This article demonstrates the view many people have when they make their child’s decision to circumcise him (or her) absent any medical need.
According to a press release from the Ministry of Health, the sessions for children who wish to be circumcised will be held during the first-term school break from March 18 to March 30, 2008.
…Parents or guardians who wish to acquire these services for their children can directly contact…
Parents aren’t imposing their preferences, they’re merely acting as agents for their children’s wishes. That may make people feel better, but it doesn’t change the action from wrong to right.
I’ve spent time in Korea and have a Korean wife, so I’ve met many Korean guys. You probably already know that they circumcise sometime between late elementary school and early high school.
All the Korean guys I’ve asked said their parents circumcised them without asking. And the ones that I’ve seen online claiming to have chosen it I believe would be too young to resist influence from parents and peers.
The one Korean guy I know who’s not circumcised said his older brother complained so much so long about the pain and loss that their parents didn’t have the heart to cut their second son.
Brian,
Thanks for this perspective. My understanding is that this is a result of the medical influence of our military presence. Obviously this is a terrible cultural export.
I’ve wondered how receptive Korean males are to circumcision. I assumed there are those who actively oppose it yet have it forced on them. If they’re choosing it, even to conform under peer pressure, I’m not overly concerned on an individual basis. The culture should change to common sense, but freely chosen, I won’t complain.
But that’s the problem, it’s not necessarily freely chosen. Conformity in the U.S. is a predominant excuse. That’s certainly not chosen by the male. And conformity fits into much of the FGM dialogue, as well. Anyone who says it’s bad for FGM but good for MGM is a hypocrite.