The legacies of the 1988 Seoul Olympic Summer Olympics have been widely researched before. They include the impact on domestic policies (among which policies that impacted the relationship with...Show moreThe legacies of the 1988 Seoul Olympic Summer Olympics have been widely researched before. They include the impact on domestic policies (among which policies that impacted the relationship with North Korea), national pride and collective memory. However, the political climate between the DPRK and the ROK during these 1988 Olympics could not be in starker contrast than during the Winter Olympics in 2018, which provided an opportunity for formal talks between the two countries. This raised the question of whether or not these events could lead to changes in ethnic nationalistic sentiments in ROK society. The aim of this study is to explore how ethnic nationalism discourses in South Korea have been influenced by hosting the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games. As existing literature showed, ethnic nationalism is still used as an argument for unification. Based on this, it was hypothesized that if the wish for unification becomes stronger, notions of ethnic nationalism in South Korean society follow this pattern. Because the PyeongChang Winter Olympics were promoting an agenda of peace and reconciliation with the DPRK, it was expected that they would reignite the flame of ethnic nationalism in ROK society. Critical discourse analysis was used to distinguish whether there were any changes within ethnic nationalism discourses before and after the 2018 Winter Olympics. By comparing studies that captured notions of ethnic nationalism before and after February 2018, it became apparent that there were no clear breakthroughs in the ever-declining importance of ethnic nationalism in ROK society. Because this result is opposite to what is expected on the basis of existing literature, this thesis therefore puts into question the relevance of the current ethnic nationalism discourse paradigm.Show less
There are many artists in the Korean music industry, but black-Korean singers are not often represented thus far. With an increase in multicultural families in South Korea, this group of people is...Show moreThere are many artists in the Korean music industry, but black-Korean singers are not often represented thus far. With an increase in multicultural families in South Korea, this group of people is likely to grow as well in the near future. In order to explore the role of black-Korean individuals in a Korean context, this thesis researched singer Insooni and her ethnic identity development. Phinney’s ethnic identity model was used to assess how Insooni’s identity likely developed throughout her career as a singer. Phinney’s research focused on two main factors called “exploration” and commitment”. Depending on a high or low level for both factors, this results in four possible identity stages: diffusion, moratorium, foreclosure and achievement. This thesis concluded that Insooni likely went through a dynamic development process, described as such by Phinney. The singer may have shown more interest in her Korean ethnicity at first, but as time went on, her exploration and commitment levels for both her Korean and African-American identity increased, which likely resulted in a multi-ethnic identity. This paper offered more insight on the topic of black-Korean individuals and their identity in Korean society.Show less
In deze scriptie beantwoord ik de vraag “Wat is de invloed van nationalisme op de herdenking van Koreaanse slachtoffers van seksuele slavernij door het Japans Keizerlijk leger in Zuid-Korea?” Bij...Show moreIn deze scriptie beantwoord ik de vraag “Wat is de invloed van nationalisme op de herdenking van Koreaanse slachtoffers van seksuele slavernij door het Japans Keizerlijk leger in Zuid-Korea?” Bij de beantwoording van deze vraag zal ik het herdenkingsmonument de sonyŏsang als belangrijkste voorbeeld gebruiken. Hoewel ik het wel over het activisme rondom de slachtoffers ga hebben, heb ik toch gekozen voor het woord “herdenking”. Een groot deel van de literatuur over dit onderwerp gaat over de ontkenning van de gebeurtenissen door de Japanse staat en de protesten voor erkenning door Zuid-Koreanen. Omdat de gebeurtenissen nog steeds door de Japanse staat ontkend en gebagatelliseerd worden, is op dit moment herdenking per definitie een vorm van protest. Omgekeerd is dit ook het geval. Omdat de protesten, naast monetaire compensatie, vooral om erkenning gaan, is actievoeren een onlosmakelijk onderdeel van de herdenking. Herdenken en actievoeren zijn dus op dit moment niet makkelijk van elkaar te scheiden. De reden dat ik specifiek voor het woord herdenken heb gekozen, en niet actievoeren, is dat ik mij in deze scriptie zal focussen op de invloed die nationalisme heeft op de herdenking binnen Zuid-Korea zelf, en niet op Japan of op de relatie van Zuid-Korea met Japan.Show less
This thesis seeks to answer the following research question: “To what extent can the comfort women be considered the forerunners of the #MeToo movement?”. For this, I used qualitative data to...Show moreThis thesis seeks to answer the following research question: “To what extent can the comfort women be considered the forerunners of the #MeToo movement?”. For this, I used qualitative data to support my thesis statement. This qualitative data is secondary data, meaning I extracted information that was collected by other researchers from their research papers, as opposed to new, primary data. In order to gain a better insight in the workings of both the comfort women issue and the #MeToo movement, I discuss events connected to both the comfort women issue and the #MeToo movement that emerged before, during and after the issues became known in Korean society. By comparing, I have found that there are a significant amount of similarities between the two issues. First, i found that both issues were not completely new to the public, and were just not spoken about often. Adding to this, in both situations, the women who spoke up first had been quiet about theit abuse for a long time. Lastly, it is seen that support for the victims in both cases was built from grassroots organizations, and these organizations pressured the government into taking action. By analyzing how both the comfort women issue and the #MeToo movement have progressed over the years, I can confirm the theory that at its core, the comfort women could very well be considered the forerunners of the #MeToo movement.Show less
This thesis examines the role of Tokto/Dokdo in the creation and maintenance of South Korean nationalism, and the way in which Tokto narratives are created and disseminated in Korean society. It...Show moreThis thesis examines the role of Tokto/Dokdo in the creation and maintenance of South Korean nationalism, and the way in which Tokto narratives are created and disseminated in Korean society. It aims to answer the question: how is the Tokto/Takeshima conflict portrayed and communicated through South Korean Tokto-related children’s literature? Based on a critical discourse analysis of a selection of the most popular Tokto children’s literature, this thesis identifies a set pattern that characterizes Tokto children’s literature as a genre. Furthermore, this thesis challenges the modernist notion that nationalism is a top-down affair, as the analysis of Tokto children’s literature shows that nationalist sentiment stems from an interplay between governmental and civil efforts. In the case of Tokto children’s literature, that is the effort to promote and proclaim Tokto as a vital part of South Korean national identity. Lastly, this thesis argues that Tokto children’s literature reflects the agenda of Tokto activists, who seek to strengthen a particular notion of South Korean national identity that centres on the idea of Japan as continuous external threat.Show less
This thesis looks at the Park Chung Hee's legacy in the context of collective memory theory. After 40 years Park's legacy still lives on. This can partially be explained by collective memory theory...Show moreThis thesis looks at the Park Chung Hee's legacy in the context of collective memory theory. After 40 years Park's legacy still lives on. This can partially be explained by collective memory theory. Elements of collective memory theory can help us understand the continuing existence of Park's legacy. Yet the collective memory theory gives no guarantees for the future.Show less
Korea has been struggling with the wide-scale corruption issues since the democratization in 1987. Many presidents have been trying to improve the situation and implemented many anti-corruption...Show moreKorea has been struggling with the wide-scale corruption issues since the democratization in 1987. Many presidents have been trying to improve the situation and implemented many anti-corruption measures. However, the Korean government have been struggling to improve their policies and this is also reflected in international corruption assessments. The anti-corruption system which the Korean government has implemented has many loopholes and are therefore easy to evade. Many undermine the measures as many high-ranking public officials and chaebôls have consistently taken part in illicit transactions. Even when illicit activities are reported through the reporting system, the current legislations have not enough power to subject the offender to a corresponding punishment due to the lenient Korean Law system and power of connections to reduce any sentences to a minimum.Show less
In this thesis, I have analyzed the meaning of family, mother(hood), and mothering as depicted in Gong Ji-young’s novel My Happy Home (chŭlgŏun naŭi chip). The analysis of this novel is based on...Show moreIn this thesis, I have analyzed the meaning of family, mother(hood), and mothering as depicted in Gong Ji-young’s novel My Happy Home (chŭlgŏun naŭi chip). The analysis of this novel is based on various literature on the concepts of household, family, mother(hood), single motherhood, and types of mothering, in addition to a discussion of the situation of South Korean families and mothers. I discuss the various methods Gong uses to indicate how family, mother(hood), and mothering are conceptualized by society and how she herself defines these concepts. The analysis indicates a level of rejection, but also agreement with society’s view on these concepts and Gong’s own interpretation.Show less
De Zuid-Koreaanse Nationale Inlichtingendienst heeft een notoire reputatie op het gebied van het beïnvloeden van de binnenlandse politiek in Zuid-Korea. Door middel van hervormingen die voortkwamen...Show moreDe Zuid-Koreaanse Nationale Inlichtingendienst heeft een notoire reputatie op het gebied van het beïnvloeden van de binnenlandse politiek in Zuid-Korea. Door middel van hervormingen die voortkwamen uit het transitieproces van een autoritair regime naar democratisering werd hier verandering in gebracht. Deze hervormingen hebben echter geen verdere politisering van inlichtingendienst kunnen voorkomen. Zo heeft de inlichtingendienst nog invloed kunnen uitoefen over de 2012 presidentiële verkiezingen in Zuid-Korea. Deze scriptie richt zich daarom op het beantwoorden van de volgende vragen: hoe de Zuid-Koreaanse nationale inlichtingendienst kon inmengen in de presidentiële verkiezingen van 2012. En waarom dit heeft kunnen gebeuren.Show less
South Korea still differentiates itself from many democracies in that it retains the death penalty. Thus, the research question guiding this thesis is the following: Why has South Korea still not...Show moreSouth Korea still differentiates itself from many democracies in that it retains the death penalty. Thus, the research question guiding this thesis is the following: Why has South Korea still not abolished capital punishment? Using discourse analysis, I examine the current state of the capital punishment issue and the factors prolonging retention in recent context. I suggest that political elites’ passive attitude and reliance on common retentionist arguments—public opinion, deterrence and retribution—can be regarded as the primary reason for the failure to abolish in recent years.Show less
This BA thesis researches the representation of three Western TV personalities in South Korea through critical discourse analysis of four recent popular Korean TV programs starring foreigners. It...Show moreThis BA thesis researches the representation of three Western TV personalities in South Korea through critical discourse analysis of four recent popular Korean TV programs starring foreigners. It examines how the Korean media creates images of Western expats and how these images are adopted in other programs to fit their discourses. This research argues that the Korean media intends to convey positive discourses of multiculturalism in which notions of friendship and hospitality are central by adapting the images of Tyler Rasch (United States), Daniel Lindemann (Germany) and Alberto Mondi (Italy). It criticizes the Korean media for its lack of diversity in its recent surge of programs featuring foreigners. Even though programs featuring foreigners are becoming more popular and familiar among its Korean audience, this research argues that they are Eurocentric by illustrating how the media uses images of Western expats.Show less
