Korea's multiple choice test

By Feng Wei

SEOUL: Generally, the development of a country is influenced by three major factors: politics, economy and culture. Though there is no clear-cut distinction among them, they interact with one another. For instance, the political system of a country must inevitably be influenced by its economic pattern and traditional culture, although their ultimate aims are quite different.

Politics pursues liberty and equality; economic success depends on speed and efficiency; culture respects individuality and character. Ideally a country should strive to achieve a balance between all three aims simultaneously, or to "make the multiple choice." Korea, however, does not seem to be moving in this direction.

Korea, like some other East Asian nations, was impelled into modern history by Western powers in the middle of the 19th century. The Korean elite intending to make "the multiple choice," then argued that Korea should selectively accept some things from the West to strengthen their nation.

During the time of colonial rule, Japan not only oppressed the Koreans in politics, but exploited and plundered their economy, and tried to wipe out the individuality and character of Korean culture by enforcing "assimilation policies."

They did not even allow Koreans to speak their own language. But the colonialists discovered that the Japanese language they compelled the Korean people to speak was only the "classroom- language," as it was not generally spoken.

This resistance to colonial rule further cultivated the inherent individuality and character of the Koreans, and its existence, together with the struggle for independence, formed the foundation of the Republic of Korea.

With the collapse of colonial rule, the ardor of Koreans to make "the multiple choice" was weakened. Interestingly Korea could seemingly only do it when its identity was threatened by foreign powers, either from Japan, or from the West. It could not do so in times of peace.

Today, observing Korean youngsters ardently following Western trends, it seems that they are becoming much less interested in Korean traditional culture. I often wonder how Korean acceptance of Western political systems, cultural fashions and technology can continue at the expense of its individuality and character.

As to the ultimate aims of politics and the economy, it seems more likely to amount to a choice between the alternatives: liberty and equality, or speed and efficacy. The pattern that Korea decided upon to develop its economy was included in the "East Asia model," mainly to promote economic growth under the totalitarianism. It explains the reason why Korea managed to develop its economy so rapidly under the autocratic rule of Park Chung Hee and Chun Doo Hwan.

But totalitarianism is incompatible with liberty and equality anyway, so economic development was at a price of deviating from the ultimate aim of politics. When Roh Tae-woo gained office by election, Korea truly started towards democracy, and began to move toward its ultimate political aim.

The economy was still developing rapidly, but the evil omen in it was about to sprout, culminating in the Asian financial crisis in 1997. The economic plight Korea is experiencing was undoubtedly connected with the "alternative" mentioned above.

Reading and listening to the reports of the endless bickering among lawmakers in the Assembly, as well as the government's economic dilemma, with violent clashes between the police and striking Daewoo workers, will democracy in Korea have to be at the expense of its economic development? Can Korea afford to make "the multiple choice?"

In fact, Korea is not alone. My mother country, China is also having great difficulty in making such choice. China's economy is developing rapidly today, but political reform has not truly started. We Chinese people have a long way to go.

I am afraid that China will be in a dilemma tomorrow -- just like Korea is today.

The writer is an associate professor of Fudan University in Shanghai. He is currently a visiting scholar at Korea University.

-- The Korea Herald/Asia News Network