Korea today : From The View of It’s Film Industry

Korea today : From The View of It’s Film Industry

Type      : Summary

Source : Korea Saat ini : Dilihat dari perkembangan Film Nasionalnya (Suray Agung Nugroho)

Korea already have a data about their film industry since year 2000.  It is different from Indonesia that still does not have data transpiration. In  latest 5 year, every year Korean film’s viewer are about 40 million people while the population of Koreans is 48,5 million people (CIA worldfact, 2004 census) and 50 film are launched every year in average. It indicates that films had become a national commodity and the Korean people itself like their national product.

                There are 5 other facts about Korean films industry. First, since there are numerous film community either online or offline by now, lots of movie festival were held by government or private agent. In example, The Pusan Film International, Seoul International Cartoon and Animation festival, and so on. It means that film industry grow actively in Korea.

                Second, in first half 21 century Cineplex businesses were dominated by big financial capital holder. But in second half century it is getting more balance. Moreover after the Megabox Cineplex already shared with foreign investor. It is a role model for Indonesia whish till today the Cineplex businesses are owned by the big financial capital holder.

Third, Korea still prefer to showing more Korean film products more than American Films. But lately it is not  that strict anymore, so that American film still can grow and popular in Korea.

Fourth, as like what happened in Hollywood film industry, a strike that held by script writer who felt the low fee for their work which indicated the low appreciation disappointed the workers. But since 2008 there is already an agreement which tied the producer and other film-maker crew. So, there is already a standard of payment for each workers position.

Fifth, 2 film institution KOFA ( Korean Film Archive) and KOFIC (Korean Film Council) are established in Korea. Each institution has its own responsibility in film industry. KOFA is ordered to arrange Korean movie database which can be easily to be accessed. While KOFIC duty is promotes the films.

From the five facts above it all are the step to fasten the film industry. As the palli-palli culture (hurry-hurry culture) already rooted in Korean mindset, so the Korean wants everything to be fast and quick, it reflected in their development. 

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Lotteria vs Mc Donald's : Burger vs Burger

First established in Japan in September 1972. Lotteria is considered to be a follower of McDonald's. Both sell similar burgers, such as hamburgers, cheese burgers, teriyaki burgers, and so on. Their Shrimp burger is popular and is an original burger of Lotteria, first made in 1977.

Lotteria in South Korea was founded on October 25, 1979, and was part of an expansion of the Lotte Group that included the founding or acquisition of other food-related divisions, including Lotte Chilsung Beverage, Lotte Samkang, and Lotte Ham & Milk. Lotteria became the number one fast food restaurant, boasting a 45 percent market share in 2001 (compared to 20.1 percent for McDonald's). Lotteria achieved this success in part by introducing lines of Koreanized fast foods including its now signature kimchi burger, and strikes most initial visitors as a Korean version of most Western-style fast food restaurants with some local additions. The imitation, with "cleanness, the bright interior, the Western pop music as an audio background," is designed to create "the impression of a 'small piece of America in the middle of Korea'". This strategy resulted in growth rates of 10 percent in 2006 and 16 percent in 2007; by 2009, Lotteria had 920 outlets. (Wikipedia.org)

                As Korean government campaign  a slogan for its visit year program “where you can eat delicious food and stay healthy”, Lotteria provide this company with a healthy looking too. From removing trans fat from its Fries menu until rye bread burger that only have 350 calories.

                Today is an era when everyone can not resist the fast food appeal. It served fast, crispy, spicy, fast safety hunger and catches right to everyone appetite. In Korea Mc Donald’s does exist but if you hit the search button in your Google searching the Korean Burger keyword, Lotteria is the most appearing answer.

                Koreans are very partisan consumer, preferring their own grown home versions over the flashier, established American or any other foreign import. Korean movies out sell imported Hollywood blockbusters. Wal-Mart in Korea has fails over the similar E-Mart. So it is not a surprise when Lotteria is the major Burger joint in Korea. Korea is one of two country where Mc Donald’s is not a market leader of burger beside French. Moreover, in Korea Lotteria grows bigger than in Japan, Where it firstly established.

                Korean Lotteria offers menu that similar with non-fast food menu like in traditional Korean restaurant. Start from Kimchi Burger, Bulgogi burger to Zzang (짱) burger type. The Zzang Burgers are actually the buns-less burgers but replaced with round of rice ‘buns’.  Also, if you are not the typical who like onion rings or squid fries you can choose Phat-Bing-Soo (a shaved ice –but in Lotteria is replaced with soft ice cream like Mc Donald’s soft ice cream- and loaded with tteok –korean rice cake-, red beans and mix fruit around it).

                The Lotteria outlets performs the outlook which similar with café atmosphere, a cozy place where you can get wi-fi and other wireless satisfaction (Koreans are crazy for wireless things).  The difference with Mc Donald’s is you can still find a long line of queue. Many of Lotteria burgers varians are not readily made to serve. Possibly because the policy requires all food to be disposed off after 10 minutes of being cooked.

               

                On the other hand, Mc Donald’s has a standard with its racing time. Well-known worldwide that Mc Donald’s needs to be served fast and no long standing line. Mc D’s is racing in a minute or even seconds. As we can see in past year Indonesia,  some of big Mc D’s outlet even put mini sand-watch in the cashier counter, but mostly are not useful, only symbolic.

                How the foreigners (especially the American) comparing Lotteria and Mc D’s when they visit Korea? Bulgogi Burger is a variant of burger that available both in Lotteria and Mc D’s. First Impression comes from the wrapping. The commonly using of light burger wrapper perfectly wrap  the Lotterias’ up, while excess sauce of the bulgogi spilled out wetting the buns and paper. More, the taste of both burgers are not strikingly different, but lettuce is more put in Lotteria’s. For several people, the tomato slice in Lotteria’s is a bit big and not good for the taste, so the put out the tomato and enjoy the thicker bulgogi patty that lotteria’s have than Mc D’s. Probably this thicker patty is liked by most Korean and some foreigners. But for some American its patty is too greasy and noth as crispy as the Mc D’s’.  

                But Mc D’s is popular with its crispy French fries and none of the fast food franchise chains can beat it. Even The fries from Lotteria is soggy. For Americans, Lotteria portion is bit little than the Mc D’s have. Like the seafood burger which contain small pieces of squid. But, Mc D’s burgers are cheaper than Lotteria’s.

                In other aspects Lotteria really show its attention to the recycling aspect off. 

Source: Wikipedia, numerous article from Google

Recent Indonesia and Korea Government System: in Culture Perspective

Recent Indonesia and Korea Government System:

in Culture Perspective

Yutsa Z.Ula / 07.254514.SA.13944

While Korea combining its Confucianism with the western way of liberation and democracy, Confucian democracy was born. In Confucianism taught family is the model of organization. In Korean way using democracy as the way ruling the country, religion –Confucianism and Buddhism- still influence the democracy itself. Since the deeply rooted tradition cannot be easily removed and do the pure liberal-democracy.

The same in Indonesia today. The 2 period chose in a row, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) who has a background grew in Javanese culture. Lately, SBY is criticized about his leadership as which using the Javanese way of decision making in the framework of the western style democracy. 

An old article from Ben Anderson definitely explains how different western democracy and old way of Javanese system is. According to Ben, Javanese system not only different but definitely the opposite of the western democracy which become the base of political idea development.

Javanese believe that a power of control is concrete, homogeny and no need to doubt the legitimacy. And the power can be seen through an abstract thing. Like a legend that told Ken Dedes would born kings who later reign in Java soil just because her legs shine and other king’s legend. This is exactly contrast with the western idea which said that everyone could be a ruler if he/she has passed several political selection. Still remain in our mind, right when SBY had chose, his name was related by some paranormal to Jayabaya’s prognosis.

 Moreover in Javanese political ideology task sharing is not available. The King is the one who must be followed. Seen from Hamengku Buwono (yang memangku semesta/ lapping universe) and Paku Alam in Yogyakarta, Pakubuwono and Mangkunegara in Solo. Paku or Mangku (lap) is an idiom that indicates like lapping a little child, it only can be done by one person. (ANALISIS : Politik Jawa SBY by Bayu Dardias- Jurusan Ilmu Pemerintahan, Fisipol UGM lecturer).

Interestingly based on the historical records most reasons of the collapse of Javanese kingdoms is a betrayal from the insiders of the kingdom itself. And if we look today’s political situation the conflict that happened in presidential Government are mostly caused by the insiders. Like the Century bank case which bail Vice-President Boediono out. In addition, in this latest 3 months, politic observers see President SBY has shows clearly how afraid and doubtful he is. And many of them criticizes him about his lateness, inconsistence and doubtful as how the ancient Javanese Kings did in past centuries.

Modernizing Korean Traditional Clothing (Hanbok)

Type       : Summary

Source   : Modernisasi Pakaian Korea (Novi Siti Kussuji Indrastuti – Kepala Pusat Studi Korea UGM)

Before western-style clothing influenced Korea, Koreans wore Hanbok as their daily clothing. But now, they wore the more flexible and practical cloth for their daily clothing and pull-off their hanbok in special occasion. Chuseok, Seollal, and 60^th and 70^th birthday are the common special days when they usually wear hanbok.

                  As national clothes hanbok reflects the Korean’s characteristics. Basically either woman and man clothes has 2 pieces. For woman, a kind of blouse called Cheogeori –similar with bolero- and Chima for the skirt. For Man, the Cheogori is a bit longer till the waist and a trousers called Baji. Each model and design of hanbok indicates gender, profession and social status of the wearer.

                  Combining  both modern aspect and traditional taste, Korean designers are playing with colours and lines to create a modern hanbok but still reflects the characteristics of Koreans.

                  Sharp-vertical-cutting is the favourite of most modern hanbok designers. The main principal of traditional hanbok is its minimalism of detail and decoration and also pastel colour that represents colour of sky.

The other traditional element of traditional hanbok is its bright-rainbow colours. Sol Yoon-Hyong is one of modern designer who combines the colours with skirt covered by plastic which symbolizes futuristic aesthetics.

                   There is also a creation that uses western clothing and hanbok itself as one outfit. Such as Turtle neck collar for the top and a vest for the outer. The cutting of the vest is similar with traditional one. Any unique creation of Hanboks are successfully catches fashion-observers’ eyes.

                  Lately, modern hanbok not only available in two-pices-outfits, but also the one-piece-outfits do exist. 

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Social Networks in South Korean Society Resumed by : Yutsa Z. Ula

Cultural capital represents the collection of non-economic forces such as family background, social class, varying investments in and commitments to education, different resources, etc. which influence academic success. Bourdieu distinguishes three forms of cultural capital. The embodied state, objectified state and cultural capital institutionalized state.
The embodied state: it becomes integrated into the individual and can be increased by investing time into self improvement, so that it cannot transmitted instantaneously.
Objectified state: represented by cultural goods which can be appropriated both materially with economic capital and symbolically via embodied capital.
Institutionalized state: provides academic credentials which create a certificate of cultural competence which confers on its holder a conventional, constant, legally guaranteed value with respect of power.
Social Capital has an ability to use social networks largely based on individual’s economic and cultural capital which has its own importance for achieving a social status. Further more, it’s about possession of a durable network of more or less mutual acquaintance and recognition.
The theory of social resources begins with an image of the macro-social structure consisting of positions ranked according to certain normatively valued resources such as wealth, status and power.
Social network in S. Korea
The word network in Korean language corresponds to two different meaning. Yonkyol and yonjul. Yonkyol is a neutral word, meaning the open relations among objects or people connected by universal rule. Yonjul means particularistic relations maintained by kin, school and regional ties.
Well-known Yonjuls are “SNU Republic” and “TK (Taegu-Kyeongsang Province) mafia”. Yonjuls are often analysed as a form of “class alienation” and also institutionalised corruption. As yonjul really has a strong control in Korean society, a person without a right class background has very poor prospects of social advancements.
The strength of Yonjul even reflected on a open recruitment for new employees in companies or corporation. The applicant are required to submit a list of their acquaintance and relatives who are prominent either in politics or government. It can be an efficient alternative in either market or hierarchy in economic transaction, but become barrier to those who do not share the link.
Typical Korean Social Network:
1. Social network Function as an important mode of social exchange.
2. Social Network in Korea shows high homophile, or very homogenous association within the line of sex, age and region.
3. Social network functions as a reference group so that it assert an enormous influence on individual’s value and attitude.
4. Those who have wider range of network tend to have less authoritarian attitude.

Confucian democracy: A contradiction in Terms? Resumed by: Yutsa Z. Ula

G.K.Chesterton quotes “Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestor. It is the democracy of the dead”.

Roberto Unger has identified three principal sources of change in Politic world:

1.       The rise of mass politic

2.       The emergence of world history

3.       Enlarged economic rationality

There are resources within Confucianism for the development of distinctly Asian form of democracy, but it shall not be merely touted a democracy with “Asian Characteristic”.

The Confucian stress upon the priority of morality over penal law is a bedrock value in any viable form of communitarian democracy. Confucius, the Confucianism founder, is on the side of minimalist government and a self-ordering community. He is committed to the fundamental importance of proximate, self invested relationship. He sees a thriving, self-governing community, achieved through mediating institutions such as family and neighbourhood, as the optimum guarantee of a personal liberty and the best opportunity for full participation in a shared vision community.

In traditional China, as in other Asian societies, there are a harmonious blending of Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism into a rich tradition that does not finally subvert any of its constitutive strands. Confucian philosophy is a doctrine of personal cultivation and articulation elaborated within the context of the extended family.

Family is the model of social organization.  The centrality of this familial model has significant consequences for the shape of Confucian democracy, since it determines an interpretation of citizen of public individual that readily contrast with the liberal democratic tradition.

In Confucian societies, one never leaves the family. On the other hand western thought is about the democratic citizen in adulthood should takes leave of his family for public life.

The most difficult of the issues relevant to the erection of a Confucian democracy, the issue of pluralism. In traditional Chinese individual he claims himself as not only a Confucian, but also a Daoist and Buddhist. Beside, most westerners equate philosophic or religious allegiances  with consciously entertained doctrine and beliefs.

Chinese philosophical idea is different with the western style idea. The difference is associated with the Chinese refusal to entertain ideas and actions as disjunctively related. The mutually entailing relations among ideas, dispositions, and actions in Chinese tradition contrasts dramatically with the positing of thinking, acting, and feeling as distinct functions among by the dominant ideologies of the western tradition.

A simple basic question of the ancient Chinese thinker is about “how” (way-seekers) rather than “what”(truth-seekers) question as the ancient Greeks thinkers did. It is often remarked that the breakdown of moral and political order at the very period in which reflective thinking began in China caused the Chinese to be concerned with the social harmony. It is said that they were pre-eminently concerned with the continuing a moral path that world guarantee of sufficient degree of social ability. In Chinese thinking, there is no separation between idea and action. Idea is considered as part of action.

The implication of this contrast between Truth-Seekers and Way-seekers is that it is easier to promote cognitive pluralism in a society that distinguishes idea from moral action. Freedom to think as we please is one of the advantages, but there is a downside of this effort  to dichotomize theory and practice.

The Chinese have a synthesis that combined from Confucian, Daoist and Buddhism as well become a harmony. The harmony of these tradition is a function of unspoken consensus. 8 percent minority populations of China are balkanized and isolated from the Han majority. Thus, with respect to minorities, at least the fact of pluralism has not been confronted ain any significant manner.

In Confucianism the privileges and duties entailed within familial living are seamless and extend beyond the family to become the basis for proper government. In Chinese religious experience, we must look to ritually  constituted community as the primary locus for spiritual cultivation.

In Confucian, rituals are the specific content of both Tian (heaven) and Dao (the way) as these ideas are relevant to the human community. The “democracy of the dead”, the Confucian model of democracy directs at ancestors and  cultural heroes.

It is possible to combine Chinese and Westerners thought of democracy. Confucian democracy from the Chinese thinker combined with the liberal model of democracy from the westerners. Three principal concepts inderlying a model of Confucian democracy are the individual, the community and human rights.

The Surabayan Culture and Values that Support it. (Yutsa Z. Ula)

1. They Cursing a lot.
Value: Most of Surabayan (especially youths) believe cursing in Surabaya style curse can relieve peevishness. Even it can be used as an expression booster. Especially Happiness and amazement can be ‘cursed’. But it can be told to close friend only. But still, it is usually used to bluff someone.
2. If they don’t like something or like something they will tell it directly.
Value: It is better if we know what is the mistake we’ve done. It’s not okay if you don’t like someone and told it to everyone behind your back. By express your anger directly, the people whom you angry with will introspects by himself.
3. A new born baby will be hold by the neighbours or peoples in one’s range.
Value: Usually, a mother will fell their motherly instinct when they see a new born baby. There is also kind of a reason that babies are very cute. But sometimes, for married female who doesn’t have baby yet, they believe maybe God also blessed them with a baby after that.

about values and Culture (yutsa Z.Ula)

Type              : Summary

This chapter deals with mental program in people in general, value and culture in particular. Mental programs are physically are determined by states of our brain cells. Therefore, mental programming is partly unique and partly shared with others. Mental programs its elves distinguished to three levels, individual, collective and universal. The last one is the least unique but the most basic because shared with almost all mankind. Four strategies for operating construct about human mental programs is available. We can only observe behaviour, deeds and word. Through observing behaviour we can infer the stable mental program’s presence. Although in social scinces this type inference is not unique, but it does exist.

            Deeds and words can be observed with two different ways, provoked and natural. Naturally word can be inferred from content analysis, speeches, discussion and document, deeds on the other hand can be inferred from the observation, use of available and descriptive  statistic. By provoked system, interview, questionnaires and projective test are the classic way but the trusted one. Deeds can be inferred from laboratory, experiments and field experiments.

            Values are classified into values as desired and values as desirable. Culture a word that set aside for describing entire societies is defined as collective programming of the mind.

            Values have both intensity and direction. Mathematically values can be symbolized with line or direction arrows. It revolves on two contrary word, such as good and bad. Values as desired is about what people actually desired, while values as desirable is what they think ought to be desired. Both of them can not stand independently, but they should not be equated.

            Culture can be defined in many ways. Culture a word that set aside for describing entire societies is defined as collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one human group from another. Culture includes system of values, and values is among the building block of culture. Kluckhohn said that culture consists in patterned way of thinking, feeling and reacting.

            Comparing culture chapter clarifies the ways to compare culture, changing the level of analysis, ethnocentrism, the need for multidisciplinary approaches, and matching samples. These ways commonly used in cross-culture studies to compare one citizen to another.