Universities and English: The devaluation of Korean research

A prevailing belief in South Korean universities holds that theses written in English are academically superior to those in Korean. This perception has led to the devaluation of research conducted in the Korean language, with Korean theses often considered worth significantly less than their English counterparts.

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English theses are academically superior to Korean ones.

Researchers often feel compelled to publish in English to gain academic recognition, receive substantial financial incentives, and secure promotions or tenure. This pressure creates a system where English publications are prioritized, often at the expense of research that could explore unique local contexts.

While English is acknowledged as important for international academic dialogue, the overemphasis on English publications can lead to a tendency to fit regional phenomena into Western mainstream theories. Furthermore, this linguistic pressure is seen as a serious infringement on the right to conduct research in one's native language.

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Korean theses are considered worth significantly less than their English counterparts.

Language is not merely a tool for translation but a way of perceiving the world. Researching in English means viewing the world through the conceptual framework of the English language. If the system continues to treat research in the mother tongue as inferior, South Korean society risks losing its capacity to fully contemplate its own unique tragedies and hopes in Korean.

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Language is not merely a tool for translation but a way of perceiving the world.