Motivation: Korea’s Search of Cultural Nationalism

in the Era of Globalization

 

Putting aside the controversy caused by the name Xinqi first, it is also important to understand the motivation behind the move. According to the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries as well as the Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corporation, the objective is in two-fold:

(1) Kimchi’s authenticity is threatened by the name Korean Paocai thus the new name Xinqi can highlight the uniqueness and Koreaness of Kimchi;

(2) to construct a more high-class image of Kimchi, to raise its economic and cultural value, as well as popularity internationally (Apple Dailiy 09 Nov. 2013; Seoul Sinmun 06 Jan. 2013).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The explanations above clearly reveal the dual approaches of the Korean government. The former represents Korean cultural nationalism and the emphasis of her own cultural authenticity; while the latter displays the government’s ambition to push Kimchi overseas as an international product.

 

Not limited to the promotion of Kimchi, the Korean government’s overall globalization policy has also been paradoxical in this way too. Since Kim Yong Sam’s Segyehwa Policy (the national policy of globalization), the Korean government has been actively launching the process of globalization in all aspects. Yet, the nature of “national push” itself embodies the force of nationalism. Cited from Samuel Kim, though globalization is in full-fledge in Korea since early 1990s, deep down Korea remains mired in the “cocoon of exclusive cultural nationalism” (263). In other words, globalization has been utilized as a means to enhance Korea’s competitiveness in the world market, while in meantime, the government upheld ethnic nationalism to counteract the cultural assimilation of globalization by preserving, promoting or even inventing Korea’s “traditional” and “native” cultures and values. For example, in the early 1990s, the Korean government began to revive and invent regional folklore festivals such as Andong Folk Festival, the International Confucian Festival and other similar “traditional” carnivals. Through commercializing folklore performance, the government constructs the way of living of typical “Korean ancestor”, and educates the Koreans their common ethnic roots (Shin 215). The promotion and rebranding of Kimchi, is also a similar way to construct her cultural nationalism.