final exam

    Today is the second day of final exam. I have a desire for good result of my last exam of freshman year. I wish I could decorate 2012 with satisfying results. In Korea, the grades are scored by rating system, which divides students into about nine rates. In KMLA, it's really hard to get the first, second rate since there are too little students and every students take different courses. Frankly, it's really hard to get good rates especially the subjects with five or six students. However, it's a big experience and a merit to take unique lectures that's only available in KMLA. 

     Most of the grading system have high percentage on mid term and final exams. Often, students face a frustrating experience that by one mistake, rate goes down. Especially, students who wish to apply foreign universities get B by one mistake. First when I took the exam in KMLA I experienced a strong smell of failure by making too much mistakes. I disgusted the Korea's education system. As I made mistakes in my test, I felt I was drifting apart from my dream. I am not sure even now whether I have a certain confidence that I could achieve my dream. However, by experiencing hardships and tight schedules, there is one thing certain, that I would never be flustered with any difficulties. 

My favorite artist's carol to decorate the end of the year~~~

MINJOK with social changes

Living as Korean, ‘Minjok’ is the first word learnt in history class. The first part of the history starts from Go-Chosun, with a cosmological myth about Dangoon. Korean history textbook shows that Korean ‘minjok’ is descended from Dangoon, and have a same race of Mongolian trait. The meaning of ‘minjok’ that Korean government intend, is more of a race than nationality. Then, the textbook further elaborates about our history of the ‘Minjok’. I studied Korean history before, and what I felt about Minjok was that we were sharing same blood and similar appearances. Actually, minjok is more than a mere race, the meaning the word embrace is the people living in a country sharing similar traits, which is more approximate with ethnicity. The common idea about minjok needs to be changed, and the meaning itself has to be improved with the social changes such as emergence of globalization and immigration.

What is the origin of the word Minjok, and why it is relevant to Korean history? The concept of minjok has an origin started from year 1789, from France, by garrisons of the revolution.(18:10~) They needed a concept to unite citizens of France to participate the revlolution. The origin of the word is a political strategy to guide the citizens. Then, the word was used in many nations of Europe with different meanings. For example, Nazis of Germany used this term in a more narrow meaning, which embrace only nationality and race. During the period of Japanese colonization, the word was the slogan introduced by Japan in attempt to create 'Greater East Asian Co-prosperity sphere'. What Japan argued was that the union of east Asian ethnicity will enhance the power of the group and prevent the invasion  of giant countries. Actually, it was a weapon with Japan-centered policies, in purpose to exploit resources from other countries such as Korea, Philippines. Shin-chae ho rejected the notion. From then, 'Minjok' created a united power between social classes in oppose to Japan's colonization. With the colonization of Japan force, the word 'minjok' further spread and grew through the public. It's ironic that the strategy of Japan turned out as a anti-Japan force in the end of the colonization. Eventually, the power of Minjok encouraged public to participate in protests and later became the primary source of independence movement. In the past, the word minjok was a thread that united all people living in Korea.

In modern days, minjok also work as a unity of public as the past days, but it limits with many conditions (such as skin color) . For instance, people shout for minjok during Olympics or World cups. People learn minjok from textbooks yet misunderstands minjok as a race group. They learn about our great ancestor Dangoon at first and then learn about globalization and tolerance toward foreigners. Koreans would never really learn about globalization and convergence with the concept of blood-tied 'minjok'. I also feel awkward treating immigrants as same minjok, just because it's not the concept that I learned. Many foreigners are gaining citizenship in Korean society yet the concept of minjok acts like a barrier that divides immigrants and native Koreans. However, the term needs to be renewed, with changes of the society. The best concept that would fit to modern 'minjok' would be Benedict Anderson's theory 'imagined communities'. The modern society is an imagined community because people imagine about other people since everyone can't encounter together. The new concept forms new relationship in modern society. 'Minjok' is no longer a blood-tied relationship and does not form naturally. It can be imagined both inherently and sovereign. The meaning embraces all people with same nationality,  culture, and lifestyle. The broaden view toward 'minjok' would be a step for globalization. This would also solve paradox of Korea's globalization and make a new developing power.

population of naturalization

 The common concept of 'minjok' in Korea limits many people. What people learn is a blood-tied relationship that is inherently formed. However, the term minjok had face many changes with history and now it's time for a new renovation. A broader concept of 'minjok' imagines people both inherently and sovereign. This would reinforce Korean power and the development of our nation. 
                            
citation: Imagined communities pdf 
               제3장 신채호의 역사인식과 민족주의, 박동국, 박병철