A Historical Overview of Korean Perceptions of the United States: Five Major Stereotypes

This article examines five major stereotypes concerning America held by Koreans from the earliest contacts about 150 years ago until the present day. The author examined each stereotype chronologically . The first stereotype held during the late Joseon period was a result of the prevailing Sinocentric worldview in the region. According to this view, Americans were uncultured barbarians. As knowledge of the West increased among Joseon intellectuals, however, a second stereotype arose; namely, that America was the wealthiest nation in the world with vast territory and no territorial ambitions. This view was given impetus by Huang Zunxian’s Zhaoxian celyue (A Strategy for Korea), which recommended that Joseon make an alliance with America. With the emergence of the United States as a major regional power in the wake of the Spanish-American War (1898), a third stereotype of America as an imperialist aggressor emerged. This view was particularly strong among Korean communists during the Japanese colonial period and became more firmly entrenched after 1945. A fourth stereotype also emerged during Japanese rule, which viewed America as a white nation pitted against the yellow nations of East Asia. This racialist view is particularly apparent in the writings of Yun Chi-ho and arose from his experience of racial discrimination in America as well as from the influence of Japanese propaganda. A fifth stereotype has emerged in recent times and views America as a nation in terminal decline. This view has its origins in the work of Oswald Spengler and the School of Decline. In his conclusion, the author argues that despite the existence of negative stereotypes, the positive stereotype of America as a benevolent nation has prevailed in the Republic of Korea. In conclusion, the author argues that Korean-American relations must be based not on stereotypes but on mutual understanding based on rational and objective research

keywords: Joseon-American relations, Korean-American relations, the Enlightenment Party, Yun Chi-ho, Huang Zunxian, Korean communism, anti-Americanism, Donghak, Western Learning, Japanese colonialism, School of Decline, Joseon-American relations, Korean-American relations, the Enlightenment Party, Yun Chi-ho, Huang Zunxian, Korean communism, anti-Americanism, Donghak, Western Learning, Japanese colonialism, School of Decline

Reference

Arari Yeonguwon, (1988) Jeju minjung hangjaeng II—danhaengbon jaryojip=The Jeju People’s Struggle II—Collected Materials, Seoul: Sonamoo

Auh, Taik Sup, (1986) Korean Perception of U.S.-Korean Relations(In United States-Korean Relations), Berkeley: Institute of East Asian Studies, University of California

Chay, Jongsuk, (1990) Diplomacy of Asymmetry: Korean-American Relations to 1910, Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press

Choe, So-ja, (1987) Dongseo munhwa gyoryusa yeongu=A Study on East-West Cultural Exchange , Seoul: Sam Young Sa

Choe, Yeong-jun, (1992) Joseon hugi jirihak baldal-ui baegyeong-gwa yeongu jeontong=The Background and Research Tradition of Late Joseon Geographical Study, Munhwa yeoksa jiri

Clark, Donald N, (1991) Bitter Friendship: Understanding Anti-Americanism in South Korea(In Korea Briefing 1991), Boulder: Westview Press

Cumings, Bruce, (1979) Political Participation in Liberated Korea, The Journal of Korean Studies

Hahm, Pyong-choon (Ham, Byeong-chun), (1978) Haebang-i doego naseo jinan seoreunse hae dongan-e hanguk saram-ui nun-e simgin mi hapjungguk-gwa geu gungmin—seumul ahop jisigin-i malhaneun miguk=The United States and Its People through the Eyes of Koreans, Ppuri gipeun namu

Yeong-rok,Ku , (1983) Hanguk-ui daemi insik=Korea’s Perception of America(In Hanguk-gwa Miguk—gwageo, hyeonjae, mirae=Korea and America—Past, Present, and Future), Seoul: Pak Young Sa

10.

Koo Youngnok , (1984) The Korean Perception of the United States(In Korea and the United States: A Century of Cooperation), Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press

11.

Han, Cheol-ho, (1992) Chodae jumi jeongwon gongsa Bak Jeong-yang-ui migukgwan=The View of America of Bak Jeong-yang, the First Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States, Hanguk hakbo

12.

Han, Nam-gyu, (1988) Miguk-eun soetoehae gago inneun-ga?: Roma jeguk myeolmang-ui jinghu jaehyeon=Is America in Decline?: The Reemergence of the Signs of the Collapse of the Roman Empire, JoongAng Ilbo

13.

Huang, Zunxian, (1977) Joseon chaengnyak=Korean Stratagem, Seoul: Konkuk University Press. Originally published as Zhaoxian celue.

14.

Jeon, Hae-jong, (1979) Yeoksasang-ui hangugin-ui dae-oegwan=Koreans’ View of the Outside in History(Hanguk-gwa jungguk=Korea and China), Seoul: Jisik Sanupsa

15.

Jeon, Sang-un. , (1977) Hanguk-ui gwahaksa=History of Korean Science, Seoul: Sejong Daewang Ginyeom Saeophoe.

16.

(1983) Hanguk gwahak gisulsa=History of Science and Technology in Korea, Seoul: Jeongeumsa

17.

(1983) Hanguk-ui gojido=Korea’s Old Maps (Gwahaksa-ui gilmok-eseo=At the Turning Point of the History of Science), Seoul: Sungshin Women’s University Press

18.

Jeong, Hae-gu. , (1988) 10 wol inmin hangjaeng yeongu=Research on the October Uprising , Seoul: Yeoreumsa.

19.

Jo, Dong-il, (1979) Gaehwagi-ui aeguk gasa=Patriotic Lyrics from the Enlightenment Period(In Gaehwagi aeguk munhak=Patriotic Literature during the Enlightenment Period) , Seoul: SinGu.

20.

Kang, Han-yeong, (1966) Sin Jae-hyo pansori jeonjip=The Collected Works of Sin Jae-hyo’s Pansori , Seoul: Institute of Humanities, Yonsei University

21.

Kang, Hyeon-Dew, (1976) Changing Image of America in Korean Popular Literature: With an Analysis of Short Stories between 1945–1975, Korea Journal

22.

Kang, Jae-eon, (1981) Hanguk-ui gaehwa sasang=Korea’s Enlightenment Thought, Seoul: Bee Bong

23.

Kennedy, Paul, (1988) The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers, New York: Random House

24.

Kim, Bong-hyeon, (1963) Seomun=Introduction(In Jejudo inmindeul-ui “4.3” mujang tujaengsa—jaryojip =History of the April 3 Armed Struggle of the People of Jeju Island—Collected Materials), Seoul: Mun Woo

25.

Kim, Byeong-geol, (1986) Chinil munhak jakpum seonjip=Anthology of Pro-Japanese Literature , Seoul: Silcheon Munhak

26.

Kim, Do-tae , (1948) Seo Jae-pil baksa jaseojeon =Dr. Seo Jae-pil’s Autobiography , Seoul: Suseonsa

27.

Kim, Dong-hwan, Pyeonghwa-wa jayu=Peace and Freedom, Seoul: Samcheollisa

28.

Kim, Hak-dong, (1979) Hanmi munhwa-ui gyoryu=Korean-American Cultural Exchange, Inmun yeongu ronjip (Humanities Research Collection)

29.

Kim, Hyung-chan, (1972) Koreans’ View of America: Reflections on American Character and Culture, Korea Journal

30.

Kim, Jinwung (Kim, Jin-ung), (1989) Recent Anti-Americanism in South Korea, Asian Survey

31.

(1992) Hangugin-ui banmi gamjeong=Koreans’ Anti-American Feeling, Seoul: Ilchokak

32.

Kim, Key-Hiuk, (1980) The Last Phase of the East Asian World Order: Korea, Japan, and the Chinese Empire, 1860–1882, Berkeley: University of California Press

33.

Kim, Nam-sik, (1986) Bak Heon-yeong noseon bipan=A Critique of the Bak Heon-yeong Line , Seoul: Doseochulpan Segyesa

34.

Kim, Yang-seon, (1972) Myeongmal cheongcho yasohoe seon-gyosadeul-i jejakhan segye jido=World Maps Produced by Jesuit Missionaries at the End of the Ming and Beginning of the Qing Dynasties(In Maesan gukhak san-go), Seoul: Museum of Soongjeon University

35.

(1972) Hanguk gojido yeongucho—segye jido=A Draft Paper on Korea’s Old Maps—World Maps(In Maesan gukhak sango),

36.

Kim, Yeong-ho, (1968) Hanmal seoyang gisul-ui suyong=The Reception of Western Technology at the End of the Joseon Era, Asea yeongu

37.

Kim, Yong-deok, (1972) Hangugin-ui migukgwan (1880–1918)=Koreans’ View of America, Jungang saron=Chung-Ang Journal of History

38.

Kim, Yun-sik, Unyang jip=Collected Works of Kim Yun-sik,

39.

Ko, Byeong-ik, (1970) Oeguk-e daehan ijo hangugin-ui gwannyeom=Koreans’ Conception of Foreign Lands in the Joseon Dynasty , Baeksan hakbo

40.

Kwon, O-yeong, (1990) Choe Han-gi-ui jeongchigwan=The Political Views of Choe Han-gi , Hanguk hakbo

41.

(1991) Choe Han-gi-ui seogu jedo-e daehan insik=Choe Han-gi’s Perception of Western Systems, Hanguk hakbo

42.

Ledyard, Gari, (1973) Korean Travellers in China over Four Hundred Years, 1488–1887, Occasional Papers on Korea

43.

Macdonald, Donald Stone, (1992) U.S.-Korean Relations from Liberation to Self-Reliance: The Twenty-Year Record, Boulder: Westview Press

44.

McCune, George, M, (1951) Korean-American Relations: Documents Pertaining to the Far Eastern Diplomacy of the United States.Vol.1.The Initial Period, 1883–1886, Berkeley: University of California Press

45.

McCune, Shannon, (1977) World Maps by Korean Cartographers, Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities

46.

Merrill, John, (1989) Korea: The Peninsular Origins of the War, Newark: University of Delaware Press

47.

Mok, Yeong-man , (1965) Jido iyagi =Map Stories , Pyeongyang: Gunjung munhwa chulpansa

48.

Mun, Dong-hwan, (1986) Daedam uri-ege miguk-eun nugu in-ga=Interview: Who Is America to Us?(In Hanguk-gwa miguk=Korea and America), Seoul: Silcheon Munhak.

49.

Mun, Il-pyeong, (1945) Hanmi osimnyeon sa=Fifty Years of Korean-American History, Seoul: Jogwangsa

50.

No, Jeong-sik, (1971) Hanguk-ui segye jijijeok jeosul-e gwanhan yeongu—teukhui ijo sidae-reul jungsim-euro=Research on Korean Works on World Geography—Especially Focusing on the Joseon Period(Daegu gyodae nonmunjip=Collected Papers of Daegu College of Education 6),

51.

Park, Il-keun, (1982) Anglo-American Diplomatic Materials Relating to Korea: 1866–1886, Seoul: Sinmundang

52.

Park, Kwon-sang, (1983) Korean Perception of America(In Reflections on a Century of United States-Korean Relations), Lanham: University Press of America

53.

Seoul Sinmun, (1971) Juhan migun=American Military in Korea, Seoul: Haeng Lim

54.

Son, Hyeong-bu, (1986) Bak Gyu-su-ui daemi gaegungnon-gwa jomi sugyo=Bak Gyu-su’s Argument for Opening to America and Joseon-American Diplomatic Relations , Jeonbuk sahak (Jeonbuk Journal of History)

55.

Song, Chan-sik, (1970) Seongho-ui saeroun saron=Seongho Yi Ik’s New Theory of History, Baeksan hakbo

56.

Song, Geon-ho. , (1977) Song Geon-ho pyeongnonjip: hanguk minjokjuui-ui yeongu=Song Geon-ho’s Collected Critical Essays: Inquiries into Korean Nationalism, Seoul: Hangilsa

57.

Suh, Dae-sook, (1970) Documents of Korean Communism1918–1948, Princeton: Princeton University Press

58.

Weems, Benjamin, (1964) Reform, Rebellion, and the Heavenly Way, Tucson: The University of Arizona Press

59.

Yang, Ho-min, (1991) Bukhan jeongchisa yeongu seoron—myeotgaji haeseoksang-ui munjejeom=Introduction to Research on North Korean Political History—Several Problems concerning Translation and Interpretation, Guksagwan nonchong =Treaties on Korean History

60.

Yi, Chan, (1976) Hanguk-ui gosegye jido—Cheonhado-wa Honil gangni yeokdae gukdojido-e daehayeo=Korea’s Old World Maps—Concerning Cheonhado and Honil gangni yeokdae gukdojido, Hanguk hakbo

61.

(1991) Hanguk-ui gojido=Old Maps of Korea, Seoul: Bumwoo.

62.

Yi, Gwang-rin, (1980) Haiguo tuzhi-ui Hanguk jeollae-wa geu yeonghyang=The Introduction of the Illustrated Gazetteer of the Countries Overseas to Korea and Its influence(Hanguk gaehwasa yeongu=Studies in the History of Enlightenment), Seoul: Ilchokak

63.

Yi, Neung-hwa. , (1928) Joseon gidokgyo geup oegyosa=History of Joseon Christianity and Diplomacy part 1, Seoul: Joseon Gidokgyo Changmunsa

64.

Yi, Won-sun, (1986) Joseon seohaksa yeongu =Research on the History of Western Learning in Joseon, Seoul: Iljisa

65.

(1992) Joseon silhak jisigin-ui hanyeok seohak jiriseo ihae—seogu jirihak-e gwanhan gyemongjeok gaean=Joseon Silhak Intellectuals’ Commentaries on Western Geographical Books in Chinese Translation—The Awakening to the Geographical Studies of Western Europe(Joseon sidaesa nonjip=Collected Papers on the History of the Joseon Era), Seoul: Neutinamu

66.

Yu, Geun-ho, (1977) Junghwa sasang-ui hyeongseong-gwa bunggoe=The Formation and Collapse of Sino-centrism, Hangaram

67.

Yu, Geun-ho, (1978) 18 segi hwaigwan-ui byeonyong=The Transformation of Sinocentrism in the Eighteenth Century, Hangaram

68.

Yu, Gil-jun , (1971) Jeonseo Pyeonchan Wiwonhoe, Seoul: Ilchokak.

69.

Yu, Yeong-yeol, (1985) Gaehwagi-ui Yun Chi-ho yeongu=Research on Yun Chi-ho in the Enlightenment Period, Seoul: Hangilsa.

70.

Yun, Chi-ho, (1973) Yun Chi-ho ilgi=Yun Chi-ho’s Diary 11 vols, Seoul: National Institution of Korean History

71.

Yun, Seok-san, (1967) Yongdam yusa yeongu=A Study on the Posthumous Poems from the Dragon Pond, Seoul: Minjok Munhwasa

바로가기메뉴

Article Contents

Vol.44 No.1

A Historical Overview of Korean Perceptions of the United States: Five Major Stereotypes

Abstract

Reference

Korea Journal