Nouveau-riche Nationalism and the Politics of Prejudice: A Case from South Korea
Gil-Soo Han / Monash University
This column highlights the sacrifice and contribution of South Korean miners and nurses in the mid-20th century that greatly impacted the country’s industrialization. Now, the roles have reversed, as the country “depends on foreign workers to staff industries that native Koreans avoid.” Gil-Soo Han elaborates on this difficult idea with his term “nouveau-riche nationalism;” Han gives examples of discrimination against migrant laborers, human rights violations in the Korean workforce, and public attitudes surrounding these issues. How can South Korea shape its national identity into one that carves a path to a truly inclusive future?
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