Republic of Korea: Cultural Landscape - Term Paper Example

Republic of Korea: Cultural Landscape Introduction The following brief discussion of the Korean cultural landscape is presented in preparation for a business venture exporting Napa Cabbage from the US to South Korea where there is a major shortage of cabbage. The survey of he cultural landscape will follow from Mariano Grondanas cultural typology contrasting progress prone and progress resistant societies in the context of economic development. Seven of the characteristics identified by Grondona will be identified and considered. The seven categories that will be assessed are education, rule of law/corruption, attitudes to work, gender relations, fertility, competition and wealth. The latter two factors will be considered in tandem. An eighth category not include in cultural landscape assessments, diet will also be considered. Diet is a key to this project as it involves the export to South Korea of Napa valley cabbage. Education -Positive view of fact based knowledge and education An extremely high value is placed on education in South Korea. In 2005 The New York Times reported that students obsess about the university they will attend, and their rank in their high school class which will determine that, throughout their high school years. To this end summer school is a de facto if not a de jure responsibility and most students also attend private classes in the evenings. In summary, The New York Times states, “In a country where every teenagers existence seems centered on entering a top university, which can determine ones future here much more than in the United States, such conformity is to be expected.” (Onishi, 2005) Education is more highly valued in South Korea than it is in the United States. His fact is reflected in education statistics. The overall literacy rate is 97.9% and English is widely taught in junior high and high schools. Also, the school life expectancy rate (total years spent in school from primary to tertiary – college or university – education) is extremely high. For males school life expectancy is 18 years and for females it is 16 years. In neighboring China the rate is less than 60% (11 years) of the rate in South Korea. (“Korea, South”, 2010) Overall, the South Korean population is highly educated, highly literate and fluency in English is widespread. Positive view of work – Work is remunerative and rewarding As the previous comments on education imply, Koreans hold a positive view of work that both explains and follows from the extraordinary priority they attach to education. Education is vitally important because it is a key determinant in employment. A Korean Development Institute study in the mid-1970s “revealed that 25 percent of a sample of entrepreneurs and 35 percent of a sample of higher civil servants had attended Seoul National University.” (“South Korea – The Society”) Seoul National University is the top university in the country and the objective of the students that spend their youth in summer school and at private night schools. South Korea has undergone massive urbanization as a result of rural to urban population inflow. Further surveys reveal that greater employment opportunities and higher income are the motivating factors. The three most commonly cited reasons for urban immigration amongst new arrivals are, "new employment or seeking a new job," "job transfer," and "business". (“South Korea – The Society”) Therefore, both urbanization and increasing levels of education are directly attributable to the emphasis on work in South Korean society Positive View of competition and wealth South Korean attitudes to competition and wealth are implicit in the previously considered attitudes to education and work. The education environment is highly competitive. Students are focused on their grades and the quality of the school that their grades will earn them admission to. Competition is viewed as a way to determine an individuals abilities and this attitude is maintained into the workplace. Education and employment are both, in turn, seen as avenues to higher paying jobs, in both the public and private sectors, and greater personal wealth. Rule of Law/Corruption – Minimal corruption In its 2009 corruption perceptions index Transparency International ranked Korea 39th out of 180 countries surveyed and 22nd amongst the 33members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in public perception of corruption. In relative terms this placed it well above China, which ranked 79th. (Si-soo, 2009) It also represented one step up from the countrys 40th place ranking in 2008. Transparency International attributed this small improvement to “factors such as foreign investment and a rise in average income.” (Si-soo, 2009) Gender Relationships Traditionally, Korea was a highly gendered society, with women occupying lower social and economic status, and filling subsidiary, largely domestic roles. In large measure this situation was attributable to the Confucian emphasis on patriarchy. Since the 1950s this situation has rapidly evolved but women remain in largely subsidiary roles. Evidence of the change is provided by the aforementioned education rates, with women spending almost as a long a period in school as men (16 years for females and 18 for males.) (“Korea, South”, 2010) On the other hand significant inequalities persist. Mongabay.com provides a concise summary of their persistence: Although increasing numbers of women work outside the home, the dominant conception, particularly for the college-educated middle class, is that the husband is the outside person.... Women tend to leave the labor force when they get married. Many women manage the family finances.... Probably the most important responsibility of married women is the management of their childrens education. (“South Korea – The Society”) In plain terms, womens roles in South Korean society have expanded greatly, but they primarily focused on domestic responsibilities and males are favored in terms of employment. In Gordanas terms, gender equality is not a reality, but gender roles are not inconsistent with a progress - prone society either. (“TABLE 2.1: Typology of Progress-Prone and Progress-Resistant Cultures”) Fertility – low South Korea has an exceptionally low fertility rate. The 2010 estimated birth rate is only 8.72 per 1000, ranking Korea as 216 out of the countries surveyed in The CIA World Factbook. In the region this is slightly higher than Japans birth rate of 7.41 per 1000, but considerably lower than neighboring Chinas birth rate of 12.17 per 1000. Consequently, the South Koreas population growth rate (2010 estimate) is only 0.258% ranking it 176th out of the countries surveyed in The CIA World Factbook.(“Korea, South”, 2010) This means that family size is relatively small and family income per family member is relatively high. This, in turn, means that a large proportion of family income can be directed towards food purchases. Diet Diet is not typically included in cultural landscape assessments. However, it will be included in this analysis because it is related to the export of produce, Napa valley cabbage, to South Korea. Cabbage is a central element in the Korea diet. Kimchi is a spicy cabbage relish that is the most popular side dish in Korea according to health.com: “Koreans eat so much of this super-spicy condiment (40 pounds of it per person each year) that natives say “kimchi” instead of “cheese” when getting their pictures taken.” (“Worlds Healthiest Foods: Kimchi (Korea)”) Cabbage is also a staple in soups, stews and other Korean foods. Simply put, the nature of the Korean diet means that there is a huge demand for cabbage. That said, at present, South Korean households produce 56% of the cabbage consumed in South Korea and only 10% of the total consumption is imported. (“Korea – Republic of: Cabbage Market Trends”, 2010) This means that although per capita consumption of cabbage is high the market for commercially produced cabbage and especially imported cabbage, is relatively low. Conclusions South Korean society is progressive prone. Educational attainment, success at work and the accumulation of wealth are all highly valued. South Korean society is open to both competition and innovation. Corruption is relatively low and decreasing, and gender inequality persists but moderating, and it is not so pervasive as to be resistant to progress. Finally, cabbage is an integral part of the South Korean diet. References California Teachers Association Institute for Teaching. “TABLE 2.1: Typology of Progress-Prone and Progress-Resistant Cultures”. TeacherDrivenChange. Web. http://www.teacherdrivenchange.org/teacherdrivenchange/files/Culutre_Chapter_2_typology_figure.pdf. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). (2010). “Korea, South”. The World Factbook. Web. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.html. Grondona, Mariano (2000), "A cultural Typology of Economic Development", in Harrison, Lawrence E.; Huntington, Samuel P., Culture Matters, New York, NY: Basic Books, pp. 44–55. Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN). November 5, 2010. ““Korea – Republic of: Cabbage Market Trends: ”. GAIN Report KS1027. Web. http://gain.fas.usda.gov/Recent%20GAIN%20Publications/Cabbage%20Market%20Trends_Seoul_Korea%20-%20Republic%20of_11-5-2010.pdf. Onishi, Norimitsu. (August 27, 2005). “Dreams of a Korean Summer: School and a New Cell”. The New York Times. Web. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/27/international/asia/27jeong.html?_r=1. Si-soo, Park. (November 17, 2009). “Korea Ranks 39th in Global Corruption Index”. Korea Times. Web. http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/05/117_55667.html. “South Korea – The Society”. Web. http://www.mongabay.com/reference/country_studies/south-korea/SOCIETY.html. “Worlds Healthiest Foods: Kimchi (Korea)”. Web. http://www.health.com/health/article/0,,20410300,00.html. Read More