By KIM Seong-kon, Professor of English Language and Literature

There is a saying that although Korean technology leads in the 21st century, the Korean people cannot escape from the turmoil of the 20th century, and Korean politicians are still stuck in the 19th century. This saying basically summarizes the fact that while Korean electronics and auto companies like Samsung, LG, and Hyundai have earned a remarkable reputation in the international market, the tragically divided Korean Peninsula still suffers from a Cold War mentality. Meanwhile, our politicians engage in chronic factional brawling while maliciously slandering their political foes.

Sadly, therefore, we have long given up hope for our incorrigible politicians who constantly move backward, not forward. Obviously, their immediate concern is not the future of the country, but winning the next election at any cost. For example, while the world anxiously watched the Korean Peninsula for North Korea's nuclear test, our politicians, instead of preparing for the unprecedented crisis, broke out into fist fights while debating media-related bills in the National Assembly. The footage of the brawl was broadcast around the world, reducing our politics to a global laughingstock. Our only solace is in our high-tech electronic products that significantly boost Korea's image in the international community.

Despite our advanced technologies, the minds of the Korean people still seem to be struggling in the 20th century. Conversing with my fellow Koreans, I often realize that we seriously need to alter our consciousness to fit into the new multicultural, global age of the 21st century. A few days ago, I attended a meeting with a group of professors from various universities in Seoul. During the meeting, a young professor raised a question:"The Lee administration announced that it would invite the Japanese emperor to Korea next year. Shouldn't we use the term 'king' instead of 'emperor?' Otherwise, it may look like we approve of the Japanese emperor.""What's wrong with calling the Japanese emperor, 'Japanese emperor'?" replied a senior professor."We need to honor his official title regardless of his true position." I agreed with the older professor. Indeed, if we refer to the Japanese emperor as"king," the Japanese will call President Lee Myung-bak"Prime Minister Lee" according to their political system. Undoubtedly, however, there are many Koreans who would support the younger professor. Unfortunately, we are not completely free from 20th-century patriotism and ultra-nationalism yet, and thus continue to obsess over trivial political terminology and half-a-century-old grudges.

When an earthquake hit China some time ago, a handful of indiscreet youngsters in Korea wrote on the internet,"Good! They deserve it." Perhaps they did not realize that there are no national boundaries on the internet where anything you write travels instantly to all over the world. Newspapers reported that the Chinese people were infuriated by such malicious comments and that an anti-Korean sentiment swept over China. Similarly, after 9/11, I heard some Korean professors mutter,"Americans are too arrogant. They deserve a shock." Such injudicious comments naturally ignited anti-Korean sentiment in the United States as well. Korea's foreign relations are often irrevocably damaged due to such inconsiderate people and their imprudent remarks. In an age of multiculturalism and globalism, we should shed our belligerent 20th century attitude and adopt a more embracing, global-minded consciousness.

Another area in dire need of reform is our cities, which have become seriously devoid of culture. A foreigner in Korea once described the depressing, identical landscape of Korean cities as"an endless strip mall of E-Marts, Homepluses, plastic surgery clinics, department stores, cookie-cutter apartment complexes, model homes, golf ranges, and a dime-a-dozen wedding halls." Indeed, Korean cities unfortunately look like"a big consumerist wasteland," seriously lacking cultural flavor and diversity.

My colleague at Seoul National University, Professor Kim Ki-ho, once informed me that apartment complexes lack diversity as they are the remnant of European socialism from the 1930s. Strangely, however, identical apartment complexes seem to suit the mentality of the Korean people who eagerly call for equal distribution of wealth; that is, apartment complexes give us a sense of relief and comfort, for nobody can have a better house than mine since all of us live in identical spaces.

Perhaps that is why our cities look so barren and bleak. Unlike the Thames or the Seine, the Han River is decidedly bereft of culture. Neither historic buildings nor Buddhist temples can be seen from the boats cruising along the Han River; all you can see are an endless stretch of monochromatic apartment complexes. One can only be embarrassed by the grey landscape of cement banks and apartment buildings that completely ruin the otherwise gorgeous view of the riverside.

In order to build a truly global village on the Korean Peninsula, we urgently need to alter our Cold War mindset in dealing with other nations, as well as our bleak, monotonous cities that belong to the 20th century. We cannot afford to lose our precious allies due to parochial jingoism. Neither can we bequeath a depressing urban environment to our next generation.