John Chong South Korea Analysis

I agree with Hwang that children of immigrants often feel lost because they are perceived differently by different groups. In Hwang’s case, she had to balance the American culture and the Korean standards with each other. Hwang is unable to identify with either culture when presented with culturally different scenarios. Her parents and other Koreans see her as American while her peers view her as Korean, which leaves Hwang in a limbo between competing cultural identities. While she had American tendencies of “rhapsodizing over Andrew McCarthy’s blue eyes” or thinking about “a certain upper-classman’s offer of a ride to the Homecoming football game”, she is Korean by blood, and is therefore faced with the pressures of being traditional (43). Being a first generation Indian, I can relate to this. For me, personally, it was hard to communicate with my relatives back in India because of the many cultural barriers, no matter how much my parents tried to instill Indian culture within me. While my family sees me as being detached from my Indian roots, my peers do not really see me as American. Hence, because of all of the confusion, there is strain put on one’s sense of identity when everyone around them sees them as someone

Korean men made the journey to America as a way to start anew and generate new opportunities. Some saved for the expensive trip and some signed contracts in order to work off the cost of their trip. Korean women’s journey to America was one that offered much more difficulty and disappointment. Korean picture brides was a common

Of course, those Korean immigrants were only ‘fighting’ for their own economic survival in America, too. Yet the assertion was understandable: during the 1970s and 1980s, deindustrialization, which brought unemployment to the middle class, would only exacerbate the conditions of Los Angeles’ most impoverished. The few remaining jobs it left to the slums had been seized and hoarded by Korean immigrants. In the reality of the situation, however, African Americans, despite their efforts and an ongoing movement for civil rights, were simply incapable of achieving the same level of entrepreneurial success of Korean Americans during this time period. The reasons for their shortcomings in Koreatown, in addition to lacking higher education and professional job experience many Korean immigrants had at their disposal, were primarily due to the deeply ingrained institution of prejudice against African Americans. African Americans were helplessly vulnerable to racism—regardless of how hard they worked, they would struggle to compete with other minority groups.

Caroline Hwang, in writing The Good Daughter, explains the way it feels to be born into a distinct culture that does not correspond with the culture of her heritage. In her writing, she details the mental struggle she deals with in being Korean versus being American. Hwang uses a variety of rhetorical strategies such as metaphors, diction, and rhetorical appeals. In Hwang’s conflictions between differing cultures, she becomes aware of her forgotten Korean culture once a fellow Korean woman points out Hwang’s mispronunciation of her own last name. Hwang, adding in her emotion state post dropping out of graduate school, stating it was a “torn up map for the future,” and it was not only where she was going but who she was, creates a somber tone. Many college students, whom have graduated or dropped out, relate to the emotional distress. She sums her feelings as “staring at the bottom on the abyss.”(16) Attending college is of great importance to not only the

Being Asian in a racially homogenous school, it was evident that I did not belong. The manners I have learned as child, such as bowing adults, avoiding eye contact, and receiving items from adults using two hands, only helped my difference less subtle. In high school, I was excited to start a bible study class for recent Korean immigrant teenagers. My Korean language skills combined with my, now, more American mannerisms were deemed too American. Even with my efforts, I was eventually rejected from the group as a “Korean wannabe.” At UIC, I automatically sought out other Korean American students. I had initially thought that with our relatively similar upbringings would unite us. I only came to realize that the university’s sole Korean American

I was the “funny guy” in my clique of high school friends. Ever since I learned to read English, I enjoyed reading and collecting joke books. I exhausted every single joke book from the small community library in town. Riddles, jokes about animals and wildlife, reasons why I didn’t do my homework, lawyer jokes, and later on, ethnic jokes. I knew they were funny, but I wanted more. Perhaps it was my lack of physical achievements that made me obsess with a need to entertain my peers.

Thesis Statement: Though South Korea may be a small country, the style of cuisine, community culture, and generosity are just a few uniquenesses that outshine its stature.

“Each household pays 288.000 Won (about 250 USD monthly), which is about 8 percent of household income, for their children’s private tutoring. As a whole, Korea spends about 2.2 percent of GDP on private tutoring.” (Nakamura 43). The aspiring universities are usually located in the capital and big cities, which are the center of business trading and academic training. It is not surprised when lots of parents want their children to study and achieve academically in there. For instance, in South Korea, the capital Seoul has been a place for people who wanted to work in academia or government. “Many parents in rural areas or small cities have been sending their children to schools in bigger towns or large cities. As people, especially younger generations, move to Seoul to study or work and then settle in/near Seoul metropolitan area, rural areas are becoming “empty nests.” Schools in rural parts of Korea are now being closed in rural parts of Korea due to an extremely low number (or none) of school-age students; meanwhile, many schools in Seoul and vicinity are overcrowded.” (Nakamura 33). After graduating, students will also face with a tight contest of getting a good job with the limited number of positions. One of the qualifications required by most employers is English proficiency, which is evaluated through some exams such as TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS (International English Language Testing System), TOEIC (Test of English for

In conclusion, Korean had suffered to overcome the challenges in the period between the late 19th to the early 20th century because of the foreign countries’ forces to take the benefit out from Korea. Starting with the forced treaties and wars of China, Japan, and Russia on Korean peninsula, Korea even lost its independence in 1910 by Japan. Korean government’s reaction to these events was disappointing: emperor Gojong even ran away to Russia after the first Sino-Japanese war, which is also called as Agwan Pacheon. As a result of continuous invasion of foreign forces and irresponsible government’s reactions, Korean showed three major responds to the depressing situation: depending on Japan to take control of Korea to modernize, studying abroad

Chang-Rae Lee’s Native Speaker expresses prominent themes of language and racial identity. Chang-Rae Lee focuses on the struggles that Asian Americans have to face and endure in American society. He illustrates and shows readers throughout the novel of what it really means to be native of America; that true nativity of a person does not simply entail the fact that they are from a certain place, but rather, the fluency of a language verifies one’s defense of where they are native. What is meant by possessing nativity of America would be one’s citizenship and legality of the country. Native Speaker suggests that if one looks different or has the slightest indication that one should have an accent, they will be viewed not as a native of

South Korea is one of the most homogeneous countries in the world, in which it has its own culture, language, and customs that are different from other Asian countries. In South Korea, the citizens greatly value hard work, filial piety, and humility in their daily lives. South Koreans are very proud people in which they pride themselves in their traditional culture and their financial success.

There were many instances where individuals have stated many negative and positive remarks about my bodily features that have both impacted me in various ways that stem from being, not only an Asian Canadian but in a more specific sense, a Korean Canadian phenomenon. In this paper, I will discuss where the judgements of ‘societal norms” come from, and how it relates to “me and my body in society” as a Korean Canadian. Through my convictions developed from vast amounts of past experiences of what people have stated, have also enlightened me, I have gained the body of knowledge as a result, through my personal experiences of which I will be discussing. I will be using western ideology and my experiences of being a Korean Canadian, how it particularly

Jun-sang was one of the interviewed defectors and was the son of two relatively wealthy Japanese parents, which leads to an issue of equality in terms of class. In an attempt for North Korea to be the “true” Korea, they tried to remove any foreign influence. As a result, there was a lot of hatred against Japanese collaborators. Japanese Koreans that were prominent in society were purged, which perhaps meant being sent to the gulag (Demick 35). As a result, Jun-sang’s family is already at a disadvantage socially as they are forced to remain in the lower class to

South Korea loves sport, sport is not only a popular physical activity but is a significant social practice. Sport operates as an important cultural resource and produces and disseminates nationalism. Indeed, in recent years, south korea has shown competence in hosting, playing, and managing sport. South Korean athletes have created notable results at major international sport events. For example, since 1984, the national Summer Olympic team has unfailingly been ranked in the top 10 nations on the medal table, with the only exception being the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. The country has also produced a number of major world sporting events, including hosting

Parent’s role in South Korea is taking care of their children until they get married. Children usually live with their parents until they are married, even if they are full grown adults. Parents are desperate attempt to give children an educational advantage, and grant them explore to a globalized worldview (in contrast with Korea's strictly homogenous culture and community), children are often sent to boarding schools abroad usually to the U.S., Canada and Australia, and family members strangely separated for many years.