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Jung In Grace Suh

Sociology 01

Dr. Thea S. Alvarado

Project #1: Video/ DVD Analysis

Last November, a political scandal was erupted in South Korea. People were shocked by

the fact that their female president, Geun-Hye Park, was controlled by cult leader. The video

named What Young Koreans Think of Their President presents interview of Koreas young

people about the scandal, and the host of the video ask young peoples opinions and thoughts

about the scandal and the government.

Based on the video, many young people explain the scandal very negatively and

expresses the president as a puppet who are controlled by the cult leader. Based on their

explanation, the cult leader wrote many speeches of the president, and the president appoint

government officials based on her personal connection and used taxpayers money for personal

uses. Therefore, many said they are disappointed and said they are ashamed of the president

because they believed the scandal revealed the reality of democracy in South Korea. Therefore,

the young people no longer trust the government and the president, and they believe the president

should resign. Interestingly, based on the interview, many said the young people does not

participate in politics and are not interested in politics. Some said they did not participate

because they were afraid of criticism. However, because of the scandal, most of them said they

will pay more attention to politics, and will participate on politics.

If Aguste Comte saw the video, he might have reflected the scandal in South Korea to

revolution in France, Russia, or other countries who experience great change. Since he believed
that society also function under laws like science, he will identify laws that were established

from events in other countries, and he will make an assumption based on the law. Therefore, he

might have suggested solution or give motivation to Korean people to achieve better democracy

using the examples of other countries who experience change.

If German sociologist Karl Marx saw the video, he might have thought the problem was

caused by inequality in distribution of political power. Since Marx was the one who formed the

main ideas of conflict perspective, he will focus on inequality exist in the society of South Korea.

Based on the video, the president gave power to people for her own good and for good for who

are close to her. Ideally, the president should work to create better country rather than work to

create better life of people around her. However, the president of South Korea used her power to

benefit herself and people around her. Interestingly, she had power to use moneys of taxpayers

and power to benefit her people. Also, the citizens did not have power to know what was

happening in the government, and power to stop her from using their money. Because of the

reasons, Marx will point out the inequality and will say Korean people should work to re-gain

political power.

If Emile Durkheim saw the video, he could point out few problems that are present in

South Korean society. As one of proponent of functionalist perspective, he will see weakened

social integration in the video. First evidence will be the young people were not interested in

politics and did not participated. It shows that many young people avoided to work together to

create better society for all. Also, young people did not do the jobs that they were expected to do.

Therefore, the society is experiencing hardship because part of the society did not function.

Second evidence that indicates weakened social integration is that the government and the leader
worked for her own good rather than good for the society. Based on his idea, social stability can

be achieved by all parts of the society working together for the good of all.

Also, Durkheim might have said previous action of young people is caused by some

social force. Since some said they were not interested and did not participate in politics because

they were afraid of criticism, Durkheim might see it as an evidence which shows trouble in

socializing, and it might prevent young people to function.

The video presents functionalist perspective of society. Based on the perspective, the

healthy society have parts that are working together and well integrated. People should socialize

and should function for good for whole. However, the video presents the society which

government use the power and moneys only for themselves, and people who does not perform

their right. The hardship that the society is experiencing can be explained as an effect of parts of

the society not functioning well, and because it was not integrated well.

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