International Students Don't Just Come With Their Bodies

At Hankyoreh, we believe that fostering a truly inclusive academic environment requires more than just attracting international students; it demands a genuine effort to understand and integrate their linguistic and cultural backgrounds. The current trend of universities aggressively recruiting foreign students while offering minimal language support is a disservice to both the students and our society.

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If you don't know Korean, your existence is translated as 'clumsiness' or 'foolishness.'

When students arrive in Korea, they bring with them not just their academic aspirations but also their unique identities, shaped by their languages and cultures. To dismiss these as secondary to learning Korean is to erase the richness they bring. The article highlights the frustration of students struggling with basic Korean, leading to a sense of inadequacy and limiting their opportunities to menial labor. This is not just an inconvenience; it's a systemic failure to recognize their full potential.

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International students do not come with just their bodies. If we are not prepared to accept the languages they bring with them, it is ultimately no different from demanding that they live 'Korean-style.'

We must move beyond the simplistic notion that 'if you come to Korea, you must learn Korean.' This approach, while seemingly straightforward, ignores the complexities of cultural exchange and the potential for mutual enrichment. By failing to create welcoming spaces that acknowledge and utilize students' native languages, we not only marginalize the students but also impoverish our own society. Embracing linguistic diversity is not a burden, but an opportunity to broaden our horizons and build a more vibrant, interconnected community.

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A society that translates a person as 'clumsy' simply because they cannot speak Korean ultimately makes our own world poorer.