Beyond Multiculturalism Toward Interculturalism Edited by Jung Ok Lee (@ CMPress= Contradictions in the Comforting Images of a “New” South Korea Abstract This paper examines the discourse and practices of multiculturalism in South Korean polities. In less than a decade, a surprising number of Koreans have embraced multiculturalism as both a policy and newly developing worldview based on “tolerance” and “acceptance” of cultural differences. Originally political activists introduced the idea of multiculturalism as a way to acknowledge “difference” and criticize nationalist myths of pure blood. By 2005 the State had incorporated multiculturalism into its immigration policies that featured “international marriages” to address the problem of low fertility rates and foreign workers to deal with labor shortages. In addition to the practical approaches to dealing with demographic problems associated with an “aging society,” the Korean government actively uses its multicultural policies for a public relations campaign as a symbol of the nation's progress as a “maturing” democracy. In contrast to such narratives of progress and reform, I will trace the way (Chartor 3. Mitcutuclsm end Cass Caf: Cotcictons inthe Confoinglmoges of 2 New? South Kres @ OS