ARCHIVES
VOL. 10, ISSUE 4 (2025)
Ethnic nationalism and multiculturalism in Korea: Tensions in a changing society
Authors
Shreya Kasana
Abstract
The fast demographic change in South Korea has involved ethnic
nationalism and multiculturalism in direct conflict. The Korean national
identity is historically based upon minjok
ideology, which has set a focus on ethnic homogeneity, lineage and cultural
purity. Nonetheless, it has been argued that this long-held narrative has been
compromised by the beginning of the 2000s due to immigration, marriage
migration, foreign labour and the existence of multicultural children. This
paper focuses on the role of ethnic nationalism in forming the attitudes of the
people, state policies, and social relations in modern Korea, as well as how
emerging multicultural realities are being negotiated by different social
actors. Based on the theoretical views of nationalism and multiculturalism, the
research examines policy and representations and case studies to demonstrate
contradictions between the rhetoric of multiculturalism and the practices of
assimilation. The article claims that Korea is at a crossroads in that the continued
existence of ethnic nationalism is further making the shift to a more inclusive
civic existence difficult. The implications for social cohesion and future
identity formation are brought out in the findings.
Download
Pages:30-34
How to cite this article:
Shreya Kasana "Ethnic nationalism and multiculturalism in Korea: Tensions in a changing society". International Journal of Multidisciplinary Education and Research, Vol 10, Issue 4, 2025, Pages 30-34
Download Author Certificate
Please enter the email address corresponding to this article submission to download your certificate.