I am learning the Korean language from a Korean woman who married a Japanese for some years. I’m a bad student and I can speak it only a little, but anyway I attend the class once a month.
There are many Japanese who learn English or want to speak English, but I don’t know many who learn Korean or speak Korean. Why?
Japan tried to invade and rule Korea many times. About 90 years ago, we, Japan made the country our colony, a part of Japan. People were forced to speak Japanese language and change their names to Japanese ones. During those days Japanese people learned to discriminate them, I suppose, while Japan had learned a lot through Korea and we have so much relation with the people on the peninsula since long, long time ago. And now again there are many Japanese who hate Korea believing wrong information, even though their root might be in Korea. Many of Japanese don’t value Korean culture except fans of Korean TV show, I feel.
I was born in Korea when it was Japan’s colony, and I have felt guilty to the country. When I first stop at Kimpo Airport in Korea about fifteen years ago, a young Korean lady explained about Korean culture with perfect Japanese. It was a kind of shock. I was feeling guilty, I said, but I knew nothing about their culture even one word. Did the lady know the history between two countries? Why did she learn Japanese? I felt I should pay respect to Korea and its culture. Then I found a place to learn the language.