Chapter 314
Chapter 314
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Side Story 5: Opening the Labor Market
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To the outside world, Korea was seen as a tightly knit, rock-solid collective.
"No country sticks together as solidly as Korea. I wish we could show that kind of unity like the Koreans."
"That's because Korea's a single-ethnic nation."
"Korea's a single-ethnic nation? A country that big?"
"That's exactly why it can compete with America."
This perception was backed up by the "single-ethnic myth."
"If you're Korean, you're obviously part of the Korean ethnic group. You're asking the obvious."
Considering that nationalism in most countries was largely solidified in the modern era, this single-ethnic logic wasn't entirely wrong.
Up until the early 20th century, it more or less held true.
But after the Yi Seong-jun administration, Korea's "single-ethnic" myth no longer rang true.
"The definition of Koreans as a single ethnic group is outdated. Remember that race and ethnicity can no longer define what it means to be Korean!"
Yi Seong-jun completely redefined Korean identity by introducing concepts like German-Koreans and Jewish-Koreans.
From that point on, Korean society saw the emergence of diverse ethnic groups that had never been seen before.
"The foreign population is already at three million? Come to think of it, Korea's become a multi-ethnic nation now."
This shift accelerated even more by the 1970s.
"You're accepting overseas Chinese and Indians as citizens too?"
"Those guys are smart as hell. They supply more than a quarter of our engineering and science geniuses—who's gonna develop Korea if we don't take them in?"
This change wasn't limited to immigration.
The Kim Jung-gil administration moved toward easing restrictions on foreign workers to prepare for a more open society.
"Lower the minimum wage for foreigners—which is set at 1.5 times the Korean rate—down to the same level as Koreans."
"Pardon? That'll make it way too easy for foreigners to enter the job market. Didn't Chairman Yi worry about those exact side effects?"
Yi Seong-jun had imposed sky-high minimum wages on foreign workers to block their entry into the labor market.
The bureaucrats worried this was a retreat from that policy.
"You think I don't know that? We're just saying we can't keep the doors shut forever in this situation."
Now that Korea had become the leader of the Third World, opening the labor market was practically inevitable.
If the Third World's leader kept the gates locked tight,
"Do the Koreans really believe in Asianism? Or are they just paying lip service to brotherhood?"
It was bound to draw suspicious glares.
"If you don't want those looks, open up the labor market!"
"Fine, fine."
Like it or not, as the Third World's leader setting an example, Korea couldn't avoid increasing foreign worker quotas.
"But keep this in mind. We're a country that picks and chooses who we let in."
Pyongyang had never intended to open its doors to everyone.
Korea only opened its gates to young, talented prospects.
It kept high barriers for everyone else.
"That's only half an opening. Does it make sense to give opportunities just to the young ones?"
"Then go to America where opportunities are plentiful."
Change was still change, regardless.
"You can work in Korea now? That's a total jackpot. Sign me up right away."
Korea's labor market opening created a social phenomenon called the "Korean Dream."
With the world's highest wage market now accessible, it would have been weirder if people hadn't gone crazy for it.
"You can make thirty times your salary or more just by going to Korea? Where do I apply?"
In some countries, wages jumped a hundredfold, even two hundredfold.
Naturally, everyone was willing to risk their lives for a shot at Korea.
"If I can't get to Korea, I'll dive into the Ganges. No joke."
Amid this frenzy, Korean language academies sprang up everywhere.
"We teach Korean the best. Sign up here and master basic Korean in one month! We'll start with the essential word 'Xbal'."
Did all these academies hire Korean instructors?
Impossible.
"Korean labor costs are too high. Our academy can't afford them."
Only a few official institutions subsidized by the Korean government could afford Korean wages.
Most relied on low-wage workers who'd returned from Korean factories in Nanjing to teach as rookies.
"Okay, repeat after me. 'Sajangnim, kamsahamnida.'"
"'Kamsahamnida.' But when do you use this?"
"It's a greeting like 'hello.'"
Even these instructors were in short supply, leading to bidding wars with premium pay.
Through all this chaos, governments felt a strong demand for Korean language talent.
"You need Korean teachers to teach anything."
They immediately demanded that Pyongyang send instructors to teach Korean.
"Send instructors? We don't have many people fluent in your languages."
Even those who were mostly worked in intelligence agencies.
"Could you maybe spare some from the intelligence agencies?"
"We can dispatch a few for part-time gigs. But not many."
Pyongyang couldn't meet the Third World nations' requests.
"Look at this—short on Korean teachers, so why not go English-speaking? More opportunities, more jobs."
"What? Who's spouting that nonsense? You think Washington compares to Pyongyang?"
"Ahem."
Washington wasn't as appealing to Third World folks as Pyongyang.
Korea had always preached to Third World nations,
"Aren't we brother countries? Let's prosper together under the banner of Asianism!"
promising "equal treatment."
America, on the other hand, never uttered such words.
Instead, Asians got cold stares as drug dealers or gangbangers, plus discrimination.
Did they pay more?
No.
Korea guaranteed foreigners the same wages as Koreans through its minimum wage.
"No joke, it's real."
Considering Korean wages were the world's highest, Korea's appeal was overwhelming.
America's wages were only half of Korea's.
"And they take a ton in taxes."
Federal, state—you name it.
Given all this, Korea's popularity in the labor market was unmatched.
As long as Washington couldn't match Pyongyang's job offers, the preference for Korea wouldn't change.
"Hey, there's a chicken factory gig in Australia—interested?"
"Not bad, but I'll decide after hearing back on my Korea application."
Foreign workers' top choice was always Korea.
Of course, Koreans competing with foreigners for jobs didn't look kindly on the government's labor market opening.
"Kim Jung-gil talks about how a Third World leader should act, but did that happen under Chairman Yi?"
"Nope. Look how hard the Chairman worked to protect workers. Kim Jung-gil doesn't value his people."
Koreans grew more exclusionary toward foreigners because of the opening.
"I wish I never had to see those Southeast Asians, overseas Chinese, or Indians."
"Without those bastards, our wages would've gone up big this year too, damn it."
Racial discrimination resurfaced as a bonus.
"These filthy poor bastards crawl in, bringing bedbugs and spreading all kinds of germs. Can't even say a word to those pests?"
"If you don't wanna hear it, don't work in Korea."
Koreans' discriminatory attitudes showed up in signs at restaurants and stores: "No dogs or foreigners allowed."
The Kim Jung-gil administration responded to public backlash with campaigns.
"One united Asia is the path to Korea's victory."
"That's your opinion."
Pyongyang tried to root out discrimination, but quelling entrenched resentment was tough.
"Petty, so petty. You think you can muzzle everyone?"
Koreans' prejudice led foreign workers to scoff at Asianism.
"Koreans talk brotherhood, but it's the same condescending gaze as whites. Koreans are just yellow-faced whites after all."
"Yeah, bananas."
Racial discrimination, conflict, friction.
Perhaps this was the growing pains of Korea becoming an open society.
"Sir, the discrimination issue will sort itself out with time."
"Sure, but we can't just wait around. Get KBC to prepare a public service ad."
"Understood."
Soon after, Kim Jung-gil appeared in a KBC public service ad with one foreign and one Korean worker.
In it, he appealed to the public.
We must not let the ideals of Asianism championed by Chairman Yi crumble by our own hands.
Let's build a discrimination-free Korea in line with the Asianism ideals Yi Seong-jun championed.
It might seem distant or fall on deaf ears now.
But it was a value they had to achieve someday.
To truly dream of hegemony, Korea had to endure some discomfort.
What victory comes without sacrifice?
Finally, Kim Jung-gil grabbed the two workers' hands and shouted.
"Let's go together. We go together."