Why do some people think that South Korea borrows the culture of other countries?One of the reasons is that they perceive this behavior as similar to China. Whether it's Goguryeo history, kimchi, or hanbok, Korea seems to see these cultures as its own national treasures. This kind of behavior has confused and ridiculed many foreign netizens. Some even pointed out that even if Koreans could name a fourth culture, they would not be able to answer it. This phenomenon has sparked questions and irony, and most people cannot understand why Koreans should consider the culture of other countries as their own.
However, we cannot simply reduce this phenomenon to a reflection of the Chinese mentality. In fact, many countries will be influenced by other cultures to some degree. It is not Korea's prerogative to borrow from other countries. It is normal for cultural exchanges and integration to occur between different countries and regions. Therefore, we need to look at this issue more objectively and not just as a contrast between China and South Korea.
There was a period of poverty in the history of South Korea, and the level of poverty was comparable to that of African countries. In the agricultural era, the land of Korea could not feed its own people. Due to the lack of material security, Koreans can hardly create a unique culture. In contrast, in recent decades, South Korea has become a relatively wealthy country relying on international development. However, a long history of poverty has left Koreans with a lack of cultural self-confidence.
In order to boost the self-esteem of Koreans, they began to claim that Goguryeo was the ancestor of the Koreans, and Goguryeo became their cultural symbol. However, according to historical records, the Tang Dynasty of China and ancient Korea joined forces to wipe out the Goguryeo Kingdom and relocate the Goguryeo population to other places. While many Koreans insist that Goguryeo is the ancestor of Korea, they are unable to provide evidence to support their views. This has also led to controversy over the origins of Korean culture.
Modern Korea has created a culture that has influenced the world, that is, the culture of cosmetics. This culture is a manifestation of the inferiority of Koreans to their physical appearance. Since appearance is very important in Korean society, they pay a lot of attention to appearance and makeup. Koreans have worked hard to build their image and built the cosmetics industry into a global giant. However, it also shows that they are not confident in their appearance and need to use makeup to improve their image.
In addition, Koreans have a soft spot for Goguryeo, a powerful country in ancient times. They wanted to improve their self-esteem through Goguryeo. However, Goguryeo was an enemy of the Koreans and ** many ancient Koreans. This is clearly evidenced by historical records, when the Tang Dynasty of China and ancient Korea destroyed the Goguryeo Kingdom. Despite this, Koreans insisted that Goguryeo was the ancestor of Korea, but could not provide evidence to support this view. This inferiority complex can lead to a lack of confidence in their own culture and to borrow from other countries' cultures to strengthen their own identity.
In conclusion, the reasons why South Korea likes to say that the culture of other countries are its own can include multiple factors such as the Chinese mentality, historical reasons, and inferiority complex. However, we should also be aware that cultural exchange and borrowing are normal and should not be overly regarded as a unique characteristic of Koreans. Every country has its own cultural heritage and influence, which is also part of the development of human civilization.