Synopsis:

Before the retirement, Sam Bo is worrying about his fellow junior police officer, Haeri, who is showing jealousy toward other junior police officers. Not worrying about Haeri, Han Jung-O is provoking the hatred of the parents of the high school students since she has talked about different perspectives about the sexual education that the parents thought of. Sang Su keep tells Jung-O to apologize to the high school parents, but Jung-O has no doubt that she was right about giving the sexual education. Sang Su did not understand the reason why she was being so stubborn; however, after hearing the reason why she could not give up not to apologize, he is remorseful.

Discussion:

While knowing the fact that the sex education in Korean society is not common, adults tend to conceal the reality of the sexual activities to their teenagers. In Episode 14, it addresses an urgent problem that could be resolved momentarily but still is an ongoing problem. I personally believe that giving proper sex education to teenagers is an important factor to the teenagers’ lives who are growing up as the grownups. Talking about the ways of the protections of sexual intercourses, preventions of sexual assaults, types of birth control pills, and so on should not be considered as ‘embarrassing’ topics to discuss about but ought to be ‘naturally’ reviewed among the parents and children.

In Episode 14, we can easily see the perspective of Korean parents about the sex education. For example, Jung-O made the high school students’ parents infuriated because she mentioned the proper ways to educate teenagers about sex. They first asked the police officers about the ways to avoid the sexual assault or attack. And then, they answered their own question by giving an example of installing more surveillance cameras around the school. If so, would there be zero percent of the sexual assault? Of course not! Because of parents’ and teachers’ hesitation, it may lead the teenagers to get even more improper ideas about sex from all kinds of different sources such as pornographic videos, magazines and internet (Sohn and Han 2002, 46).

Personally, I attended international school in Korea and my school provided a proper sex education since I was in an US curriculum-based school with American teachers. However, there were one incident where one girl got pregnant and she dropped out of school to get the abortion. EVEN receiving a proper sex education could still lead the students to make mistakes; yet, I believe that giving out a proper sex education can lead the students to make less mistakes such as using protections. At least, students who have received the sex education tend to have less sexual activities than those who did not (Sohn and Han 2002, 55). It is impossible to drop the percentage of making mistakes to zero, but with adults’ help, adolescents can make the right decisions.

In conclusion, receiving a proper sex education is a very important factor in adolescents’ lives in order to grow up as mature adults. In order to give them the appropriate sex education, adults should be additionally educated and receive adequate training and guidelines to become more comfortable delivering such important information that could actually change students’ lives (Soh and Han 2002, 58).

Largely, we could think about these questions:

1. Do you think there are specific reasons why most of Korean parents do think that sex education is not as important as their child/children getting into college? Or is it all like this in Asia? What are the differences between Asian and Western cultures about this education?
2. If you were a Korean parent who has a child who is a senior in high school, do you think that you are able to sit him or her down and educate them about sex? (Imagine to be in a position where people hide information about sex education).

Word Count: 530

Bibliography:

1. Aeree Sohn, and Hee Jeong Han. “Adolescents’ Sexuality and School-Based Sex Education in South Korea.” Journal of Korean Society for Health Education and Promotion19 (December 2002): 45-60. Accessed October 31, 2018.

Synopsis: 

In episode 9, Hong-il patrol division found that Detective Yi Juyeong was directly involved into an illegal gambling, Also, Hong-il patrol division received the reports about the sexual violence cases and a family violence case. Han Jeong-o and Yum Sangsu arrested the culprit of the sexual violence before it was happened, but the woman who was a victim of the sexual violence did not want to reveal the truth to anyone. In episode 10, the Hong-il patrol division was reported a missing child, but in fact, the child because of hatred of her adoptive parents. In addition, in this episode, O Yongchon’s father removed her wife’s respiratory equipment to let her die.

Discussion: 

For the discussion, I will focus on the events from episode 9 which clearly shows about the the violation of the female victims’s rights that is a big issue in South Korea now. Generally, the most victims of sexual violence and family violence are women because they have less physical power than men, and this main reason can lead to violation of women’s rights. I believe that all people should be equal and enjoy their life under the rights.

In the drama, “Live”, I can find the ignorance of women’s rights easily through the victimization of the sexual and family violence. South Korea has different actual number of report of victimization and the official number of report because the victims do not want to reveal and to solve themselves if it happens in family (Choe and Gim, 23). For example,  In episode 9, female victims of family violence do not want to report their victimization to police officer because of her children, so she continuously endures her husband’s violence. I think her rights of enjoying life positively is mainly violated.

Also, when Hong-ill patrol division arrested a culprit of sexual violence, the female victim firstly says that she does not want his fiance to know about her victimization because he will not like her and may break the engagement. This is ignorance of  women’s rights as well because not revealingthe truth can affect the victims’ future life negatively. Also, some people may have a prejudice towards the victims, which make them feel shame, even though it is not their fault.

Recently, a Korean celebrity, Gu Hara, was involved a scandal. Her boyfriend  threatened her and did porno revenge with sending their sexual video to the reporter. Due to the this video, she begged him for not sending it, but the video was spread online. The spreading the private video without the agreement violated Gu Hara’s rights. In addition, as I expected, due to the sexual video, Gu Hara was blamed and suffered more, even though the video was shot together. Also, Gu Hara may not have a chance to sing and shoot a drama for long time because of people’s negative perception towards her. I think this is the typical example of violation women’s rights in South Korea, and this issue made me think of the women’s rights again.

In conclusion, although many Korean women tried to change through “#metoo” movement, the drama “Live” clearly reflects the Korean society thatthe women are still suffered and violated their rights more by sexual revelation.

Based on my discussion, I want to ask you to think about some questions.

1. Consider Canadian women’s rights. How do you compare Canadian and Korean women’s rights? and which country’s woman’s rights are more protected?
2. Although I discussed women’s rights and emphasized violation of women’s rights, there should be violation of men’s rights. Compare how the men’s rights is different with the women’s, and how can men’s rights be violated. Also, why are the women’s rights emphasized more?

Bibliography: 

Choe, Inseop and Gim, seong-eon. “Seongpongnyeoguisiltaewa wonine gwanhan yeongu [Sexual Violence in Korea, 1996].” Hangukyeongsajeongchaegyeonguwon [The Korean Researcher of a Criminal Policy]: 97(1997): 19-316.

Author: Lucius Kang

Synopsis:

Han Jeong-o, with help of fellow officers, successfully arrest the illegal prostitutes and the perps; but soon after she finds out that her arrest actually put more female victims of prostitution in danger. O Yang-Chon gets blamed for Yeom Sang-su’s injury and becomes the outcast for not taking care of his trainee in a chase of a criminal suspect. After release of the perps who were involved in illegal prostitution, the entire police department cooperates to successfully arrest the perps, while ensuring safety of the female prostitutes. successfully closing cases does not last long, as Lee Sun-won, Kang Nam-il and Kim Min-seok fail to catch the defrauder of a scam.

Disucssion:

What is prostitution?
Prostitution is the practice of engaging in sexual activity with someone for payment. While some prostitutes in Canada are criticizing the ones who use the word: prostitute instead of ‘sex worker’ (Ratchford, 2013), the same workforce in Korea still stands as illegal. But does that mean that prostitution doesn’t exist in Korea?

Umm…. NO!

Despite the fact that the South Korean government once promoted sexual entertainment, such as “kisaeng party” as a matter of national policy (Lie, 1995, 317), prostitution, along with abortion is still against the law within the country. Consequently, more services are provided under the table, leaving more sex workers in danger.

Because prostitution is illegal in South Korea, many other crimes also remain silent. In Live, viewers see the frustration of Kang Nam-il and Kim Min-seok to even start an investigation on a case that undoubtedly appeared wrong. Although the victim asked for help initially, because the victim is “worried that people at his school will find out” that he was involved in an illegal prostitution, he refused request of further investigation on the case (ep. 7, 16:58). This portrays how victims, whom are related to sex industry in Korea, believe connections with prostitution is significantly worse than unjust victimizations.

While females dominate the sex industry in Korea, there exists another biological issue: pregnancy and illegal abortion. Abortions are as prohibited as prostitutions. As we have discussed in our lectures, motherly duties are unwelcomed by many employers; indeed, when required to abort the fetus, sex workers abort privately as “prices could range anywhere from 1 to 2 million won” (Narrative, 2011). Han Jeong-o’s inspection of the perps’ abandoned hideout shows site of illegal abortion in South Korea, and also portrays the site as dangerous, dull and dirty. This is the reality of illegal sex workers and how they are at higher risk for their occupations.

Despite the dangerous and dirty work settings, the illegal industry remains stocked up for business. Up to 37 percent of sex workers chose the sex industry to gain financial independence (Lie, 1995, 322). The idea is also demonstrated in Live. As Choi Myeong-ho ensures safety of foreign sex workers, the boss yells “[the female workers] did it because they wanted to” (ep. 8, 17:56). The boss emphasizes to Choi Myeong-ho that the girls became prostitutes of their own accord. It is clear that the perp is taking advantages of the situations of the sex workers.

In episodes 7 & 8 of Live, the screenwriter criticizes the reality of sex industry in Korea, putting emphasis on high risk working conditions, and consequences of negative perception on prostitution and abortion.

Upon the blog discussion, I ask you to consider few questions:

1. Han Jeong-o states that by the arrest of the prostitution boss, she has put more victims in danger (ep. 7 20:50). Do you agree that reporting and arresting suspects put victims in more danger? If so, how else should Korean citizens or Korean government do to help the victims?

2. Live shows some of detrimental consequences of criminalizing prostitution. To what extent can legalization of prostitution become benefits in the sex industry?

3. As demonstrated in Kang Nam-il and Kim Min-seok’s interrogation of prostitution boss and the victim who later asks the case to remain silent on an obvious case, why are people trying to avoid criticism on any connection with prostitution, when in fact they are engaged in it? What does that imply about the culture in Korea, in terms of collectivism vs individualism?

Bibliography:

Lie, John. “The Transformation Of Sexual Work In 20Th-Century Korea.” Gender & Society9, no. 3 (1995): 310-27. doi:10.1177/089124395009003004.

Narrative, T. (2011). Getting an Abortion in Korea. [online] The Grand Narrative. Available at: https://thegrandnarrative.com/2011/09/19/abortion-korea/ [Accessed 12 Oct. 2018]

Ratchford, Sarah. “Why Is the Canadian Media Still Referring to Sex Workers as Prostitutes?” Vice. November 21, 2013. Accessed October 12, 2018.

Synopsis:

Because of Ho Cheol’s death and betrayal of his beloved Ju Yeong, O Yang Chon demoted from Senior inspector to inspector and was sent to Hong-il constabulary. Unfortunately, Jang Mi asks Yang Chon for a divorce and other police officers in Hong-il constabulary do not see him as the “legendary.” On the other hand, Sang Su and Haeri are jealous of Jung-O who gets all the attention from the other police officers. However, when Jung-O went to the homicide scene, she gets devastated and cannot forget the horrible scene. In addition, Yang Chon criticizes Sang Susaying that he doesnot show any commitment to his position from the first day of work.

Discussion:

Like Dr.Saeji has mentioned in our first lecture, Korea can be described into five concepts: collectivism, hierarchy, shame, nationalism and competition. Throughout the drama, we can easily illustrate all five concepts in different way. Not only the main characters but also the sub characters indicate different perspective of lives. When I deeply look into the drama differently than the usual, I see several problems that Korea is now facing. At first, nothing seems eccentric in the drama. However, once you think and look into the issues that we, Koreans, are having, everything will start to lookodd thinking about a question such as “why would they do such a thing?”

From the beginning of the drama, it clearly shows that Korea is one of the competitive countries where it focuses on higher education, showing that people live their lives to the fullest by studying for several years to get accomplishments that they are desired of. According to Kim and Choi, people who received 4-year college education receive 150% more than the high school graduates and also there are 160% wage differences comparing what university or college he or she has graduated from and they will be treated differently in Korean society (Kim and Choi 2015, 457-458). For example, in episode 4, the drunk members of parliament commit violence toward Han Sol without any hesitation since they know that they are in higher positions than the ordinary police officers. I believed that this scene is actually showing the tragic side of Korean society in order to criticize the effects of social stratification and how the status in reality is certainly important (Ibid., 457).

Another fact that I would like to point out is the circumstance that we talked about in our lecture that elderly poverty rate is constantly rising in Korean society. The growth rate overall population aging, from 7.2% in 2000 to 12.7% in 2014 but Korea is not well prepared for the upcoming aged society, especially in terms of serious low-income issues (Jeon 2017, 175). As we see in the episodes, we can truly tell the differences between Yang Chon’s economic status and his father’s economic status just by looking at their houses. Yang Chon lives in an apartment in an urban area whereas his father lives in a rural area by himself; the society is becoming more and more difficult for the middle-aged people to live, raising their children plus taking care of their aging parents as well. Elderly parents do not want their middle-aged children’s help, knowing that they are having a hard time as well. Therefore, the single elderly in poverty is ranked as the highest in the OECD (lecture).

In conclusion, the problems in Korean society can be easily found. Overall, however, I believe that the drama itself magnifies the problems more seriously than the actual problems.

Largely, we can think about the questions such as:

1. Do you think we can see the social stratification in our daily lives? Or is it exaggerated in the dramas?
2. As a UBC student, do you think that receiving higher education really effects not only in Korea but also in Canadian society?

Bibliographies:

1. Doohwan Kim, and Yool Choi. “The Irony of the Unchecked Growth of Higher Education in South Korea: Crystallization of Class Cleavages and Intensifying Status Competition.” Development and Society44, no. 3 (2015): 435-63. Accessed September 27, 2018. doi:10.21588/dns.2015.44.3.004.

2. Jeon, Boyoung, Haruko Noguchi, Soonman Kwon, Tomoko Ito, and Nanako Tamiya. “Disability, Poverty, and Role of the Basic Livelihood Security System on Health Services Utilization among the Elderly in South Korea.” Social Science & Medicine178 (February 14, 2017): 175-83. Accessed September 27, 2018. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.02.013.