How Bad is Racism in South Korea?

How Racist is South Korea? Or How Serious is Racism in South Korea?

If you ask me this, I will say that South Korea, due to its homogeneous society, is often labelled as one of the world's most racist nation. Yes, the most racist nation, because Koreans live in a homogeneous society with a materialistic mindset, colourism, lookism, and strict beauty standards. This makes it difficult for them to overlook their racism towards outsiders, especially those with darker skin.

Much of Korean racism is typical of Asia, where lighter skin is not only considered more beautiful but also indicates a higher social status. This preference stems from traditional roles where those who worked outdoors, often labourers, had darker skin due to sun exposure, while "intellectual" work such as that done by scholars and monks was highly esteemed. In Confucian nations like China, Korea, and Japan, this has led to a cultural norm where avoiding direct sunlight with hats and umbrellas is common among both men and women.

      

 Xenophobia and Racial Purity

Xenophobia is another significant aspect of Korean racism. None of these nations is truly comfortable with foreigners, and they are far from multicultural. Japan and Korea, in particular, pride themselves on "racial purity." The most extreme example is North Korea, which harshly criticizes South Korea for its "racial mixing." 

Interestingly, South Korea has become more tolerant over the past few decades, especially compared to Japan, which remains highly xenophobic and refuses to grant citizenship to outsiders, including Koreans who were forcibly brought to Japan before World War II and have lived there for generations. In contrast, South Korea offers some paths to citizenship for those who have lived in the country and learned Korean, although it still operates on the principle of "citizenship of the blood."

 Fear of Darker-Skinned People

Along with a preference for light skin, Koreans and other Asians have developed a fear of darker-skinned people, often associating them with crime and lawlessness. While there are no concrete crime statistics involving darker-skinned foreigners in South Korea, Nigerians, for example, are often perceived negatively. This perception is fuelled by media reports of crimes involving Nigerians, particularly in the Itaewon neighbourhood of Seoul, which can unfairly colour Koreans' views of darker-skinned expats.

Moreover, many worker-immigrants in Korea, aside from white English teachers, are engaged in the "3D" (difficult, dirty, dangerous) jobs that Koreans avoid. This lack of respect for manual labour is another relic of Confucianism and often affects immigrants from South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

Racism Towards Whites

Racism directed at whites is also fairly common in Korea. Some of this racism is nationalistic, particularly against Americans. Koreans sometimes view Americans with a mix of xenophobia and resentment, perceiving an air of superiority. At the same time, some Koreans feel a sense of racial superiority themselves, believing that Koreans are naturally the best and will eventually triumph over the West. This attitude can be seen as a mix of envy and competitive superiority.

South Korean 'Whitewashing'

Korean whitewashing is a significant issue in South Korean culture, driven by a preference for lighter skin and Western beauty standards. This bias is pervasive across media, advertising, and the beauty industry, where lighter skin is frequently celebrated and promoted. For instance, K-pop and K-drama celebrities often appear with exaggeratedly lightened skin due to whitening filters used on social media, in mainstream media, and even in television dramas and movies. This practice of whitewashing actors and actresses can be starkly unrealistic and reinforces narrow beauty ideals. 

The widespread nature of whitewashing in South Korea underscores the ongoing challenge with beauty standards and highlights the urgent need for more inclusive and diverse representations of different skin tones.

Lookism, discrimination and materialistic culture!

In South Korea, there’s a strong focus on both appearance and material success. Lookism, or discrimination based on physical appearance, is a serious and widespread issue. Many people turn to plastic surgery as easily as we might visit a local store, highlighting how ingrained this mindset is.

Lookism is so prevalent in South Korea that it's often believed a person cannot achieve success without meeting the country's beauty standards.
Comments about someone’s weight, skin tone, or attractiveness are commonplace. It’s normal for people to be blunt about these things, even with friends or family. In everyday life, it’s not unusual to hear someone being called fat, dark, or unattractive. This openness about looks and material preferences is a notable part of Korean society.

 A Hope for Change

In summary, South Korea's views on race are somehow similar to those of its neighbour, Japan. Nonetheless, there is optimism that these attitudes may evolve as Koreans increasingly interact with foreigners, much like Japan has. If South Korea invests in expanding its understanding of geography, diversity, and different cultures around the globe, there is hope that this predominantly homogeneous society can become more open and accepting of outsiders and outcast people among themselves as well.