[Baking Typewriter] A Briton Looking at Britain from the Outside

What does the United Kingdom mean to Koreans? It is often seen as a country that once wielded great power but is now perceived as a developed nation that lags behind the United States and China economically. Alternatively, it is viewed as a leader in culture, particularly in music and sports. The Beatles, often called the greatest band in history, and the Premier League, the football league many of us enjoy, both hail from the United Kingdom. On a lighter note, it is sometimes jokingly referred to as a country without delicious food. However, compared to nearby China and Japan, or the United States with which Korea has many points of contact, the reality is that most Koreans know little about the United Kingdom.

Peter Bint, a broadcaster born to a British father and a Korean mother, sheds light on the lesser-known aspects of the United Kingdom in his book, "A Very Personal Britain." Bint explains that manners define the British. British manners are not about wearing expensive clothes like aristocrats or drinking tea elegantly. Rather, they are about blending into society, being patient, and behaving in ways that do not inconvenience others. Bint describes this as "the fundamentals of social life."

Bint says that the prevailing sentiment among the British is "Keep calm and carry on." The roots of this mentality and manners lie in the era of imperialism and war. According to the author, while the United Kingdom built an empire, the working class continued to endure harsh conditions. Just when things seemed likely to improve, two world wars broke out. To maintain the status of an empire, the nation had to devote all its resources, and it was the working class that bore the sacrifices. Contrary to the expectation that all Britons experienced a glorious past, poor Britons were always preoccupied with surviving through endurance.

An interesting point in this book is that the author came to understand Britain better only after leaving it. He says he first heard the saying, "If something strange happens in the world, you can bet it was Britain," after coming to Korea. He had been unaware of cases of British exploitation of colonies during the imperial era. For example, there was the Opium War in the mid-19th century in the Qing Dynasty. Bint admits he did not know that Britain started the Opium War to gain a trade advantage. This may be because, in the United Kingdom, education does not focus on the specifics of colonial rule but rather on the history of having vast territories.

Taking all this into account, one can understand many of Britain's decisions. The memories of being a former empire have become a source of national pride. For example, in June 2016, the United Kingdom decided to leave the European Union through a referendum, known as Brexit. According to the author, there is a sentiment of "British exceptionalism" among Britons, meaning that Britain is a special country unlike the rest of Europe. Excessive pride led to Brexit, which was followed by side effects such as economic losses and isolationism.

This is not just about Britain. Are we able to look at Korea objectively? Behind the dazzling labels like K-Food, K-Culture, and K-Pop, there are unresolved issues such as a government debt-to-GDP ratio of 47.2% in the first quarter of this year and a proportion of the population aged 65 or older reaching 20% as of December last year. If you want to find lessons not only in the inner workings of Britain but also as a mirror for Korea, this book is recommended.

A Very Personal Britain | Written by Peter Bint | Teumsae Books | 392 pages | 20,000 won