Hong Sehwa (; 10 December 1947 – 18 April 2024) was a South Korean journalist and New Progressive Party delegate. He was known as a representative South Korean socialist. Hong criticised

imperialism Imperialism is the maintaining and extending of Power (international relations), power over foreign nations, particularly through expansionism, employing both hard power (military and economic power) and soft power (diplomatic power and cultura ...

and

nationalism Nationalism is an idea or movement that holds that the nation should be congruent with the state. As a movement, it presupposes the existence and tends to promote the interests of a particular nation, Smith, Anthony. ''Nationalism: Theory, I ...

, according to the socialist perspective.

Political views

Hong evaluated that both extreme right-wing anti-North Korean statist "

conservatives Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilizati ...

" and anti-Japanese nationalist " liberals" are nti-socialistconservatives, and that true

progressives Progressivism is a left-leaning political philosophy and reform movement that seeks to advance the human condition through social reform. Adherents hold that progressivism has universal application and endeavor to spread this idea to human so ...

or leftists have never had a government in South Korean politics. Hong Sehwa was critical of South Korean liberals' anti-Japanese nationalism. He saw liberals using radical rhetoric that appears to be anti-imperialist on the outside, ironically curbing the growth of the South Korean socialist movement. He thought neither Japanese conservative-nationalists nor South Korean liberal-nationalists speak for the

working class The working class is a subset of employees who are compensated with wage or salary-based contracts, whose exact membership varies from definition to definition. Members of the working class rely primarily upon earnings from wage labour. Most c ...

. He took the view that the term "Japanese imperialism" was somewhat exaggerated by liberals, and liberals compromise with

chaebol A chaebol ( , ; , ) is a large industrial South Korean conglomerate run and controlled by an individual or family. A chaebol often consists of multiple diversified affiliates, controlled by a person or group. Several dozen large South Kore ...

for anti-Japanese nationalistic reasons. He also took a critical view of the fact that South Korean DPK">Democratic_Party_(South_Korea,_2015).html" ;"title="ainly Democratic Party (South Korea, 2015)">DPKliberals never criticize American imperialism. South Korean socialists criticize American imperialism, that Japanese nationalism is encouraged by the United States to keep China in check. In 2022, Hong joined the

Green Party Korea Green Party Korea () is a political party in South Korea. The party was established in March 2012. It is a continuation of the Korea Greens, created following initial discussions in 2011. The party was established in response to the Fukushima ...

, making him a dual member of Green Party and the Labor Party. Hong died from cancer on 18 April 2024, at the age of 76.'똘레랑스' 일깨운 홍세화 별세…마지막 당부 '성장에서 성숙으로'

Notes

References

External links

Hong Sehwa's website
* * 1947 births 2024 deaths Anti-nationalists Anti-imperialism in Korea The Hankyoreh Labor Party (South Korea) politicians New Progressive Party (South Korea) politicians Politicians from Seoul South Korean progressives South Korean left-wing activists South Korean socialists Deaths from cancer in South Korea {{SouthKorea-bio-stub

Political views

See also

Notes

References

External links