[Book Sip] "The Life of Political Correctness Claims is Humility"

Some sentences encapsulate the entire content of a book, while others instantly resonate with the reader’s heart, creating a connection with the book. Here, we excerpt and introduce such meaningful sentences from the book. - Editor’s note

This is a new book by Professor Kang Junman, who has analyzed social issues through works such as “Is Mom Also a Feminist?” and “Gangnam Leftists”. It discusses “political correctness,” a movement that resists discriminatory language and actions against socially vulnerable and minority groups such as women, people with disabilities, the poor, and Black people, and strives to correct them. More precisely, it deals with the proper attitude when discussing “political correctness.” The author advises, “One of the unsightly traits shown by progressives is moral superiority,” and adds, “The life of PC lies in humility. When expressing opinions about PC, it is absolutely necessary to adopt a humble attitude and consider the feelings of others as much as possible.”

As suggested by Trump’s election strategy that prominently criticized PC, “PC fatigue” existed not only among moderate voters but also some Democratic supporters in the U.S. A public opinion poll conducted in October 2015 among Democratic supporters clearly shows this. Sixty-two percent agreed with the statement “PC is a major national problem.” When it was revealed that the statement was made by Trump, the agreement rate dropped sharply to 36 percent, but considering the respondents’ partisan biases, the level of “PC fatigue” can be seen as very high. In a 2018 Yale University survey, 80 percent of 3,000 in-depth interviewees gave negative answers saying “PC is a problem.” Chapter 1: For the Communication of ‘Political Correctness’ (pp. 29?30)

Imagine a scene that anyone might have experienced at least once. A few friends gather and enjoy light jokes about someone who is not present. But then one friend suddenly becomes serious, stands up, and shouts, “This is not right! If you want to say such things, you should say them in front of that person. This is cowardly!” You, who enjoyed the light joke, suddenly become a cowardly and bad person. Is this an infringement on your freedom to joke as you have done so far? While you may not disagree with the friend’s claim that it is wrong, did it have to be raised in such a manner? You and the other friends who joined in the joke might feel a strong sense of problem with the ‘righteous person’s’ attitude who raised the objection. Chapter 3: The Life of ‘Political Correctness’ Is Humility (pp. 96?97)

Lee Junseok, leader of the People Power Party who has voiced criticism of this protest, said on March 26 regarding some criticisms that his claims were ableist, “The greatest danger of minority politics is creating sanctuaries and blocking even a single objection to them,” and added, “Even when Lee Junseok is accused of misogyny, no one can explain exactly what misogyny he committed, and when accused of ableism, no one can explain what ableism he committed. This repeats itself.” Lee said, “This is because people have learned that it is easiest to bury numerous contradictions raised so far under the underdogma (the phenomenon of thinking the weak are good and the strong are evil) discourse,” and “Instead of fiercely debating the content, they wage frame wars. Within that, the real problems of minority politics are not resolved, the intensity of PC (Political Correctness) in the sanctuary increases, many people become reluctant to touch the discourse, and the topic itself ends up becoming Gal?pagosized.” Chapter 6: The Vicious Cycle of ‘Underdogma’ and ‘Victim Cosplay’ (pp. 161?162)

Political Correctness | Kang Junman | Inmulgwasa-sangsa | 200 pages | 14,000 KRW