Preface

    Whenever Korean intellectuals, in and out of Korea, gather for  fellowship and conversation, one of the most often
    discussed topics is the social ills that so thoroughly permeate the contemporary Korean society - what Koreans often
    refer to as the 'Korean diseases.' The topics in this 'dishonor roll' include, but not limited to:
 

        Corruption (money, power, influence, connections),
        Regionalism, Cronyism and Nepotism,
        Compromising standards,
        Extravagant weddings and funerals,
        Social rudeness and the lack of compassion,
        Inability to form group consensus.

    To be sure, no human society is free of social diseases; each  has its own set of problems.  And by no means Koreans
    can claim monopoly of these types of social ills.  There are many other societies in the world that are beset by many more,
    and much worse, societal and cultural ills. Most of the ills are shared  by the East Asian countries - Japan, China, Taiwan
    and Korea - and things tend to get worse in the Southeastern Asian countries.

    Compared to some other parts of the world, especially the Latin America, Russia and other former Soviet bloc nations,
    and the Indian sub-continents, one might even go so far as to say that the nature of the social ills in Korea are quite tame.
    In Korea there are virtually no violent symptoms - terrorism, kidnapping, bombing incidents, assassinations and the sort.
    In comparison  to these violent behaviors, the 'Korean diseases' are certainly  more 'gentler,' but are just as insidious
    and deadly as cancer.

    On the positive note, a hopeful sign has appeared within the Korean society recently.  The emergence of various advocacy
    groups - the grassroots advocacy groups - is one unmistakable sign that the society is maturing and beginning to take first
    steps toward self-improvements. Utilizing the power of the Internet (Korea has more than half of its citizens wired)
    various advocacy groups have raised their heads.  One such is the group that advertises on the Net the records of corrupt
    politicians in an election campaign. Another is the latest movements to eradicate the social ill of extravagant wedding
    and funerals.

    As to what and how overseas Koreans can contribute towards helping fellow Koreans correct these ills is of critical
    importance and a broad framework for starting a movement for actions required by groups of overseas Korean intellectuals
    can be an important first step.

    To this end, we at SKAS (the Society of Korean American Scholars) has recently conducted an informal survey of a
    limited number of readers - mostly the editorial board of SKAS, members of OKSPN  (Overseas Korean Senior
    Professionals Network) as well as some selected individuals.  The first task was to identify to the best of our capability
    the most fundamental underlying causes that fosters the manifested social ills such as listed above. We came to identify
    the following six to be the most basic underlying roots.

    Six Root Causes

    1. Lack of honesty and integrity

    This is perhaps the most fundamental of all root causes and  it permeates through all levels of the Korean society, but
    it is more pronounced, and hence much more damaging, at the leadership class.

    2. Lack of principles and mental discipline

    All too readily, Koreans constantly compromise their principles and standards for immediate expediency.  Abandonment
    of principles and standards is in fact a norm.

    3. Lack of fairness, openness and civility

    This too is one of the deepest root causes, both at individual level and at the level of systems (chaebols, role of government,
    political and financial systems). The lack of transparency and fairness is pronounced in the so-called "Asian business model"
    (which is common in Asia but more severe in Korea) wherein  the paradigm of doing business based on personal and
    institutional  connections is the rule.

    4. Lack of role models

    Three pillars that help to shape individual characters and mental strength in any society are education, religion and role
    models. Korean society has failed in all three categories.

    5. Failure of education

    Korean education has served well in teaching knowledge by memorization (rather than rationalization).  This is an
    unmitigated failure in helping to shape the character of  individuals.  In other words, a person should be educated
    fostering "solid citizenry" as the first order of educational priority.

    6. Failure of religion

    Teachings of religion have failed to become the 'living' guide  to population; religion is practiced more as an abstract
    concept. It has failed to change, improve and uplift the human qualities in daily lives.

    We have identified the above six points to be the most basic of  underlying roots that feeds and breeds the social ills called
    collectively as the 'Korean diseases.'  As to what remedies and what advocacy actions can be recommended, we plan to
    take it up in the near future. This editorial represents collective thoughts of scores of  individuals who participated in the
    survey and the resulting discussions.  The names of those who have taken more proactive role are listed below, in random
    order.

    Moo-Young Han
    Professor of Physics
    Duke University
    myhan@phy.duke.edu
    Editor-in-Chief, SKAS
    Member of OKSPN

    S. J. Chang
    Professor of Finance
    Illinois State University
    sjchang@ilstu.edu
    Editor, KASTN

    Ki Joon Chang
    Professor Emeritus of Chemistry
    Alabama A&M Univ
    kjchang@hiwaay.net
    Member of OKSPN

    Jai B. Kim
    Chairman and Professor
    Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
    Bucknell University
    jaikim@bucknell.edu
    Member of OKSPN