Sankeeth Udayakumar TEDx | Sankeeth Udayakumar | TEDxYouth@DaeguIntlSchool
The speaker, a foreigner in South Korea, discusses the experiences of facing xenophobia and racial discrimination, arguing that developing a strong, positive cultural identity and self-awareness is key to managing such prejudices. She notes that current data shows South Korea spent over 20 billion dollars on private education in 2022, while citing research that suggests older adults might exhibit more xenophobic behaviors than younger people. She advises the audience to always be authentic, regardless of life's ups and downs.
## Speakers & Context
- Unnamed speaker, a foreigner who moved to and lived in South Korea.
- The discussion centers on the topic of xenophobia and racism faced by foreigners living in South Korea.
- The speaker shares personal experiences detailing cultural adaptation challenges in Korea.
- The speaker notes that the difficulty in dealing with prejudice is not limited to people of dark skin but applies to foreigners generally (e.g., Chinese, Japanese, North American).
## Theses & Positions
- *Chứng bài ngoại* (xenophobia) is defined by the Oxford dictionary as hatred or prejudice against foreigners.
- The core message is the necessity of developing a *positive cultural identity and a strong self-awareness* to cope with prejudice.
- A critical error to avoid is engaging with or joining the violent actions of those who spread misinformation.
- The ultimate advice is to *always be yourself*.
## Concepts & Definitions
- **Chứng bài ngoại (Xenophobia):** Defined by the Oxford dictionary as hatred or prejudice against foreigners.
- **Hagwons (After-school academies):** A cultural phenomenon in Korea where most friends attended 2 or 3 academies for specific subjects, leading the speaker to question its necessity.
- **Differential age/age-related discrimination:** Research cited suggests older adults are prone to racial discrimination and xenophobic behavior more than young people.
## Mechanisms & Processes
- **Cultural Integration:** The speaker learned to adapt by relearning language and daily habits from scratch, initially with limited Korean vocabulary ("Yeah" and "Kamsahabnida").
- **Personal Development:** Adaptation progressed from simple survival to becoming consciously aware of cultural and physical differences between herself and others.
- **Coping Mechanism:** The speaker's method for handling prejudice is self-development, focusing on building a positive cultural identity and strong self-awareness, rather than reacting to the prejudices.
## Timeline & Sequence
- **By 2010:** The speaker began living in Korea, starting when she was 1.5 years old.
- **2013:** First year at Daegu International School (DIS).
- **Early school years:** Initially naive regarding cultural differences.
- **Middle school period:** Became more involved in local life and made Korean friends, leading to language and cultural sensitivity improvement.
- **Present (time of talk):** Reflecting on accumulated lessons from years of experience.
## Named Entities
- **Daegu International School (DIS)** — School attended by the speaker in 2013.
- **MASRANI** — Deputy Principal at DIS who administered the entrance exam.
## Numbers & Data
- Current foreign population in Korea: approximately **2.5 million** people.
- Year Korea spent money on private education: **2022**.
- Amount spent on private education in Korea (2022): over **20 billion dollars**.
## Examples & Cases
- **DIS Entrance Exam:** Required the speaker to identify colors, perform simple calculations, and pronounce simple words/phrases to prove her presence/readiness.
- **Initial Language Barrier:** Vocabulary limited to *"Vâng (Yeah)"* and *"Cảm ơn (Kamsahabnida)"*.
- **The Hagwon Culture:** The common practice among peers to attend 2 or 3 after-school academies per subject.
- **Racial Slurs Incident:** The speaker overheard elementary students using racial slurs in a specific year (**2017**), which were described as vulgar.
## Tools, Tech & Products
- **Google/Internet:** (Not explicitly used in the transcript to search, but the concept of accessing information is implied by citing research).
## References Cited
- **Oxford Dictionary:** Source used to define *chứng bài ngoại*.
- **Statistics Korea (Korean Ministry of Education):** Cited for the 2022 private education spending data.
- **Innovation in Aging (Journal):** Published research by Zaheer et al. regarding age and racial discrimination.
## Trade-offs & Alternatives
- **Attending Hagwons vs. Not Attending:** The speaker’s path bypassed the structured supplementary education, prompting questions about the necessity of the academies for those not facing academic struggles.
- **Reaction to Discrimination:** The alternative to being prejudiced is developing self-awareness and cultural resilience rather than becoming despondent or doubting oneself.
## Counterarguments & Caveats
- Some friends/family members believed attending *Hagwons* was necessary to keep up with academic progress.
- The underlying prejudice is not strictly about dark skin but is directed at foreigners generally.
## Methodology
- Drawing on personal experience in living abroad.
- Citing academic research (Zaheer et al.) on age and prejudice.
- Using statistical data (Korea's spending) to contextualize cultural practices.
## Conclusions & Recommendations
- Develop a positive cultural identity and strong self-awareness.
- Always remain authentic: *Cuộc đời tựa chuyến tàu lượn siêu tốc, sẽ có lúc thăng lúc trầm nhưng bạn có quyền chọn la hét hay tận hưởng nó.*
- The advice to avoid falling into the trap of participating in acts of violence or misinformation.
## Implications & Consequences
- Xenophobia in Korea affects all foreigners, not just those with darker skin.
- The act of developing a strong self-identity acts as a shield against the negative influence and misinformation propagated by prejudiced groups.
## Verbatim Moments
- *"Chứng bài ngoại là sự ghét bỏ hoặc thành kiến, bài xích người nước ngoài"*
- *"Hiện có khoảng 2,5 triệu người nước ngoài đang sinh sống tại Hàn Quốc."*
- *"Vốn từ vựng tiếng Hàn của tôi trước đó là “Vâng (Yeah)” và “Cảm ơn (Kamsahabnida)”."*
- *"Liệu tôi có bị tụt hậu không? Tôi có gặp khó khăn với việc học không?"*
- *"Dữ liệu từ Cơ quan Thống kê Hàn Quốc Bộ Giáo dục Hàn Quốc báo cáo, chỉ riêng năm 2022 Hàn Quốc đã chi hơn 20 tỷ đô la cho giáo dục tư nhân."*
- *"Zaheer và các cộng sự đã nhận thấy người lớn tuổi thường dễ thực hiện các hành vi phân biệt chủng tộc và tỏ thái độ bài ngoại hơn người trẻ."*
- *"Cuộc đời tựa chuyến tàu lượn siêu tốc, sẽ có lúc thăng lúc trầm nhưng bạn có quyền chọn la hét hay tận hưởng nó."*