Korea has been referred to as the “hermit kingdom”. However, how fair is this comment? It’s often condescendingly used to reinforce ideas of an outsider’s concept of the insularism of Korean society. However, taken as a whole, the peninsula has embraced, for better or worse, almost everything that the world has had to offer.

There’s intensity to the way in which Koreans, as a people, have incorporated concepts and ideas from other places.

A good literal example of this encompassing of the newly introduced can be seen in the humble chilli pepper. Although only introduced quite recently, sometime in the 1700s, it has spread to every corner of Korea’s culinary landscape (vast as this is).

And continuing to use food as an illustrator, it is also noted that the chilli pepper was appended onto an already rich palate, as opposed to say, supplanting it with popular chilli based dishes from other places. It was also inventively used as wholly new and unique food preparations. Take “kochujang”, or, red chilli paste, as an example.

It’s been interesting to observe and think about the influence of Christianity and Industrialisation (capitalism) on Korea. Like the former example, they’ve been appended to Korean culture. They’ve brought about changes also, changes which are inherent in these belief systems.

The extent of these changes is beyond the scope of this short essay, however, I’ve often wondered about the seemingly two fold relationship of Christianity and capitalism. They’re both highly irrational belief systems, seemingly hinged on a kind of “faith”.

Perhaps there’s something about the inherent exteriority of the concept of Christianity; we need faith and we will be saved by Jesus, the outside force of good. There’s a hopelessness about the negativity around, because it’s the force of evil; Satan. He’s stronger than us, so we need faith.

As with the embrace of chilli peppers, and the spread and diversity of their influence, religion and industrialisation (particularly free market capitalism), have been embraced with zeal by Koreans. And interestingly in Korea’s case(or ironically), the latter has been characterised by the former, with neon light crosses marking churches, and promises of wealth offered to prospective members.

I could ramble on for hours, but the photo essay from this week probably tells it better than words can. Now that at least I’ve given you a taste of where I was coming from. It’s all very opinionated, perhaps, and open to debate (I’d like that…), so your comments are warmly welcomed.