Take Home Writing #2: Past, Present, Future of "Minjok"

 

Past, Present, Future of "Minjok"

      When I think about the word “Minjok”, this “Samdasoo" water bottle is the first thing that comes into my mind. This bottle and I met when I was 7 in United States. At then, I was extremely exhausted adjusting to a new culture. This water bottle which was in the middle of W-mart with other American water bottles grasped my attention. It was like me standing in a new country representing Korea. I opened the bottle and drank all of it. It tasted sweat and bitter at the same time. When we live abroad, we get attracted to objects related to Korea such as Korean food, song, and clothes. Everytime I get fascinated at these things, I get to think abut what "Minjok" means to me. "Minjok" is like a goal in my life. It is a goal that the past, present, and future generation unconsciously had in their minds which is to preserve our nation and develop "Minjok". 

      First, let’s look at how the term “Minjok” has affected our history. Whenever Korea had to undergo wars between China or Japan and fights within the country, "Minjok" helped them to overcome this. Ancestors felt that they had to overcome hardships in order to preserve our "Minjok". For example, during the period of Japanese colonial rule, it was difficult for one to spread their personal wishes and goals. They could not freely do what they want. It was because we did not have a formal country so Japanese forcefully used our people and resources. Our ancestors could not bear this brutality and worked hard to regain Korea. They formed Korean liberation army and killed Japanese main officials such as the Shanghai Bombing. Plus, Ju Si-Gyeong rearranged Korean language and other scholars focused on organizing Korean history. Most of these people spend their entire life trying to obtain our country. However, they died before they could see an independent Korea. How could these people do this? It is because of "Minjok". Our ancestors did not want the future generation to experience the same pain they received because of not having a country. To conserve our "Minjok", ancestors put "Minjok" as their goal in life in the long term. 

A Video of the Dangun Story, the Legend of constructing Korea

      Second, our present society is going through many changes because of “Minjok”. After Japan colonization, 6 25 war, Korea was economically, politically a mess. In the 1950s, Carl Rowan, a Readers Digest reporter said expecting democracy out of Korea would be like looking for a rose among trash. It seemed impossible for Korea to develop.  Despite these evaluation from the world, Korea is now 15^th rank GDP and is a democracy country. This was mainly due to Park Jung-Hee dictatorship. To unite Koreans and justify the sacrifice of many people during the industrialization,  he used the Dangun story, the founding story of Korea. The legend of Dangun taught people that we all inherited from Heaven and that we are ethically all from one blood.  From this influence, when we want to express our opinion we gather together. There is a Korean maxim saying that “When we gather together we live. When we disperse we die” We argue that we have to gather together because we are one “Minjok”. Hundreds of people come together and protest such as the candlelight vigil. We combine ourselves to make a better "Minjok" and a better society.

A Video of the Candlelight Vigil that was opened from the May 15nd Seoul, Chonggyechon stream to oppose against U.S. beef exports.

      Third, “Minjok” affects our personal goals. As a future leader of the next generation, I want to help the the development of our “minjok” and furthermore, world globalalization. According to "the Paradox of Korean Globalization" by Gi-Wook Shin, it states that globalization has not weakened nationalism in Korea. We are taught to be globalized and at the same time work for our "minjok". This is possible in Korea because "Minjok" leads us to work for globalization. I want to become a chemist. When I say this people ask me what kind of chemist do I want to be, I answer that I want to be a chemist that can lift Korea’s name high. I want to work for our “minjok” in the field of chemistry. While studying and researching for this goal, our whole world will benefit. This is a common desire that most students in Korean Minjok Leadership Academy has.  

      All in all, “Minjok” is a goal in our life. It is why we have to endure hardships and learn. By overcoming hardships, we develop ourselves. The reason why we have to do this is because we have to preserve and improve our “Minjok”. Wherever we are standing right now, which can be right in front of your notebook monitor, or cleaning the snow, we have to thank our ancestors who have brought us to that place. Our ancestors and everybody around us has worked for “Minjok”. As an expression of gratitude, we should spend our lives also working for “Minjok”. Have this “Minjok” in our mind for the past, present, and the remaining future.