The Changing Notion of National Identity in South Korea

• In Event: 3141 - Borders and Boundaries in Asia and Asian America

Abstract

There is a growing sentiment against immigrants in South Korea, one of the most ethnically homogeneous country in the world. Yet, it becomes puzzling when we consider the fact that this anti-immigrant sentiment is also targeting co-ethnic Koreans who migrated from China and North Korea after the end of the Cold War. I approach this phenomenon historically and argue that democratization as an important social process that can explain how national identity changes. The success of South Korea’s pro-democracy movement in 1987 was an important turning point that significantly widened the difference between South’s global advantage and North’s isolation. While democracy was suppressed in both South and North before 1987, South Koreans were able to turn their political situation around and open a way to civic democracy which shook up nationalism promoted by military dictatorship which emphasized common ancestry and anti-communism. Improved democracy in the public sphere and civil society brought diversity to the notion of national identity by separating communism and the nation, and traditional, ethnicity-centric national identity met challenges. This disruption brought various discourses to the public sphere, from a multiculturalist notion of national identity to a South-centric national identity. The South Korean case suggests democracy can diversify the versions of national identity which may further lead to weakening or strengthening national identity.

Author

• Jaesok Son, NORC at the University of Chicago