Biodiversity & Cultural Diversity in South Korea
South Korea is a country full of rich history and people who have diverse cultural backgrounds. Religion plays a large role in the lives of South Korean people, which is evident in their deep respect of their temples that can be found on the hillsides. The people shop in tiny marketplaces and drive their cars through towns. Their population is a large as their complicated, technologically advanced cities. South Korea is a country that combines tradition and modern pleasures. South Korea’s biodiversity is as rich as its culture with a recorded 29,916 different species (Global Invasive Species Database, 2009). The lifestyle of many Koreans is faced paced; with the help of “rapid industrialization, urbanization, and increased consumption” the environmental pollution levels have scaled to unprecedented levels (Korea Overseas Information Service, 2014). The question is how does the decline of biodiversity affect the relationship with cultural diversity? The answer is not necessarily simple as many causes can be determined, but it is evident that with the decline of biodiversity, and the incline of consumption the cultural diversity of South Korea has decreased too.
Biodiversity is an important part of South Korean life and the government has designated departments to take care of these vast concerns. There have been nine established natural resource related laws, three ecological axis conservation plans, and an overall Master Plan established to conserve the declining biodiversity. Forestlands have declined 2.1%, crop lands 15.9%, and wetlands 25% decline in the last decade (Rho, 2007). This decline in biodiversity is due to population increase with the South Korean population being listed as the 3rd greatest in the world with people per kilometer. People need a space to live and so they are forced to destroy the natural habitats and therefore the species that live there.
Historically, there have always been conflicts with their North Korean counterparts and so cultural conservation has been a challenge. Many families are disconnected from those in the North so cultural identities have had to undergo some challenges. As the population grows there is an evident challenge with multicultural families who are forced to deal with growing racism and cultural diversity, such as the Hwang people and immigrants who come to South Korea. Much like the invasive species found in South Korea, the immigrants to South Korea are viewed negatively. These viewpoints make multicultural relationships a challenge (Kang, 2013). Many of these immigrants have to deal with language barriers, and many natives feel that it infringes on their home language.
Unfortunately looking at the larger picture it is evident to see a correlation between a decline in biodiversity and a decline in cultural diversity. People become focused on their fast paced lifestyle, which ultimately jeopardizes the environment around them. South Korea is a leader in oil consumption, imports, and industrialization. South Korea is booming, but at what price? The people of South Korea are trying to remain connected to their strong values and their long traditions, while battling the appeal of advanced technology and consumption. The environment is being compromised as well as the culture. While it is important to remember that years of history are unlikely to be destroyed in a few decades, the people of South Korea must pause and look and see how they are really impacting the world around them and how this is ultimately affecting their relations with others.
Works Cited:
Global Invasive Species Database. (2009). Bioinvasion and global environmental governance: the transitional policy network on invasive alien species.
Kang, T. (2013, August 20). Korea's multicultural growing pains.
Korea Overseas Information Service. (2014). South korea profile: environmental policy.
Rho, P. (2007, Oct). Nature and biodiversity management in korea: A policy perspective.
Sanders, C. (2010, February 1). Korea: Environmental problems & solutions.
South Korea is a country full of rich history and people who have diverse cultural backgrounds. Religion plays a large role in the lives of South Korean people, which is evident in their deep respect of their temples that can be found on the hillsides. The people shop in tiny marketplaces and drive their cars through towns. Their population is a large as their complicated, technologically advanced cities. South Korea is a country that combines tradition and modern pleasures. South Korea’s biodiversity is as rich as its culture with a recorded 29,916 different species (Global Invasive Species Database, 2009). The lifestyle of many Koreans is faced paced; with the help of “rapid industrialization, urbanization, and increased consumption” the environmental pollution levels have scaled to unprecedented levels (Korea Overseas Information Service, 2014). The question is how does the decline of biodiversity affect the relationship with cultural diversity? The answer is not necessarily simple as many causes can be determined, but it is evident that with the decline of biodiversity, and the incline of consumption the cultural diversity of South Korea has decreased too.
Biodiversity is an important part of South Korean life and the government has designated departments to take care of these vast concerns. There have been nine established natural resource related laws, three ecological axis conservation plans, and an overall Master Plan established to conserve the declining biodiversity. Forestlands have declined 2.1%, crop lands 15.9%, and wetlands 25% decline in the last decade (Rho, 2007). This decline in biodiversity is due to population increase with the South Korean population being listed as the 3rd greatest in the world with people per kilometer. People need a space to live and so they are forced to destroy the natural habitats and therefore the species that live there.
Historically, there have always been conflicts with their North Korean counterparts and so cultural conservation has been a challenge. Many families are disconnected from those in the North so cultural identities have had to undergo some challenges. As the population grows there is an evident challenge with multicultural families who are forced to deal with growing racism and cultural diversity, such as the Hwang people and immigrants who come to South Korea. Much like the invasive species found in South Korea, the immigrants to South Korea are viewed negatively. These viewpoints make multicultural relationships a challenge (Kang, 2013). Many of these immigrants have to deal with language barriers, and many natives feel that it infringes on their home language.
Unfortunately looking at the larger picture it is evident to see a correlation between a decline in biodiversity and a decline in cultural diversity. People become focused on their fast paced lifestyle, which ultimately jeopardizes the environment around them. South Korea is a leader in oil consumption, imports, and industrialization. South Korea is booming, but at what price? The people of South Korea are trying to remain connected to their strong values and their long traditions, while battling the appeal of advanced technology and consumption. The environment is being compromised as well as the culture. While it is important to remember that years of history are unlikely to be destroyed in a few decades, the people of South Korea must pause and look and see how they are really impacting the world around them and how this is ultimately affecting their relations with others.
Works Cited:
Global Invasive Species Database. (2009). Bioinvasion and global environmental governance: the transitional policy network on invasive alien species.
Kang, T. (2013, August 20). Korea's multicultural growing pains.
Korea Overseas Information Service. (2014). South korea profile: environmental policy.
Rho, P. (2007, Oct). Nature and biodiversity management in korea: A policy perspective.
Sanders, C. (2010, February 1). Korea: Environmental problems & solutions.