Koreans, Who Are We? Korean Identity Through Public Opinion Polls

The "Koreans" as Seen by Koreans: Tracking Changes

"Koreans, Who Are We?" This is a question that warrants revisiting. Political identity serves as the criterion for distinguishing 'us' within a political community from 'them' externally. For 'us,' having lived for a long time within the geographical space of the Korean Peninsula with shared kinship, culture, and language, the existence of the Korean people itself signifies identity. In other words, for Koreans, there has been no gap between identity in the sense of kinship and ethnicity, as seen in the formation of modern nation-states in Europe, and identity in the civic and territorial sense.

However, today, our national and ethnic identities have become complex, making them difficult to distinguish or define as simply as in the past. This is primarily because the division has prevented the realization of the fundamental principle of nationalism, 'a nation-state of the Korean people.' While South Korea has achieved success in political, economic, and social development, the prolonged situation of North-South division has led to the formation of a distinct identity within South Korea itself. Consequently, the tendency to perceive the unification of ethnic and national identities as the 'obvious and natural' final stage is rapidly weakening. Furthermore, globalization, increased openness to the outside world, and the enhanced international standing of Korea have diversified the racial, cultural, and linguistic composition of our society, deepening considerations for a new global identity that transcends the 'myth of a single ethnic group.' This is why the question, 'Koreans, Who Are We?' has become important.

The book, "Koreans, Who Are We?" is the result of an effort to explore answers to these questions. In 2005, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of liberation, the East Asia Institute conducted its first "National Identity Public Opinion Survey" and published the book "National Identity of Koreans and Korean Politics" the following year. This research, as an extension, aimed to track the changes and continuities in identity that have emerged over the past five years by comparing the results of the second National Identity Survey, conducted in 2010 by the East Asia Institute (Director: Professor Lee Suk-jong, Sungkyunkwan University) and the Asiatic Research Center at Korea University (Director: Professor Lee Nae-young, Korea University). To this end, a research team composed of experts in various fields such as political science, sociology, and public administration from the East Asia Institute and the Asiatic Research Center at Korea University was formed to analyze the changes in Korean identity from a comprehensive and convergent perspective.

South Korea's "National Identity" and the Spread of "Global Citizenship" in the Era of Globalization

This book consists of nine research chapters. First, Kang Won-taek focuses on the inherent conflict between national identity confined to South Korea and ethnic identity encompassing both North and South Korea, pointing to a trend of a separate 'Republic of Korea identity' gradually strengthening within South Korea. Lee Nae-young analyzes Koreans' perceptions of North Korea and unification, revealing that the 'hostile other consciousness' towards North Korea has grown compared to five years ago, and skeptical and cautious attitudes towards unification are spreading. Changes in Korea's international standing and the trend of globalization are also bringing about significant changes in Koreans' international outlook. Lee Suk-jong reveals that the perception that Koreans should contribute to the international community is increasing, leading to a gradual strengthening of global citizenship, expressed as a sense of ownership and responsibility in the international arena. She also points out that the importance of diplomatic capabilities for securing influence in the international community is being emphasized as much as economic development. Lee Shin-hwa also notes that with the advancement of globalization and informatization, the perception that transnational issues such as natural disasters, diseases, and economic crises can pose threats to Korea's national interests has expanded, leading to increased interest in the importance of non-military and non-traditional security issues.

"Democratization, Multicultural Era": Redefining Koreans

Jeong Han-wool and Lee Gon-soo, through an analysis of the relationship between democracy and nationalism, discover a tendency among Koreans towards 'democratic nationalism,' where a high level of democratic citizenship coexists with strong nationalist sentiments. However, they uniquely observe that while the growth of democratic citizenship weakens the exclusivity of nationalism, it simultaneously acts as a factor that strengthens the consciousness of national sovereignty. Meanwhile, Yoon In-jin analyzes perceptions of overseas Koreans, North Korean defectors, and foreign immigrants, whose combinations of ethnicity, nationality, and country of origin differ, and notes that Koreans attach great importance to both ethnic requirements such as birthplace and bloodline, and civic requirements such as nationality and adherence to laws and systems. He highlights that these two sets of requirements are not separated as in Western societies but are bound together as a single factor. Hwang Jung-mi examined the acceptance of multiculturalism, finding that while Koreans have not yet internalized or identified with new values such as cultural diversity and the coexistence of multiple ethnic groups, the majority of Koreans agree with the macro-level policy direction that Korean society should become a multi-ethnic and multicultural nation in the future.

Changes in National Identity and the Emergence of New National Agendas

These changes in perceptions of national and ethnic identity inevitably influence the formation of national agendas. Moon Myung-jae categorizes the national agendas desired by Koreans into five major areas: fair distribution and the realization of a welfare state, continuous economic growth and the discovery of future growth engines, the construction of a pluralistic integrated society where the rules of coexistence prevail, the establishment of a transparent and fair democratic state, and the construction of a unified state and the exercise of international leadership. She emphasizes the importance of establishing comprehensive welfare policies that can more actively respond to social changes and developing economic growth policies that pursue sustainable growth. In this regard, Lee Yong-wook suggests that Korea has a very high preference for materialism compared to other countries, and this tendency does not differ significantly across generations. He argues that the high preference for materialism stems from the fact that in Korean society, success and status overshadow other values, leading to an obsession with material success, and that members of society construct their preferences for major social issues through the prism of material gain.

Challenges and Opportunities of the Changing "Koreans": Our Choice?

As revealed by this research, the internal diversity of Korean society has further increased over the past five years. Simultaneously, the attributes of identity that Koreans consider important are also gradually changing. These trends are likely to continue in the future. This phenomenon may represent a new challenge for us, who have lived for a long time under the myth of a 'single ethnic group.' However, considering the era of globalization and Korea's enhanced international standing, these social changes could also provide an opportunity for further development or leap forward. The question is whether our society can grasp the meaning of these identity-related changes and respond appropriately. Readers will find a serious exploration of the possibilities and limitations in "Koreans, Who Are We?"

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Chapter 1: Changes in National and Ethnic Identity in Korean Society | Kang Won-taek

Chapter 2: Changes in Koreans' National Identity and Perceptions of North Korea and Unification | Lee Nae-young

Chapter 3: Koreans' Security and Foreign Perceptions | Lee Shin-hwa

Chapter 4: Global Identity and Korea's Diplomacy | Lee Suk-jong

Chapter 5: Changes in Korean Society and National Agendas | Moon Myung-jae

Chapter 6: Does Democracy Strengthen or Weaken Nationalism? Possibilities of Democratic National Identity Based on a Comparison of 2005 and 2010 Data | Jeong Han-wool · Lee Gon-soo

Chapter 7: From Ethnicity to Nationality: Changes in Perceptions of Overseas Koreans, North Korean Defectors, and Foreign Immigrants | Yoon In-jin

Chapter 8: Koreans' Multicultural Acceptance and National Identity | Hwang Jung-mi

Chapter 9: Koreans' Materialism | Lee Yong-wook

Appendix: Project Overview / Questionnaire / Comparison Table

For the convenience of readers, parts of the manuscript are made available.