A Geek in Korea. Daniel Tudor
she really angry, or is she just using aegyo?
Aegyo makes great business
Korean girl groups like Girls’ Generation and f(x) have young (i.e. teenage) members who are trained how to use their aegyo to maximum effect when appearing in videos and interviews. At the same time, they also dress in an extremely sexualized fashion. Apparently, the fans who really like this are older men in their late thirties or forties, some of whom even send gifts and fan mail to their favorite group members. It is hard to deny that there is something a little not-quite-right about this. But it is very good business for the record labels.
PART 2
TRADITIONAL KOREA
Before we rush headlong into K-pop or the sometimes scary world of the “netizen,” let’s look at some of the foundations of Korean culture. I’m talking about the likes of religion and ethics, traditional arts, and the classic Korean house. But don’t run away just yet—these are also subjects that take in shamanistic fortune-telling and flying taekwondo kicks. as I said, Korea will never bore you.
CRITICAL EVENTS IN KOREAN HISTORY
GOJOSEON, THE FIRST “PROTO-KOREAN” STATE
The first identifiably Korean state was Gojoseon, the territory of which covers much of modern-day Manchuria and North Korea. Its foundation is shrouded in mystery. The 2333 BC figure is merely a guess based on readings of the tale of Dangun, the legendary “first Korean.” The story begins with Hwanin, the “Lord of Heaven,” sending his son Hwanung to live on earth. Hwanung arrived at Cheonji (Heaven Lake) on top of Baekdusan, the tallest and most spiritually important mountain on the Korean peninsula. Hwanung heard the prayers of a tiger and a bear who wanted to become human. He told them that if they stayed in a cave for a hundred days, eating only mugwort and garlic, he would grant their wish. The tiger gave up, but the bear persevered and was transformed into a woman. She later prayed for a husband, and Hwanung himself took her as his wife. Their son, Dangun, became the mythical founder of Gojoseon, a state which lasted until the first century BC.
KOREA FIRST UNIFIED, 668 AD
From the first to the seventh centuries AD, what would today be called “Korea” was in fact three separate states—Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla. Silla conquered Baekje in 660, and eight years later, claimed Goguryeo. This came with the eventual loss of Goguryeo’s northern territory—some Korean historians lament this downsizing of Korea even today. Regardless, 668 is the year in which we can say “Korea” truly began.
A Silla crown.
Cheomseongdae observatory at Gyeongju, the capital of Silla.
Koryo Dynasty-era Buddha statue at Gaesong, in present-day North Korea. Gaesong was the capital of Korea back then. Seoul only became capital in 1394, at the beginning of the Joseon Dynasty.
Wang Geon.
THE KORYO DYNASTY
By the early 900s, Korea had again split into three separate states. One of those was Hugoguryeo (later Goguryeo), which was led by Gung Ye—a man known for his brutality and rather mad behavior (he killed his own wife and children, and declared himself a Buddha). His prime minister Wang Geon overthrew him, and succeeded in reuniting the whole of Korea in 936. Wang Geon’s new kingdom took the name Koryo. If you ever wondered where the word “Korea” comes from, there’s your answer.
Na Cheol (1863–1916) founded Daejonggyo, a religion that worships Dangun.
Gyeongbokgung, the main palace of the Joseon Dynasty. Gyeongbokgung remains the most well-known Korean palace.
1392—The Joseon Dynasty
Four centuries of Koryo and the cracks were showing. Mongol invasions had weakened the state, and powerful monks were taking advantage of Buddhism’s status as the national religion to accumulate vast wealth. Supported by anti-Buddhist, neo-Confucianist hardliners, General Yi Seong-gye established himself as king of the new Joseon Dynasty in 1392, four years after taking de facto control in a coup.
King Sejong the Great, the most revered ruler of the Joseon era. He reigned from 1418–1450 and presided over the creation of Hangeul, the Korean writing system.
THE IMJIN WAE-RAN INVASIONS
For a period of six years, Japanese invaders attempted to take control of Korea. They failed thanks to Admiral Yi Sun-sin’s astonishing naval prowess. He won a famous victory at the 1597 Battle of Myeongnyang, despite being outnumbered 333 ships to 13—and the assistance of Chinese troops. But Korea’s survival came at the cost of hundreds of thousands of lives. Imjin Wae-ran also represents the start of Korea’s obsession with spicy red pepper: the Japanese brought it over with them, having obtained it from Portuguese traders.
JAPANESE COLONIZATION
Joseon had been seriously weakened by infighting and corruption, unfortunately making Japan’s next major attempt at taking control of Korea easier. Korea became a “protectorate” in 1910, and was used as a staging post by Japan in which to invade China. Koreans were forced to take Japanese names, and many women were even made into sex slaves. Liberation came in 1945, with the fall of Imperial Japan to the Allies, but the 35 years of Japanese rule continues to cast a long shadow over Korea: the period created both heroes and collaborators, and political divisions that last to this day.
Seodaemun Prison, where independence activists were held. It was still used throughout the dictatorship era. You can visit this Seodaemun Prison today, but be warned, it isn’t a light-hearted tourist trap.
Gwangju May 18th National Cemetery, for the victims of the 1980 Gwangju Massacre perpetrated by Chun Doo-hwan.
Hyundai shipyard, Ulsan. Park Chung-hee saw shipbuilding as a way for Korea to get ahead, and directed huge amounts of state money toward it. The most impressive result is Hyundai’s shipyard, the biggest in the world.
PARK CHUNG-HEE TAKES CHARGE
Army General Park Chung-hee took power in a coup on May 16, 1961. He ran a repressive regime—but one that pulled the country out of poverty and laid the foundations for South Korea’s “economic miracle.” He was eventually assassinated by his intelligence chief in 1979. Park Chung-hee is a controversial figure, but South Korea is in many ways still his country. His daughter, Park Geun-hye, was elected president in December 2012.
DEMOCRACY COMES TO KOREA
South Korea is home to two miracles—one economic, one political. Massive protests forced military dictator Chun Doo-hwan (who had taken over following Park’s assassination) to declare free elections in 1987. Since then, a new president has been elected every five years. Newly democratic, economic powerhouse