea and its impact on higher education, the labor force, and Korean identity.

In the meantime, I'd like to recommend that you check out Barbara Derick's new book, "Nothing to Envy," which chronicles six North Korean defectors to the South. The book's website is: http://nothingtoenvy.com

Images of Andong, Korea

Dinner on the Fourth: Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Cole Slaw, and Oh…, a Side of Kim chi, Please.

I returned home from South Korea in time to celebrate Independence Day. Some very close friends, the Cooke family, took pity on this jet-lagged soul and asked me to join them for a classic July 4th meal of hamburgers, hot dogs, and cole slaw to commemorate our country’s 234th birthday. My wife and children are visiting relatives in Brazil this summer and hence, I am alone here in the USA. Rebecca Cooke’s father and mother, Edd and Ruth Rowell, also joined us to celebrate the Fourth.

The conversation over dinner turned toward my recent visit to Korea, which focused on the 60th anniversary of the Korean War (June 25, 1950) and the prospect of what the peninsula would have been like had it not been for the U.S. and other multinational support of the South’s forces. We pondered on what the South Korean economy would have looked like had it not been for an alliance between the South and the United States. Would Hyundai have become one of the fastest growing global car manufacturers? Would LG and Samsung have become household appliance names? Would Seoul have become the ‘most wired city’ in the world? Would South Korea’s ‘economic miracle,’ and hence, per capita income have increased three-fold to around $30,000 in thirty years had it not been for this alliance? If we were to address these questions vis-à-vis the current political economy of the North, the answer would be unequivocally, no.

Evidence of the South Koreans’ appreciation of the United States and other allied powers was present throughout the streets of Seoul. Banners commemorating the 60th anniversary of the war and of gratitude to the United States for its on-going support were obvious. I do not mean to romanticize my reflections or minimize the enormous sacrifice Koreans (a conservative estimate of 595,000) made during the war but Seoul’s residents were extremely gracious to me and my fellow Americans. Children in school groups approached me to converse in English and demonstrated enormous interest in Americans. Random people celebrating South Korea’s World Cup match invited my colleagues and me to join their street party at Seoul’s City Hall (a large square that can accommodate hundreds of thousands of people). A leading educator whose family originated in the North but managed to get to the South expressed to me in a private meeting the importance of bilateral ties with the United States and hope of a democratic reunification, a political event that is deeply cultural and personal for many older generation Koreans.

I even had one cab driver in his late fifties refuse payment from me on the 60th anniversary of the day that Seoul first fell to the North Koreans (four days following the invasion of the South). He kept repeating to me, “thank you, thank you” as I attempted to give him my 24,000 won (approximately 19.59 USD). I was absolutely confused during this odd exchange of words and non-payment but upon further reflection have succumbed to the notion that his politeness and this historical date were not a coincidence. He was expressing his gratitude toward me, the American. Was this act of kindness because he remembered how devastated Seoul was during its occupation? Could he have been a defector from the North? Whatever the case, his appreciation brought new dimension to my simple understanding of the Korean conflict – and on freedom.

I learned during dinner that Dr. Rowell had served his military duty near the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) fifty years ago. He shared endearing stories of Korean culture and his encounter with a local family. These memories, however, reflect more of a sacrifice than simple nostalgia. It is estimated that 33,000 American military personnel were killed or went missing during the conflict. Dr. Rowell’s personal sacrifice for God, country, and Koreans alike resonate with me on this particular Independence Day.

I typically celebrate this day with a conventional (and in hindsight, a superficial) nod of gratitude for the liberties granted to me and my family. Actually, I am embarrassed to say that I often give little attention or reverence to those veterans who defend the U.S. and its allies in the name independence. The gratitude for liberty I encountered in Seoul, however, was humbling. My time spent with the Cooke and Rowell families was equally meaningful. While the Spears family has never had this tradition, it was fitting that the Cookes/Rowells ended the evening by singing the “Star Spangled Banner.” It also seems appropriate, therefore, that my observation of the Fourth extends itself across the Pacific to our friends in South Korea. Gamsahabida, or rather, thank you to our troops and veterans in Korea (and around the world) for their defense of life, liberty, and justice for all, whether they are at home or abroad.

UPDATE: Forthcoming Entries

My schedule in Korea was very intensive, culminating in 12-13 hour days of meetings, visits, and official lunches/dinners. I plan on doing one reflection per week over the course of the next month. Entries will focus on the political economy of Korean higher education, demographic change in Korea, culture and society, and donuts (yes, more on those later!). Stay tuned...