The current era demands 'action-oriented intellect' amidst social unrest and confusion, necessitating reflection on past values and educational methods.
In times of national crisis, fostering individual capabilities and renewing the spirit of Hongik Ingan and the values of self-cultivation, family harmony, national governance, and world peace are crucial for building a hopeful future for future generations.
Overcoming the chaos stemming from the absence of politics, history, and philosophy, and fostering a compassionate heart for our neighbors, alongside proper education for future generations, are essential for the Republic of Korea to once again leap forward.
It's Time to Wake Up
Hello darkness, my old friend I've come to talk with you again Because a vision softly creeping Left its seeds while I was sleeping And the vision That was planted in my brain Still remains Within the sound of silence ~ ~ ~~ [Source: The Sound of Silence - Simon and Garfunkel (The Sound of Silence) Rushcrow's Pop Song Translation/Interpretation (rushcrow.com)] ‘ With trust in parliamentary democracy at an all-time low, citizens are now armed with smartphones and social networking services (SNS) and poised to launch a ‘Korean Jasmine Revolution’ (which began in Tunisia, North Africa, when a young man who was a fruit vendor committed suicide by self-immolation in protest against a crackdown, December 2010). While it may seem like a dangerous provocation to the vested interests, weren’t they the ones who provoked the citizens to this point? We live in a ‘world of anger’ that has even driven academics who were only reflecting on things to take action.
Insight into historical consciousness and the spirit of the times is not the exclusive domain of intellectuals but rather a destiny shared by all of us living in this era. We now need ‘intellectuals in action.’ [Source: [Reading the World] Intellectuals in Action/Jae-Seung Jung, The Hankyoreh (hani.co.kr), 2011. 11. 8]
‘The Sound of Silence’ is Simon & Garfunkel’s 1964 debut album. Written in the aftermath of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy (November 22, 1963), the song symbolizes a particular moment in American music history. It was a time when the heartfelt political participation of folk singers who frequented coffee shops overturned everyone’s expectations and was accepted into the mainstream.
This song was used as the soundtrack for the film ‘The Graduate’ (1967) and is well-known among middle-aged and older generations. Simon, who had just graduated at the time, wrote the song, and the lyrics, while addressing social issues, also contain spiritual expressions.
Up until now, the Republic of Korea has been building the foundation of a democratic society through the April 19 Revolution, the May 16 Military Coup, the June 10 Democratic Struggle, and the May 18 Democratization Movement. During this period, there were certainly painful experiences of division between the conservative and progressive camps and the associated divisions between the Yeongnam and Honam regions.
However, recently, with a non-political figure in the position of national leader, terms such as ‘regression of democracy’ have been frequently used. We also hear self-deprecating remarks about how, overnight, we have gone from an advanced nation recognized by the international community to a developing nation. Outside the country, the United States, Japan, and China, etc. are devising strategies to maximize their own interests in politics, diplomacy, and culture, and are striving to achieve them.
During a conversation with Xi Jinping, then-US President Trump stated that the Republic of Korea was a ‘vassal state of China,’ which is a fact that all Koreans remember. The Qing Dynasty that preceded modern-day China was established by the Manchus. However, modern-day China, ruled by the Communist Party, claims that the Manchurian region, including Goguryeo and Balhae, which were established by the ancestors of the Korean people, belonged to them, and that the culture is also theirs, conducting this work under the name of the Northeast Project.
Among the events that justified Japan’s invasion of the Republic of Korea in the early 19th century was the Taft–Katsura Agreement (1905), in which the United States and the Japanese Empire mutually recognized each other’s rights to rule the Philippines and the Korean Empire, respectively. As such, foreign powers have been incessantly waging wars of aggression to promote their own interests.
Following the Korean War, the parents of the 1960s generation endured the hardships of the ‘Bo릿고개’ (barley ridge) period, but they dedicated themselves to educating their children even if it meant going hungry. Thanks to the dedication of this generation, the middle-aged and elderly generations of today live in a nation that has achieved economic growth that no other country has. The Republic of Korea transitioned from a developing nation to an advanced nation in just 57 years, a feat that is nothing short of miraculous.
However, the citizens of the Republic of Korea living in the present era are experiencing great confusion and a sense of self-reproach following the change in the political landscape with a single national leader and a change in the political power structure. The causes of this can be attributed to the absence of politics, history, and philosophy among individuals, but ultimately, could it be inferred that there are problems with the education they received at home?
Even during my elementary school days, there was great interest in the teachings of ‘a harmonious family brings about prosperity in all matters (가화만사성)’, ‘cultivating oneself, regulating one’s family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world (수신제가 치국평천하)’, and ‘the great benefit of humanity (홍익인간)’ at home and at school. Subsequently, the nation’s economic growth led to prosperity in human life. This resulted in the transition from extended families to nuclear families, and naturally, moral education and discipline disappeared from the home. The sole purpose of education was to cultivate one’s abilities in order to achieve greater success in a competitive society.
Thus, we have created a dichotomous social value system where only those who attend prestigious universities and achieve success are considered successful, while those who do not are seen as failures. We overlooked the fact that individuals possess a wide range of abilities and talents, and that the fruits of labor achieved through one’s best efforts in their respective positions are valuable. As a result, we are now facing the era of polarization and experiencing a society of frustration.
I believe that it is now time to recognize this situation and wake up. It is time to reflect on whether we have perhaps neglected the education of our children’s minds, history, and humanity, and whether we have been lax in our efforts to care for our neighbors.
When my children and the younger generation bear in mind the governing ideology of the Dangun Joseon era, ‘Hongik Ingan’ (弘益人間), which means ‘to widely benefit people or nations around them,’ and cultivate the qualities of a leader in ‘cultivating oneself, regulating one’s family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world (수신제가 치국평천하)’, there will be hope for future generations, and the Republic of Korea will become a nation that exerts a positive influence on the entire world.
