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Language was not merely a means of communication but also a geopolitical infrastructure, particularly in South Korea from the 4th to the late 19th centuries. During this period, the use of Hanja in Korea signaled participation in the Chinese Tribute System. Since the Han Dynasty, China had implemented a tribute system as the foundation of its international diplomatic relations. Under this system, foreign envoys were required to visit the emperor, communicate in Mandarin, and perform the kowtow ritual (a ritual involving prostrating oneself completely and bowing the head to the ground) as a symbol of submission. The visiting nation brought local commodities as offerings, and the emperor typically reciprocated with even more lavish gifts such as silk and gold to demonstrate Chinese supremacy. In return for this recognition of sovereignty, these nations were guaranteed military protection and favorable trade access (Britannica, 2023). This system generally relied on classical Chinese as its primary diplomatic tool. It served as a symbolic, cultural, and political mechanism, requiring foreign envoys to submit written documents (memorials) to the Chinese emperor, often written in Chinese characters, to demonstrate obedience and respect. Korean kingdoms (Silla, Goryeo, Joseon) engaged in tributary relations with the Chinese empire, providing local goods, recognizing Chinese superiority, and receiving legitimacy and security in return. This system allowed Korea to maintain autonomy over its own government, law, and military while securing access to trade. It is no exaggeration to say that Chinese characters (Hanja) were not merely written text, but a prerequisite for soft power. Mastered Hanja meant access to civilization, bureaucracy, and elite status.
The majority of Koreans live on the Korean Peninsula and are bound by a shared culture and the use of the Korean language as their native identity. In the early years, Koreans attempted to express their own words using Chinese characters; Hanja was used as a method to express Korean thoughts and feelings even when they lacked their own alphabet. However, the use of Hanja created a gap due to the differences between spoken and written language. This problem was finally resolved after King Sejong of the Joseon Dynasty created Hangeul. Despite initial resistance from the nobility and the educated class, Hangeul has survived and is now the official identity and national language of Korea. The creation of the Korean alphabet was the result of King Sejong’s national strategy to overcome communication difficulties among the entire population through the implementation of new characters while also aiming to preserve the tradition of creating new scripts in neighboring countries in line with changes in language policy during the rise of the Ming Dynasty. This demonstrates that the background of this strategy was part of Korea’s domestic affairs, aiming to educate the public en masse. However, ultimately, this strategy can also be seen as a defensive bulwark against major powers, particularly China, which had a significant influence on Korean politics, economy, and culture at the time.
From a Neoclassical Realist perspective, a nation’s response to pressures from international structures is heavily influenced by the domestic capabilities and perceptions of its leaders. Post-World War II, South Korean political elites viewed the use of Hanja as a sign of attachment to Chinese cultural dominance that needed to be reduced. Through the lens of Defensive Realism, the move to formalize Hangeul and restrict Hanja was not an act of aggression, but rather an effort to achieve optimal security. This strategy represented a form of mobilizing internal forces to strengthen national identity and protect society from external ideological influences that might be carried through Chinese character literature.
This is crucial because it not only explains Korea’s strategy in mitigating Chinese hegemony through a defensive approach but also aids our understanding of South Korean policy to date. In this regard, the film industry will be used as a case study. The South Korean government is firmly committed to protecting the “purity” and dominance of the Korean language in the public sphere. Based on the Korean Language Framework Act (Law No. 16589, amended on November 26, 2019), local authorities regulate efforts to preserve, accelerate, and utilize the Korean language. This regulation instructs public institutions to apply Korean accurately, amplify the use of Hangeul, and initiate the National Language Consultative Council.
The South Korean government implements media regulations, such as mandating dubbing on national television, as a defensive defense instrument to ensure that foreign cultural dominance does not degrade the linguistic sovereignty of its citizens. The policy constructs a ‘cultural filter’ that requires foreign content to go through a rigorous localization procedure before being accessed by the wider public, in order to maintain the integrity of national identity amidst the currents of globalization.
Writer: Nesya Napsiah Zahra – 202410360110109
Reference
Britannica. (2023). Tributary System. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/tributary-system
JUNG, S. (2022). Untold story about why King Sejong invented the Korean alphabet. Journal of Koreanology Reviews, 1(1), 1-23.
Ki, M. L.(2008). Want to Know About Hangeul. National Institute of Korean Language Center. https://www.korean.go.kr/eng_hangeul/short/003.html
Republic of Korea. (2021). Framework Act on Korean Language – Statues of the Republic of Korea. Republic of Korea. https://elaw.klri.re.kr/eng_service/lawViewContent.do?hseq=54677#:~:text=The%20purpose%20of%20this%20Act,conservation%20of%20the%20Korean%20language.&text=The%20State%20and%20people%20shall,it%20to%20the%20next%20generations.&text=The%20terms%20used%20in%20this,the%20romanization%20of%20Korean%20language;
Rossy. (2026). JUMBO Tayang di Korea Selatan, Film Animasi Indonesia yang Curi Perhatian Global. Selfie Time. https://selfietime.id/blog-detail/jumbo-tayang-di-korea-selatan-film-animasi-indonesia-global
Yun, P. I. (1998). Rethinking the tribute system: Korean States and Northeast Asian interstate relations, 600-1600. University of California, Los Angeles.
