Why So Many Korean Missionaries?

Dear Korean,

Christianity in Korea is a complex subject, but I have a simple question: why are there so many Korean missionaries?

Mati

Short answer:  it was born that way.

But let's back up a bit first. It is absolutely true that there are a great number of Korean Christian missionaries. Korea sends more missionaries abroad than any other country except for the United States. According to Korea World Missions Association, an umbrella organization for Korea's Protestant missionaries, more than 23,000 Korean missionaries are proselytizing abroad as of January 2012. The top five destinations are China, United States, Japan, the Philippines and India.

So why so many Christian missionaries from Korea? One obvious reason is that Christianity is a significant presence in Korea. According to the official governmental survey in 2005, nearly 30 percent of Koreans were Christians. Among them, approximately 12 percent were Catholics, and 18 percent were Protestants. (For reference: 46.5 percent of Koreans do not have any religion. After Christianity, Buddhism is the biggest religion, as nearly 23 percent of Koreans are Buddhists.)

But more importantly, Christian churches of Korea are enthusiastic about sending missions because missions were the vehicle through which Korea's Christianity began. One must remember that Christianity in Korea has a history of nearly two centuries. Catholicism arrived at Korea in the early 1800s, and the first Korean priest (St. Andrew Kim Taegon, who is also the patron saint of Korea) was ordained in 1845. Protestantism arrived at Korea a bit later, but it was just as successful. The Pyongyang Revival of 1907 was attended by so many people, whose faith was so intense, that Pyongyang came to be known as the "Jerusalem of the East."

Two centuries is a long time, but not quite long enough for people to forget the origin of their faith. Nearly all major congregations in Korea can trace its origin to a missionary who came to Korea in the early 19th century. In addition, for decades after Korean War, Korea saw a constant stream of American missionaries who came to provide humanitarian aid in the war-torn country, and assist the development of Korean churches. 

Thus, missionary work is deeply embedded in Korean churches. It was how they were born, and how they were raised. It is only natural, then, that these congregations would consider serving missions to be one of the most important duties as Christians.

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@gmail.com.

Still Think Asian Pop Stars Can't Go Mainstream?

Dear Korean,

I am an avid reader of Korean pop news. I know this might be old, but popular Kpop stars such as BoA and Se7en are planning to enter the US mainstream market. Some people have deep doubts about their ability to make it. I, being a skeptic and cynic, too have my doubts. But a part of me wonder, if cross-cultural singers such as Ricky Martin can go mainstream, why can't us Asians? What do you think the problem is? Is it the cultural difference that block Kpop artists way to the Grammy's or is it racism? A friend of mine mentions how Kpop music is "behind" in mainstream America because the idea of pop idol stars', boy band's, girl band's era are over. And BoA and Se7en carries the "dead pop" act that is widespread in Korea that is essentially "old-fashioned" in America. But how the hell do you explain the ugly and painful phenomenon that is the Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus?

Slightly Confused Non-Crazy Fangirl

This email is from February 23, 2009. Yes, the line of unanswered question is actually that long. More than 1,400 questions, accumulated over four years, about which the Korean thought worthwhile to write a post. By the way, this question is not even the oldest question in the queue--that honor belongs to a question sent to the Korean on September 26, 2008.

Now, about the question itself. If you are wondering, no, the Korean is not planning to answer this question. This guy made the question moot:

(Come on, play it one more time, for old time's sake. 1.5 billion people did it already.)

In the early stages of K-pop, so many critics argued that K-pop could only be a limited attraction within Asia. Others mistakenly took a crabbed view of K-pop, reducing it to upbeat dance music performed by pretty young things--which became another reason why K-pop could never succeed in America. They made all the same points that the questioner raised--that K-pop was too staged, too behind, too Korean, too Asian.

Oh, how they were wrong. We now have a K-pop star, not particularly beautiful, singing entirely in Korean, who became a record-breaking worldwide sensation. Sports stadiums would play his music during breaks in the game. College marching bands would play his song during halftime, and the cheerleaders would dance his dance. For Halloween, American people would dress up not just as him, but as the entire cast in his music video. South Park episodes would feature his looks. Saturday Night Live would make a skit out of his song. He would seamlessly blend in with American icons like Madonna and MC Hammer. He would perform at the White House Christmas party, then in the center stage of the Times Square on the new year's eve.

Amazing how things change in just a few years, right? But just you wait, because K-pop's best days are still ahead.

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@gmail.com.

50 Most Influential K-pop Artists: 14. Park Jin-yeong

[Series Index]

14. Park Jin-yeong [박진영]

Also romanized as:  Park Jin Young, JYP

Years of Activity: 1992 - present? (Last album in 2007)

Discography:
Wandering Time [떠도는 시간] (1992) (as Park Jin-yeong and the New Generation [박진영과 신세대])
Blue City (1994)
Entertainer [딴따라] (1995)
Summer Jingle Bells (1996)
Even After a Decade [십년이 지나도] (1998)
Park Jin-yeong 5th (1998)
Game (2001)
Back to Stage (2007)

Representative Song:  Elevator [엘레베이터], from Entertainer

엘레베이터

Elevator

엘리베이터 안에서 우린 사랑을 나누지

In the elevator we make love

그 누구도 모르게 비밀스런 사랑을

A secret love that no one knows

엘리베이터 안에서 우린 사랑을 나누지

In the elevator we make love

지하에서 윗층까지 벨이 울릴때까지

From the basement to the penthouse, until the bell rings

우리는 만났어 처음 만났어 우린 첫눈에 보자마자 반했어

We met, met for the first time, we fell at the first sight

흘러나오는 웃음을 참지못해 서로에게서 도저히 눈을 떼지못해

We couldn't hold the laughs, couldn't take our eyes off of each other

우리는 느꼈어 예 느꼈어 새로운 사랑의 시작을 우린 느꼈어

We felt it, yeah, we felt it, we felt the beginning of a new love

이 설레임 이 두근거림 너무나 오랜만에 느껴보는 이 느낌

This fluttering, this heart-beating, this feeling that I'm feeling for the first time in so long

하지만 더 기쁜건 더 중요한건

But the thing that's even happier, the thing that's even more important

그녀도 분명히 느끼고 있는 것 같다는 것

Is she seems like she is definitely feeling it too

그녀도 분명히 내게 반한 것 같다는 것

She seems like she is definitely into me too

이제 외롭던 날들의 끝인 것

Now the lonely days are over

그래서 우린 나갔어 헤어지기가 아쉬워서 

So we stepped out, but I couldn't let her go

저 저녁식사나라고 하려는데

So I was about to say, hey how about a dinner

그녀가 먼저 (제가 저녁 사드릴께요)

But she first goes (I'll buy you a dinner)

시간이 가는줄도 밤이 깊어가는줄도 모르고 

We forgot the time passing, forgot that the night deepening

수없이 많은 얘기를 나눴고 

Shared so many stories

서로의 맘속에 사랑이 싹트며 서로의 눈을 지그시 바라보며

Love sprouted in our hearts, we gazed into each other's eyes

식당문을 열고 집으로 가기위해 엘리베이터를 탔는데

Opened the restaurant door, to go home, we got on the elevator

엘리베이터 안에서 우린 사랑을 나누지

In the elevator we make love

그 누구도 모르게 비밀스런 사랑을

A secret love that no one knows

엘리베이터 안에서 우린 사랑을 나누지

In the elevator we make love

지하에서 윗층까지 벨이 울릴때까지

From the basement to the penthouse, until the bell rings

(여보세요)

(Hello)

(예 저 진영인데요 저 오늘 재미있으셨어요)

(Hey it's Jin-yeong. Did you have fun today?)

(예 즐거웠어요)

(Yes, I had fun)

(저 그럼 내일 또 만날수 있어요)

(Then can we meet again tomorrow?)

(왜요 또 만나고 싶어요)

(Why, you want to meet again?)

(네 저 내일 그럼 어디 갈까요)

(Yeah, so where should we go tomorrow?)

(어 63 빌딩)

(Hm, the 63 Building)

그후로 오랫동안 우린 만났어

For a long time thereafter we met

서로의 맘속에 들어갈수록 들어가서 들여다볼수록

As we got into each other hearts, as we looked into them inside

점점 더 빠져 들었어 이제 돌이킬수가 없어

We got into it deeper and deeper, can't go back now

호기심을 넘어 좋아하는 걸 넘어 사랑을 향해 다가가고 있어

Getting over curiosity, getting over liking, we are approaching love

이제는 때가 됐다 생각이 들어서 

I thought it was the right time

카페에서 마주보고 앉아 있다가 

We were sitting across from each other at the cafe

일어나서 그녀에게 다가가 우리 이제 이렇게 앉자며 옆에 앉았어

I got up, approached her, and said let's sit like this now, and sat next to her

자연스럽게 그녀의 가는 어깨 위에 살며시 팔을 올리려고 하는데

I was trying to naturally put my arm on her slender shoulders, and then

그녀가 먼저 살며시 내게 기댔어

She first quietly leaned into me

와 두 뺨에 흐르는 눈물

Wow, tears rolled down my cheeks

좋아 그럼 용기를 내서 뽀뽀를 해보기로 마음을 먹고 

Alrighty then, I got up the courage to try kissing her

눈을 맞추며 조금씩 다가가는데

We lock eyes, and get closer to each other

(박진영 씨 싸인 좀 해주시겠어요)

(Mr. Park Jin-yeong, can I get your autograph?)

그래서 나는 모든걸 잊고 깨끗이 마음을 비우고

So I forgot everything, got everything out of my mind,

카페 문을 열고 집에 가려고 엘리베이터를 탔는데

Opened the cafe door, trying to go home, and got on the elevator

(무슨 생각해)

(What are you thinking?)

(너랑 같은 생각)

(Same thing you are thinking.)

(무슨 생각인데)

(What's that?)

(엘리베이터 안에 너랑 나밖에 없다는거)

(That only you and I are in this elevator)

엘리베이터 안에서 우린 사랑을 나누지

In the elevator we make love

그 누구도 모르게 비밀스런 사랑을

A secret love that no one knows

엘리베이터 안에서 우린 사랑을 나누지

In the elevator we make love

지하에서 윗층까지 벨이 울릴때까지

From the basement to the penthouse, until the bell rings

Translation note:  63 Building, or formally known as the Daehan Life Building, was the tallest building in Korea at the time of this song--which presumably means the longest elevator ride.

In 15 words or less:  Korea's Madonna.

Maybe he should be ranked higher because...   If you consider his influence as a businessman, it is arguable that he is one of the few people who created K-pop as we know it today.

Maybe he should be ranked lower because...  What did he do musically? Did he do anything more than adding a bit of different zeitgeist?

Why is this artist important?

We all know who Park Jin-yeong is. Better known now as JYP to his international admirers, he is the head of the "big 3" entertainment companies of Korea, the JYP Entertainment. He is the guy who came up with Rain, Wonder Girls, 2PM and the like. But forget all that for a minute--because Park Jin-yeong, the artist alone, stripped of his business accomplishments, remains a very important figure in the history of K-pop.

The Korean considers Park Korea's Madonna, and the designation does not come lightly. Broadly speaking, Madonna achieved two things in her career:  she compelled people to take dance pop music seriously as an art form, and she revolutionized the portrayal of sex in mainstream music. Park Jin-yeong  achieved those same things in Korea.

History of pop music features a constant tension between the pulls in the opposite directions--the desire to elevate the music to the realm of art, and the desire to sell the music to the masses. The tension separates Nirvana and Justin Bieber, as well as Yoo Jae-ha and Girls' Generation. Like Madonna, Park Jin-yeong subverted that tension. He engaged in the "low" music, but carried himself like he was the second coming of Mozart. The title of his second album, Entertainer [딴따라], said it all. 딴따라 is a derogatory term for "entertainer," reminiscent of the grasshopper in the fable: lazy and overall useless. But Park gladly labeled himself as 딴따라, announcing to the world that he is here to make people respect him.

Park's blatant sexuality was another lightning rod. The risque depiction in Elevator was jaw-dropping for Korea in 1995. He also made waves by declaring repeatedly on television that "sex is just a game." His concerts were more like a burlesque show. Korea, at first, tut-tutted on this brash young pup. But over the next decade and a half, it was JYP who had the last laugh. He managed to become respected while staying true as an entertainer, and sex was never freer in Korea. That's some influence.

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@gmail.com.