Why do we need to know about East Asia?

East Asia. The home of k-pop, j-pop, and Asian idols. The promised land of milk tea and kimchi. The region in which each of our ipads are manufactured and shipped, along with thousands of other “Made-in-China” goods. From the era of the 19^th century Old Chinese trade, East Asian exports and orientalism have influenced the culture of the US. But while our counterparts in the region are well-versed in American history and current politics, few of us can name the current Japanese emperor, or identify any reasons for the continuing division of Korea. As statistics are frequently pointing at this region as the future international balance, it’s time we looked beyond our own nation, to the rising powerhouse across the Pacific.

                Politicians commonly group China, Japan, and the two Koreas under the broad term “East Asia” (though some also include Taiwan and Vietnam). This label encompasses three of the “Asian Tigers”—Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea—whose rapid industrialization and economic success have made them important financial centers or manufacturing hubs, and gained the region international recognition. In the past year, however, President Obama has commonly referenced the East Asian countries, not for their economic rise, but as a model for youth education.

                Despite the US’s status as a global power and image as a nation of opportunity and liberty, it has consistently and quite publicly scored poorly on tests for international education rankings. While cities like Shanghai or Seoul, in China and South Korea, respectively, have come out at the top, the US has scraped by in the mid-20s, low-30s mark. Acknowledging this shortcoming, President Obama has frequently cited the need to follow the example of East Asian education: “if they can do that in South Korea, we can do it here.” But what exactly are “they” doing in Chinese and Korean schools? To put it simply, families in East Asia do more. Not only do students attend regular school, but they also study at afterschool academic classes, called “hagwon” in Korean. These classes drill students from the time their school gets out, often past ten o’clock. During these extra hours, students study math, reading, science, and English, often before they learn the material in school. 

A testament to East Asia's focus on youth education: after-school "hagwon" can be seen on all levels of this Korean business complex.

While the government spends relatively little for public education, the highest ratios of private expenditures to public are found in South Korea and Japan. While it may be possible for us to see this practice “more time, more money” as the formula for educational success, the culture in East Asia is the real driving force for its academic might. Ingrained within Asian cultures is the Confucian focus on academic rigor, and the belief that education can bring a prestigious job, wealth, and status for one’s family. Especially in Korea, this heralds back to the days when one’s marks on the annual government exam dictated one’s career. Before urging conformity to the Asian model of education, it’s worth noting the cultural and ideological factors that contribute to its success.

Chinese and Korean parents' demands for a strong education stem from the Ming Dynasty, in which the most prestigious government positions were given to the highest scorers on a difficult entrance exam.

                East Asia also poses an important consideration to the US in the context of global security. For much of this year, American headlines have focused on terrorism and armed conflict in the Middle East. But unbeknownst to much of the American public, cultural and territorial disputes are still striking tension in Asia. Many of these conflicts stem from the legacy of imperial Japan in WWII, and the claims of the current government to islands along the Eastern and Southern coast of Korea and China, respectively. The Chinese government has entered into frequent clashes with Koreans over cultural monuments and heritage sites near the Korea-China border, which were erected by ethnic Koreans during Korea’s expansionist “Three Kingdoms” era. Furthermore, despite optimistic speeches concerning reunification and an end to armed conflict, North Korea continues to express its concern over military exercises conducted between the US and South Korea, leading to its pursuit of nuclear capabilities. Our nation depends heavily on diplomatic relations and trade with its allies in East Asia, and unless we learn to pay attention to the situation across the sea, and acknowledge the historical and cultural background, we may be left behind by the most dynamic region in the world.

South Korean president Park Geun-hye meets with chancellor Merkel, to learn from the German experience with reunification.

                The idea of broadening one’s perspective and “looking outside the walls of a well” (hence the title of this column), also comes from Chinese and Korea folklore, a tribute to the oft overlooked influence that East Asia has had in the American culture.