The myth of monoethnic and monocultural Korea is tenacious. In the aftermath of Japanese colonialism, it found renewed strength in the Park Chung Hee era and in South Korean cultural nationalism of the 1980s. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, government sponsorship of cultural globalization valorized the idea of “multiculturalism” (tamunhwa), but did not dispel widespread discrimination and xenophobia against actual multiethnic and multicultural populations. The contributors to this volume employ the dual concepts of “multicultural” and “multiethnic” to make sense of an intriguing facet of the recent and continuing South Korean social transformation.
This is the first English-language book of its kind to address multiculturalism in South Korea.
John Lie (pronounced "Lee") is professor of sociology at the University of California, Berkeley. He studies Korean diasporic trajectories and rethinks the categories of modern peoplehood. His recent works include Zainichi (Koreans in Japan): Diasporic Nationalism and Postcolonial Identity (UC Press, 2008) and an edited volume, Multiethnic Korea? Multiculturalism, Migration, and Peoplehood Diversity in Contemporary South Korea (IEAS, 2015).
Education: A.B. in Social Studies, Harvard University; Ph.D. in Sociology, Harvard University
“In his introduction, Lie argues that race and ethnicity are dynamic notions that locate populations in the process of politics and social history. The other authors take this idea and carry it to some surprising conclusions. The result is both a theoretically and ethnographically important volume, and it is a must-read for those studying Korean culture or East Asian societies. It also will be of pertinent interest to people studying ethnicity and race who want to add a comparative perspective to that which dominates the literature emerging from societies in the West.”—Nobuko Adachi, Illinois State University, American Ethnologist 43, no. 3 (August 2016): 575-576.
"As a comprehensive and important collection of research on Korean peoplehood, this edited volume pushes us to think about and recognize co-ethnic Korean migrants, migrants who form families in South Korea, and people with partly Korean ethnicities. It is intended to be useful for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses on Korea, international migration, ethnicity, and East Asia. The book will also provide insights not only for Koreanists and Asianists, but also for scholars in the fields of migrants, globalization, sociology, comparative politics, and policy." —Claire Seungeun Lee, University of Massachusetts, Boston, Asian Ethnology 75, no. 2 (2016): 498–501
"Although much has been written in Korean on multiculturalism in Korea over the past decade or so, there is a lack of similar scholarship in English. "Multiethnic Korea?" makes a good start at addressing this lack, identifying the challenges that Korea faces on both the policy and personal levels as the nation moves into an increasingly diverse future. The conversation on multiculturalism cannot be dominated by any one voice, and it is hoped that this volume will inspire and encourage open dialogue between all those involved."—Charles La Shure and Lee Woo-young, Koreana (Winter 2015): 74.
"Multiethnic Korea? is essential reading for scholars interested in the broad field of Korean Studies and, indeed, thanks to its accessible, jargon-free language, any critical reader who is interested in unpacking the contemporary 'multicultural' landscape of Korea. Although most of the chapters are oriented toward the social sciences, their applicability may be extended to the humanities, particularly as multicultural residents are becoming a visible presence in the Korean media. Each chapter is insightful as a stand-alone piece, but their significance grows when considered in relation to each other, especially as the contributors tend to cite each other, engaging in productive dialogues."—Eun-hae Kim, Yonsei University, Situations 10.1 (2017): 153–158
"The book rightly revels in the contradictions and inconsistencies in a lot of the current beliefs in, and policies of, multiculturalism. It is with this kind of well-researched and critical literature that barriers to a genuine multiethnicity and multiculturalism in Korea might be lifted."—Iain Watson, Ajou University, Suwon, South Korea, Pacific Affairs 90, no. 2 (July 2017): 374–376.
360 pp.6 x 9
9781557291103$32.00|£27.00Paper
Mar 2015