[Korean Culture & Language] Nepotism

 

Hello, this is Uptempo!

The practice of granting someone an advantage, privilege, or position purely because they are a close friend or family member of another important person is called “Nepotism.” The term originated from the Italian term “Nepote,” which means nephew. Many people back in the 17^th century are believed to tend to promote their nephews to important positions at the expense of other candidates. Numerous philosophers, including Aristotle, Valluvar, and Confucius, have criticized and called ‘nepotism’ wicked and foolish. Today’s society is still corrupted by nepotism because powerful people still tend to give their relatives, friends, or associates jobs that they are not always qualified or suitable for.

In Korea, nepotism is called 연고주의(緣故主義).

緣 means ‘relationship’
故 means ‘old’ or ‘reason’
主 means ‘king’ or ‘master’
義 means ‘righteous’ or ‘correct’

연고주의 includes three things: ‘학연,’ ‘지연,’ ’혈연.’

‘학연’ is comparable to the term ‘old boy network,’ which refers to an informal system in which a wealthy individual assists another who graduated from the same school. Most of the time, they help them succeed in both their personal and professional lives.

‘지연’ refers to ‘acquaintances.’ It is the connections people have with one another by sharing a common origin or hometown.

‘혈연’ is directly translated to ‘blood ties.’ It refers to the connections that people have with one another as a family.

People tend to grant advantages to their ‘학연,’ ‘지연,’ and ‘혈연’.

Do you think ‘연고주의’ is inevitable or necessary? Please share your thoughts in the comment below!