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"China is a really hot topic in South Korea - from trade and investment ties to cultural exchanges. The mass media's attention is also fixated on China. It seems a Chinese heat wave is encompassing the whole of South Korea." This is an excerpt from a People's Daily article from November 30, 2001 about the so-called "China boom" in South Korea. This boom parallels the "Korea boom" that has hit China, as Korean music, dance, fashion and movies have become increasingly popular recently. It is important to pay attention to the increase in human exchange between the two countries, as well as the number of people studying Chinese. The rest of the world, meantime, is also paying attention to the evolving 'China boom' in Korea. In fact, in terms of human exchange and language study, Koreans, with the exception of the Taiwanese, have the closest interaction with the Chinese. Figures published by the China National Foreign Student Committee on March 4, 2003 of the number of foreigners studying in China confirm this trend. Korean students account for 44 per cent of the total number of foreigners studying in China. According to these statistics, the total number of foreign students in China in 2002 was 85,829. Students from Korea represented the largest fraction of that total, accounting for 36,093. Japan was placed second (16,084), the United States, third (7,359), Indonesia, fourth (2,583), with Vietnam capturing the fifth position (2,336). 42 per cent of all students were from Korea - almost 2.2 times the proportion of Japanese students. Considering that Japan's population of 120 million is 2.6 times larger than that of Korea's, at 46 million, the number of Korean students in China per capita is 5.7 times the number of Japanese students. This simple calculation suggests that Koreans are 5.7 times more likely to be interested in pursuing their studies in China, compared to the Japanese. This number, however large, does not convey the real sense of the 'China Boom' among young Koreans, since it does not include those who stay in China for less than one year. The South Korean Embassy in Beijing estimates that the number of Korean students, including those with a three month visa called a "grass hopper," is over 60,000 - more than double the official statistics. Mostly, such grasshopper students take passenger ferries departing from Incheon to Tienjin or Tsingtao, and thereafter head to Beijing or Shanghai for up to two or three months of study. Since the fare for the ferry is only one third that of the comparable airfare, it is a popular mode of travel among students. The China Boom extends to grade school The China Boom is not restricted exclusively to university students. High school, junior high school and even elementary school students are rushing to China to pursue their studies. The Chinese Embassy has since 2000 organized 'Study China Expos' throughout South Korea, which have helped to propel the boom. At a recent 'Study China Expo' held in Seoul on November 30, 2002, there were booths representing elite universities such as Beijing University, Tsinghwa University and Renmin University. Elite high schools, junior high schools and elementary schools, both in Beijing and in Shanghai, were also present at the Expo. Indeed, at a presentation by a Fudan University affiliated junior high school - more than half of whose graduates enter the four elite universities - there were more than three thousands attendees, and insufficient brochures to go around. In 2001, 1,394 Korean students studied in elementary, junior high and high schools in China. As of August 2002, the total number of overseas Korean students was approximately 150,000. Of this total, 58,457 were based in the U.S. - a larger number than the 36,000 in China. However, if one considers that Korea has had a fifty year alliance with the US while having had only ten years of normalized diplomatic ties with China, it is fair to say that China has become a much more popular academic destination than the U.S. The 'China Boom' in Korea corresponds to the 'Korea Boom' among young Chinese. As of August 2001, the number of mainland Chinese students in Korea was 3,221, second only to the 3,565 students from Japan. Chinese who have come to Korea in the period after normalization of relations in 1992 are called 'New Overseas Chinese', as opposed to the 'Old Overseas Chinese' who were present in Korea before 1992. According to the Chinese Embassy, there are approximately 100,000 Chinese in Korea, 80,000 of who are 'New Chinese' and 20,000 'Old Chinese'. Approximately 20,000 of the total are members of the so-called 'elite', who are studying at university or already have college degrees. Including short-stay students holding three months tourist visas, the number of Chinese students is not in the region of 3,000, but rather is in excess of 10,000 - three times that of Japanese or American students. A cooperative and constructive relationship with China There are five major reasons why China has become such a popular destination for Korean students. 1. Geography: China's proximity compared to Japan and the U.S. is one of the major reasons for its popularity. Psychologically, going to China is like visiting another city in Korea. 2. Expectation: Many Koreans regard China not as competitor or a threat, but rather as a partner with whom a constructive relationship should be developed. Low living expenses are certainly one attraction, but Koreans see far greater business potential in China in the future, in comparison with other countries such as Vietnam, India or the nations of Eastern Europe. 3. Reunification of the peninsula: Many Koreans believe that China's role following reunification of the peninsula will be enormous. In particular, Koreans have a special attachment to three provinces in Northeast China, especially Manchuria, where many ethnic Koreans live. This sentiment is so strong that it can almost be considered a "nationalistic mission." Recent surveys among university students reveal that as many as 85 per cent of Koreans in their early 20s feel that Korea should start preparing for the moment when Manchuria becomes part of the Korean economy. 4. Ethnic Koreans in China: There are 2.5 million ethnic Koreans living in China, residing not only in Manchuria but also concentrated in large cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Tsingtao. Their existence makes it easier for Korean students to start their lives in China, arriving Korean students can communicate with them if need be in Korean. This factor is another important reason why Koreans feel close to China. 5. History: Throughout its history, Korea has always treated China as a big brother and paid it respect. It has only been in the last fifty years, since China became communist in 1949, that Koreans have felt a sense of superiority over China, both economically and psychologically. If China does becomes the major player in the world economy, Korea might well fall back into the earlier role of little brother. Young Koreans want to study and understand China well, so that they can be ready to quickly adapt to changes in the future. Korea is no longer ignorant of the real world The best indicator for evaluating the relationship between the two countries, especially their future relationship, is the depth of human exchange, particularly the degree of exchange between the respective younger generations. Opportunities to study abroad are an integral aspect of this exchange. Both the youth of Korea and China are already at a stage beyond simply learning each others languages. Korean students, increasingly, are learning politics, economics, history, sociology, archeology, music, art, oriental medicine and various other disciplines in China. Meanwhile, Chinese students too are studying subjects of greater practicality and utility in Korea, such as economics, management, agriculture, forestry and fisheries. As China's economy grows more visible in the world economy, Japan has started to perceive China as either being a threat or, at the very least, as a competitor. Seen from that point of view, the current China fever among the Korean youth might seem as a dangerous phenomenon. Oftentimes, the Japanese wonder why Koreans do not see China as a potential threat. Perhaps the words of a young Korean student studying Song dynasty art at Beijing University can answer such concerns: "We don't have to see China as a threat as long as there are young people who are eager to learn from China and want to excel in their academic pursuits. Korea has changed considerably since the 19th Century, when it was an ignorant country and knew little about the world or of China. Modern Korea is not passive any longer, it wants to learn and understand China more than the Chinese themselves do. With such an attitude, China can only offer hope and opportunity for all on the Korean peninsula." (May 8, 2003) |
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