Defensive Nationalism
Nationalism
is universal to all countries but exhibits different characteristics in each. Many countries have characteristic elements of
pride, aggression – and even embarrassment. In Korea, a strong characteristic
is defensiveness. There is an underlying
element that the world is ‘out to get' Korea so all other countries (and by
extension, foreigners) are viewed with caution and suspicion. "What are they up to? Whatever it is,
it isn't good for us." seems to be an underlying attitude. On rare
occasions, I have heard this stated overtly but most often, it is an
undercurrent. Having lived in Korea most
of my life, I have often pondered the origins of this attitude. My conclusion is that (in the words of a
former colleague), Korea lives in a tough neighborhood.
Where does it come from?
Located
in the vortex of powerful neighbors – China, Japan and Russia, Korea is
geographically 'between a rock and a hard place'. Korea has been bullied by its neighbors. The
Mongols invaded in the 13th century, the Japanese in the late 16th
century and Manchus in the early 17th century. In between, pirates raided coastal towns
taking what they could.
In
the 19th century, Korea interacted with Western countries through a
series of aggressive military skirmishes on Kangwha Island (France in 1866, the
US in 1871 and Japan in 1875). Korea was
ultimately 'opened' by Japan in 1876 through 'gunboat diplomacy' mimicking
Commadore Perry's tactics in Yokohama a quarter of a century earlier
(1853/4). Within a generation, the
Japanese defeated first the Chinese and then the Russians in wars for hegemony
in Korea, the latter largely on Korean soil.
Japan's victory led to 35 years of colonial rule.
Although
Korea was liberated in 1945 with the Japanese surrender, the outcome was a
divided nation governed by Russian troops in the north and US in the
south. Foreign powers stifled self-rule.
Abrupt withdrawal of US troops in 1948 invited a northern invasion triggering
an intense internecine war. Korea remains
grateful to many United Nations countries which came to its aid and saved it
from Northern aggression during the Korean War but there are elements that (not
unjustifiably) blame the West for the war in the first place. Korea's sovereignty continues to be
challenged to this day by Japan's claim to Dokdo, a small outcrop of rocks off
Korea's east coast.
Historically,
Korea was nominally 'subservient' to China with the Korean King beholden to the
Chinese Emperor. However, the
interaction was mostly ceremonial. For
the average citizen, there was little sense of 'nationhood'. Belonging and loyalty had a much narrower
focus on family and community. Politics
was inwardly focused on securing resources from the central government, first a
king, then a colonial power and in the modern era, a powerful president.
Modern Korea
Modern
Korea too has been marked by imbalanced international relations. After the Korean war, Korea was protected by
the US military umbrella and prospered economically at least in some large
measure from access to the US market.
During
its rapid economic development, Korea was often cited, fined and sanctioned for
a menu of economic 'crimes' including copyright infringement, dumping, human
rights violations and other heinous behaviors. Now that Korea is a thriving, modern,
democratic 'middle-power', the rest of the world may wonder why there is a
strong sense of nationalism here that can sometimes challenge business cooperation. ‘Outsiders’ needn't look too far to recognize
that having been bullied for so long, Koreans remain a little leery of foreigners.
Learning
about a nation's culture, respecting local practices, appreciating artistic
achievements, learning the language are important elements when working in any
foreign country. Given the discomfort
and suspicion of foreigners percolating through the centuries, knowledge and understanding
of Korean culture is a key element to successful business in this market. Rather than overtly expressing your
appreciation for Korean culture, demonstrating it subtly through 'correct'
behavior is the most powerful bond contributing to business success.
IRC
has a 40-year history of assisting foreign organizations to navigate their way
around this market. When engaging in
business here, let IRC Guide Your Way.
Peter
Underwood
Managing
Partner
IRC
Consulting
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