In this blog post, we will examine the core arguments of Kang Jun-man’s *A Dragon Must Not Rise from a Muddy Stream (The Secret of the Republic of Power Abuse)* and explore the issue of power abuse in Korean society.
Book Overview and Key Arguments
Kang Jun-man, *A Dragon Must Not Rise from a Muddy Stream (The Secret of the Republic of Power Abuse)*. The author is a prolific writer. Through his previous works, he has challenged the sacred cows and taboos of Korean society, garnering significant acclaim. Published in 2015, this book offers scathing criticism of phenomena that have become major social issues in 2023, thanks to the author’s exceptional foresight. Upon revisiting it recently, I found that it aligns so perfectly with the current situation that it could almost be considered a prophecy from 2015. It’s simply astonishing! The book offers a ruthless analysis of the rampant absurdities and culture of abuse of power in Korean society. It contains the author’s heartfelt plea for a fair and just society, arguing that countless “loaches” should no longer be sacrificed as offerings for the sake of a few “dragons.” The book’s main message is that those who have risen from humble beginnings to achieve social status—the so-called “dragons”—are contributing to the culture of abuse by making the “loaches” suffer.
Abuse of Power Stemming from the Concept of Success and Educational/Social Structures
We often use the expression “You’ve made it!” in a positive sense. But what is the true meaning of success? Does becoming a high-ranking public official or amassing a fortune overnight to live a life of economic prosperity constitute success? Most people might agree with this definition. And even now, to achieve success, we work hard and sweat it out. Similar in meaning to the phrase “made it big!” is the expression, “Do you know who I am?” This phrase carries many implications. It is a language familiar to vulgar capitalism, where one bullies those perceived as weaker and affirms one’s status through insulting words and actions. However, it is not just office workers navigating social life who use this language steeped in vulgar capitalism. Even young people in their 20s rank universities by academic standing and use derogatory terms like “third-rate university” or “provincial bumpkin” to refer to students attending regional universities or campuses. When the friends who use this language grow up and become the driving force of society, the outcome of the abuse of power they will perpetrate seems all too predictable. When we witness the blatant abuse of power by the second and third generations of chaebol families, which makes headlines almost daily, their behavior is so extreme that it makes one feel we’ve regressed even further than the rigidly stratified society of the Joseon Dynasty. Yet they take such behavior for granted—simply because they were born into privilege and raised that way from childhood.
The Korean War created a tragic situation, but we are now waging a fierce college entrance exam war that is no less intense. The root of all this abuse of power begins with education. Everyone has likely felt at least once that discrimination starts in the classroom during elementary, middle, and high school, driven by a family’s economic status or the power of one’s parents. “Do you want to go on a date, or do you want to be a seamstress!?” Is there any other country where such a motto is boldly displayed on the blackboard? This motto is meant to encourage (?) students to strive for admission to the so-called prestigious SKY universities. Once they enter these elite universities, young people flaunt their status by wearing baseball jackets emblazoned with their school’s name. This is how abuse of power naturally begins in college. Before we know it, public attention shifts from the university ranking system to the marriage ranking system. What can we expect from couples who view marriage as an investment—a “merger and acquisition”? While we’ve heard of the Hanwoo beef grading system, the marriage ranking system is something we’ve never heard of before. We are living in a modern-day caste system where even marriage is divided into ranks.
The abuse of power occurring within apartment complexes is driving security guards to the brink. A culture of workplace bullying has already become widespread, and the discrimination between regular and non-regular employees has long since crossed the line. Under the guise of “passion pay,” companies exploit interns by paying them wages that fall far short of the government-mandated minimum hourly wage. Yet the powerless “underlings,” with their livelihoods on the line, cannot even resist and are forced to submit to these unreasonable systems. When they grow weary of submission and can no longer endure, they are driven to the extreme of suicide. In this situation, where “dragons from the mud” are few and “loaches” are the majority, they are living lives akin to a war. Is this really how things should be? I wish the world would change for the better. In that spirit, I’d like to recommend this book to those who hope Korea will become a better place to live. Through this book, I hope you’ll take some time to reflect on your own thoughts and actions, consider whether there’s room for self-reflection, and contemplate what you should do moving forward.
