Korea needs China experts more than ever

At times like this, we need people who understand China better, predict changes and judge accurately.

Song Jung-hwaThe author is a research professor at the Center for Chinese Cultural Studies at Ewha Womans University. August 24 marks the 32nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and China. I remember that in the year when the two countries normalized their relations, people used to say that Chinese literature would be the most preferred major over traditionally popular foreign languages. College admissions in Korea is sensitive to international relations, and when Korea and China get along, Chinese literature is generally popular. In 1992, I had rosy hopes and went to the graduate school of Chinese literature.

Since the diplomatic normalization, Korea-China exchanges have grown exponentially. The volume of trade, which was $6.3 billion in 1992, surpassed $300 billion in 30 years. In 2003, China became Korea’s biggest trading partner. As the honeymoon continued in the Korea-China relationship, the Korea-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was signed in 2015.

The exchanges and friendly relations, which began in trade, have spread to the social and cultural sectors. Korean TV dramas have created a Korean Wave in China with “My Love from the Star” in 2014 and “Descendants of the Sun” in 2016. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited South Korea before North Korea in July 2014 in a historical first. In return, President Park Geun-hye attended the military parade for Victory Day in Tiananmen in September 2015.

From 2013 to early 2016, academic scores required for admissions for the Chinese literature major was one of the highest in the humanities department. However, with the Thaad deployment in Korea, Korea-China relations quickly cooled, and the Chinese major showed a downward trend. While the Thaad system is purely for defense against North Korea’s missile threats, China considers it a strategic threat. Because of China’s Korea ban, the number of Chinese tourists also dropped, and related industries were hurt. Korean companies operating in China either packed up and returned home or relocated their production base to Southeast Asia.

It seems that these perceptions contain scars and fears from long historical experiences. Due to the influence of the world view based on Sinocentrism in the past, China considered the Korean Peninsula and other countries as marginal or barbaric countries. The international community regards the Chinese dream, which symbolizes China’s re-emergence, as a threat. Not only Korea but also the United States, Japan, Australia and Europe show similar responses.

Looking back at the relationship between Korea and China over the past three decades, there have been ups and downs, love and loathing. A warm breeze is followed by sudden frosts, and now we call for cooperation again. As Italian historian Benedetto Croce said, “All history is contemporary history.” History and geopolitics show that Korea and China are so close and have to stay as neighbors no matter what.

Lately, China has drastically developed, thanks to Deng Xiaoping’s reform and opening in 1978, and each city is equipped with the latest digital system. China’s science and technology have developed to the extent of threatening the United States. However, outside of China, countries are still reluctant to acknowledge its elevated status.

But we cannot avoid China just because it is threatening. At times like this, we need people who understand China better, predict changes and judge accurately. We must accept China as a newly emerged power and lead Korea-China relations in a direction that is mutually beneficial.

Nonetheless, Chinese-related departments are on the verge of being merged with other departments in Korean universities. Most students who enter a Chinese-related department have double majors or minors in other fields, such as business administration, which are helpful in finding jobs. Some students transfer to another department. When securing a large pool of China experts is not enough, people who can speak Chinese and understand Chinese history and culture continue to decrease. I cannot blame the students, but the reality is regrettable.

In May, the Korea-China-Japan trilateral summit resumed in Seoul. It is great that the three neighbors, which should meet frequently and communicate with each other, resumed dialogue after four and a half years. Starting with the Korea-China-Japan summit, Korea and China held diplomatic and security dialogues, a strategic dialogue for foreign ministers and bilateral talks on the sidelines of multilateral summits.

China is geographically close to Korea, but it is difficult to see what’s in China’s mind, as the country is different from Korea in many ways. Therefore, it is more urgent to have China specialists who can accurately grasp the country’s intentions. In times of crisis, I hope the government will make efforts to strategically cultivate future talent who will lead Korea-China relations.

Translation by the Korea JoongAng Daily staff.