Expatriates In South Korea Alternate Between Hope And Fear

Published:  11 Jun at 6 PM
Want to get involved?

Become a

Featured Expat

and take our interview.

Become a

Local Expert

and contribute articles.

Get in

touch

today!

Two million expats in South Korea are swinging between despair, hope and fear due to the threat of discord between Trump and Kim Jong Un.

Ever since the Winter Olympics, South Koreans have veered from hope through fear to despair as the political circus and its two main clowns played games of one-upmanship and power. Unheard and mostly unseen, the two million expats in the South endured their own emotional swings, now coming to a head as the two combatants meet in Singapore.

South Korea’s expat community is a permanent part of society and contributes day by day to the success and diversity of the small country, and is composed mainly of Chinese and Americans. Both their native countries are heavily involved in tomorrow’s meet. Although the community’s voice isn’t often heard and even less listened to, the effect of any decision made by the two leaders will affect it as much as it affects the Korean people and the foreigners who’ve built their lives around serving the wellbeing of the country.

Sadly, the South Korean government’s inability to allow expatriates their rightful voice in important public debates is based on a long-standing fear of foreigners translated into a deep-rooted discrimination common across Korean society. Expatriates are tolerated and occasionally celebrated, but never accepted as members of the same society working towards a shared future. For expat professionals, South Korea is a good place to further careers, make money and generally enjoy their lives in a Western way, but their position is the same as that of expat workers whose families first arrived after the end of the Korean war.

Human Rights Watch said it all recently, referring to the long-held prejudices apparent in the country as major human rights issues which go unchallenged and are even governmentally encouraged. Expatriates are now in exactly the same position as South Korean nationals, in that armed conflict between the two halves of the peninsula caused by two unstable leaders would prove only one thing – bombs don’t care who they kill.



Comments » No published comments just yet for this article...

Feel free to have your say on this item. Go on... be the first!

Tell us Your Thoughts On This Piece:

RECENT NEWS

Spains Digital Nomad Visa One Year On: How Are Remote Workers And Locals Getting Along?

Spain introduced its digital nomad visa last year. Here's how it's going so far. Read more

Real Life The Terminal: Italian Man Moves Out Of Airport After 9-month Stay

Airport staff became 'like family' to Arnaldo. Read more

Europes Happiest Countries: Boost Your Serotonin And Lower Your Emissions With A Flight-free Trip

What is better for happiness than travelling? Travelling with sustainability in mind. Read more

Want To Meet Jonathan, The Worlds Oldest Tortoise? St Helena Island Is Opening Up To Tourists

Natural wonders. Napoleon's exile. A remote island in the South Atlantic is now easier to reach Read more

Heres Why A Visit To South Africas Lepogo Lodges Could Be The Most Eco-friendly Safari In Africa

Lepogo Lodges in South Africa offer luxury safaris - so far, so normal - but are also serious about protecting the surro... Read more

Tulips From (just Outside) Amsterdam: Add Keukenhof To Your Spring Travel Bucket List

The beautiful spring garden is one of the Netherlands’ premier tourist attractions - but be quick as it’s only open ... Read more