Beyond Multiculturalism: Interculturalism as an Alternative in Changing South Korea

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to present a direction of progression―a developmental model for a South Korean society that is changing into a multicultural society. Several problems have emerged throughout the Korean society following its rapid multicultural shift. This study introduces European interculturalism as an alternative for resolving this issue. First, the study examines the definitions, characteristics and policies of multiculturalism and then looks into its limitations with references from the political world and academia. Next, this study investigates European interculturalism, an alternative model of diversity to American multiculturalism. In this section, the definitions, characteristics and policies of interculturalism as well as its differences and similarities with multiculturalism will be discussed. Finally, this study suggests a shift towards interculturalism―while still aiming for multiculturalist values of the acceptance of differences and peaceful coexistence―as a solution to the incomplete model of multiculturalism.