January 6, 2025
SEOUL – Online comments dismissing xenophobia in South Korea as insignificant are surprisingly common.
For example, when Chosun Ilbo, a major Korean news outlet, published an article in March about racial discrimination and xenophobia in Itaewon, many readers argued it exaggerated the problem. Reactions included:
“Don’t talk nonsense, reporter. It’s the same anywhere else in the world.”
“Compared to other nations, it’s just a drop in the bucket. What discrimination are you even talking about?”
“At least in our country, we don’t openly gang up on people.”
A similar wave of comments surfaced last month when Seoul Metro was criticized for making a racist comment against Chinese people.
While dismissive attitudes are more prominent online, they reflect a broader sentiment in South Korea: xenophobia exists, but is subtle, seen as an unfortunate relic of a formerly homogenous society, not warranting serious concern.
Lee Guk-cheong, 33, shared her own experience. “I was at a shoe store with some Indonesian friends in Daegu, and I felt the staff were less attentive to us. I think it’s because Southeast Asians are often seen as coming from poorer countries,” she said. “But it was subtle — nothing violent.”
Racism, Korean style
Contrary to the common belief among many Koreans, racism in Korea may not be as subtle as they think.
In a US News ＆ World Report survey of the “Worst Countries for Racial Equity,” South Korea was ranked fifth-worst among 89 countries surveyed. The report cited systemic issues like limited child care support for immigrant families and restrictive work permit policies that make it hard for migrants to gain permanent residency.
Sociology professor Park Kyung-tae of Sungkonghoe University says the xenophobia prevalent among Koreans has its own distinctive characteristics.
“Korean-style racism internalizes Western racial hierarchies, where white people are at the top and Black people are at the bottom. Koreans see themselves as somewhere in the middle — ideally closer to the top — and take pride in that position,” he explained.
Nonwhite Asian immigrants often face discrimination tied to their country’s economic status. “Economic hierarchies amplify racial prejudice,” Park said.
Several social and historical factors make it easy for Koreans to dismiss xenophobia as a minor issue.
Kim Na-hyun, 28, said she was shocked when an American friend casually referred to Chinese food with a term widely considered to be a slur.
“He said he learned it from his Korean friends and didn’t even know it was derogatory. I don’t think the friend who taught him meant any harm; it’s just that the word is still casually used,” she said.
Professor Park points out that Korea’s relatively short history as a multicultural society plays a big role in this.
“We compare ourselves to countries where people are shot or stabbed because of racial hatred and say, ‘It’s not that bad here.’ But we fail to see the daily discrimination and hatred that persist,” he added. “We don’t have a clear standard for what counts as serious (in our society).”
On top of this, many Koreans grew up learning that Korea is ethnically homogeneous, an idea closely tied to national pride.
After liberation from Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule, the notion of an ethnically homogenous nation was instilled in people as part of their historical knowledge to promote national unity. However, this content was removed in a 2007 textbook revision.
Political science and diplomacy professor Jeong Hoi-ok of Myongji University explained that this sense of pride makes it hard for Koreans to tackle issues of xenophobia, as many find it difficult to accept that something they were taught to take pride in could also come across as discriminatory, or exclusionary.
Jeong, who wrote a book on Korean racism and racial slurs in 2022, added that national pride in ethnic homogeneity, combined with a lack of data, makes it even more difficult for people to acknowledge the problem.
“There’s little statistical data on crimes involving foreigners or racism, and no legal provisions to punish racial hate crimes,” she said.
A call for change
With South Korea becoming increasingly multicultural, many believe it’s time to address these issues.
As of early 2024, the Ministry of Justice reported that South Korea has about 2,507,000 foreign residents, accounting for 4.89 percent of the population. This brings the country close to the 5 percent threshold the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development uses to define a multicultural society.
“If we don’t address these issues now, they could become bigger problems down the road,” professor Jeong said.
She pointed to recent developments, such as the employment of Filipina domestic workers in Seoul and debates over hiring foreign bus drivers, as signs that Koreans’ daily lives are becoming more intertwined with the foreign population.
In September, 100 Filipina domestic workers started working in Korean households as part of a pilot program aimed at easing child care burdens. However, earlier this month, the Ministry of Employment and Labor rejected Seoul’s essential proposal to allow foreign bus drivers on local routes, citing legal incompatibilities and the need for long-term planning.
Opening doors wider for immigrants will be inevitable for South Korea as it grapples with a looming demographic crisis, stemming from longer life spans and declining birth rates. The government is working to set up a new agency dedicated to immigration policies, emphasizing the importance of embracing immigration as a vital national strategy for the future.
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