Indonesians are ignorant about South Korea

JAKARTA (JP): As more and more South Korean companies are setting up operations in Indonesia, a survey by the University of Indonesia finds that most Indonesians are ignorant about the country and its impressive economic record.

A seminar to review the state of bilateral relations between Indonesia and South Korea was organized yesterday by the University of Indonesia (UI), bringing together prominent scholars from the two countries.

South Korean corporations, whose images have been dented by recurring press publicity about conflicts with workers, are now making efforts to change that view, a Korean speaker said.

"Companies such as Daewoo and Samsung are incorporating training and education on Indonesian culture, so that when the Korean staff arrive here, they may have a better management record", said Kim Geung-seob, a consultant at the Center for Korean Studies and a moderator at the seminar.

Yesterday's speakers included UI's head of international relations studies Dr. Hero Kuntjoro-Jakti, and the Dean of General Affairs at Hankuk University, Dr. Yang Seung-yoon.

The seminar, the second organized by UI, sought to identify ways of promoting South Korea's cultural, political and economic system, and how Indonesia could learn from South Korea's successful development.

However, a yet-unpublished survey conducted by UI students discovered that most Indonesians are ignorant of basic knowledge of South Korea.

"We asked people in the business community what they knew of South Korea's political system, culture, or even just the capital, and they could not answer the questions. Some acknowledge that South Korea is a very well-developed country, but that is all", said Yulia, a final-year International Relations student.

Perhaps this reflects Korea's history of isolationism, said Dr. Yang Seung-yoon in his paper.

Overwhelmed culturally, politically, and economically by their formidable neighbors, China and Japan, Koreans looked inward and limited their attention to relations with their immediate neighbors until the end of the 20th century, he said.

Culture

However, this does not indicate that Korean culture is not distinct, he explained. In contrast to the Japanese and the Chinese, which have been stereotypically viewed as having "multiple faces", he contends that Koreans are very direct and do not hide any aspect of their personality.

It is this attitude that may have earned Koreans, particularly company managers, a negative reputation as a hard- drinking and rough-mannered people, he added.

On the suggestion that Indonesia emulate South Korea's development process and that development contributes to a more democratic political environment and vice versa, Dr. Hero Kuntjoro-Jakti says this is too simplistic.

"I do not agree that the world evolves in a unilinear fashion, and that just because the Soviet regime has fallen, every country will become democratic and capitalist".

South Korea developed with strong government controls, so that the link between development and democracy remains ideal but tenuous, he said.

Setting aside all the political idealism, the purpose of the seminar becomes less problematic. In lieu of the rising yen and the increasing costs of Japanese manufacturing, South Korean manufacturers are attempting to grab Indonesia's potentially massive middle-class market. (Dini S. Djalal)