Echo in So Much Space: Perspectives on Progress and Peace

Korea is often celebrated for its rich history, vibrant culture, and global influence through industries like K-pop, technology, and cinema. Yet, beneath this glittering surface lies a challenging cultural and social dynamic that contributes to the country’s political crises and societal struggles. Based on personal experiences and observations, this article explores how certain cultural mindsets and historical practices may perpetuate injustice, inequality, and a system that empowers the few at the expense of the many.

The Culture of Idolising Wealth and Status

One striking aspect of Korean society is the reverence for wealth, power, and celebrity. This is evident in the widespread admiration for the chaebols (large family-owned conglomerates) and the elite class, who wield significant influence over the country’s economy and politics. The societal tendency to overidolise the wealthy and famous creates a hierarchy where power is revered, and ordinary people often feel powerless to challenge the status quo.

The Desperate Struggles of Young Koreans

While South Korea’s economy has grown exponentially, the wealth gap has widened. Many young Koreans feel trapped in a cycle of relentless work with little hope of upward mobility.

• Evidence: A 2023 survey by Statistics Korea found that nearly 70% of young Koreans believe owning a home is unattainable, citing skyrocketing real estate prices and stagnant wages (Korea Times).
• This desperation fosters a sense of resignation, where young people believe their efforts will never lead to a better future.

A Legacy of Slavery and Hierarchy

Korea’s societal structure has roots in its historical practice of slavery and rigid hierarchical systems. During the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897), slavery was widespread, with slaves (nobi) making up as much as one-third of the population at certain points (Wikipedia). The legacy of this system has left deep cultural imprints, normalising obedience to authority and submission to the wealthy and powerful.

The Slave Mindset in Modern Korea

The hierarchical mindset persists in modern workplaces and social structures:

• Workplace Inequality: Employers, especially those in powerful positions, often mistreat employees, exploiting their labour with little regard for fairness or dignity.
  • Example: The infamous “nut rage” incident, where a Korean Air executive abused her authority over an in-flight attendant, became a global symbol of power abuse (BBC).
• Social Dynamics: Ordinary people often tolerate mistreatment, unwilling or unable to confront those in higher positions. This perpetuates a cycle where the powerful act without accountability.

Personal Reflections: A Culture That Tolerates Injustice

During my travels in Korea, I noticed a stark divide between the rich and the poor. While my experiences were largely positive, certain moments illustrated how this cultural mindset of deference to power manifests in everyday interactions.

A Personal Story

Hosting a Korean guest through Airbnb revealed this cultural dynamic on a personal level. The guest, younger and clearly capable, expected me to carry their luggage—a behaviour that stemmed from an unspoken assumption of superiority. When I explained that in Australia, equality and personal responsibility are core values, they left with a negative review. This moment, though small, reflected a broader societal tendency to defer to perceived authority or power.

The Political Impact of Cultural Inertia

South Korea’s culture of deference and inaction plays a significant role in its political crises. Political leaders and chaebols benefit from the silence and compliance of the ordinary people, who are often too consumed by their daily struggles to challenge injustice.

• Political Corruption: Scandals involving chaebols and politicians, such as the 2016 corruption scandal that led to the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye, highlight how the powerful exploit this cultural dynamic (The Guardian).
• Lack of Accountability: This culture emboldens leaders to act without fear of reprisal, knowing the public is unlikely to mobilise unless provoked by extreme circumstances.

The Way Forward: Breaking the Cycle

Korea’s rich cultural heritage and economic achievements show the potential for progress, but societal transformation is necessary to address the underlying issues:

1. Challenging Hierarchies: Encouraging a mindset that values equality and dignity over blind reverence for wealth and power.
2. Empowering the Youth: Providing opportunities and reforms that address economic inequality and give young people hope for the future.
3. Demanding Accountability: Ordinary citizens must find the strength to hold leaders and elites accountable, refusing to tolerate abuses of power.

Mercy Emboldens Evil Men

Korea’s cultural deference to authority, rooted in its history and societal norms, creates a dangerous precedent: when wrongdoing by the powerful is met with tolerance or silence, it encourages further abuse. While mercy and understanding are virtues, unchecked forgiveness in the face of injustice emboldens those who exploit others for personal gain.

This is evident in the consistent pattern of scandals involving Korea’s political elite and chaebols. For example:

• The Chaebol Scandals: Time and again, chaebol leaders accused of corruption or abusive practices have received leniency, often escaping meaningful consequences. Their crimes are forgiven in the name of preserving economic stability, but this mercy reinforces their impunity (Reuters).
• The Political Landscape: Political leaders implicated in corruption often benefit from societal inertia. Mercy is extended not out of understanding but exhaustion—people focus on survival in an increasingly unequal society, leaving little energy to demand justice (FT).

A Path Forward: Justice with Accountability

To break this cycle, Korea—and any society facing similar dynamics—must embrace a culture that values justice over blind mercy. This means:

1. Demanding Accountability: Leaders and elites must face consequences for their actions, no matter how high their status.
2. Empowering Civil Movements: Grassroots efforts, like those seen in the 2016 protests that led to Park Geun-hye’s impeachment, show that collective action can demand justice.
3. Educating for Equality: Shifting cultural values to promote equality and responsibility over hierarchical deference.
4. Challenging Systems: Reforming structures, such as labour laws, to protect workers from abusive practices and provide avenues for redress.

Conclusion: Mercy Must Have Limits

The Korean people have demonstrated resilience and unity in the face of adversity, but cultural tendencies to revere power and extend unchecked mercy to wrongdoers risk perpetuating cycles of injustice. Mercy, when applied without accountability, emboldens evil men. For a society to thrive, it must balance compassion with the courage to demand justice.

Only by addressing these cultural and systemic issues can Korea move toward a more equitable future—one where neither wealth nor status can shield individuals from the consequences of their actions.