In the epigraph of his novel, “The Victim,” Saul Bellow poses a problem of moral responsibility and reckoning. Borrowing from “Arabian Nights,” the Nobel Laureate asks a question: If a merchant threw date stones after eating the dates and accidentally killed the son of an Ifrit, would the merchant be responsible for it? Since the Ifrit and his son were invisible, the merchants did not know they were around. Still, however, the Ifrit wanted retribution for his son’s death and the merchant should face the consequences.

Recently, I read a posting on the internet that went as follows: “Sometimes scholars of the humanities deeply touched the hearts of the audience through a moving lecture and consequently lured some of them to go into the humanities whether intentionally or inadvertently.

Those scholars should feel guilty because they are responsible for ruining the careers of those naive people.” Reading the passage, my heart sank and suddenly I felt a pang of guilt. As a professor of the humanities, I, too, have given numerous lectures and published a number of books on the importance and values of the humanities. Lord knows how many of my audience and readers decided to major in the humanities because of my lectures and books. I am guilty as charged and responsible for their miserable lives as unrecognized, destitute students in the humanities.

We need to educate and encourage our young people to become global citizens who can soar into the future, hold the world in their arms, and feel “every soil as his native one.” In fact, those are the main objectives of the humanities. Therefore, I have always thought that, it is not I, but radical teachers and professors who preach ultra-nationalism to their students who should be held responsible for ruining young people’s lives.

Indeed, those ideologically charged teachers and professors should ask for their students’ forgiveness because of what they did to them. Alas! Now I have realized I have done the same thing on the opposite side of the bank. Sadly, in contemporary Korean society, being a professor of the humanities already makes me guilty of ruining young people’s future.

Speaking of feeling guilty, my American friends in Korea often confess that they feel guilty for not giving tips in Korean restaurants, coffee shops or taxis. They say, “In the States, the usual tip is 20 percent. Here in Korea, you don’t give tips at all. I feel like I’m taking for granted or even exploiting people’s service.” Of course, they like the Korean way, and yet they still feel guilty about taking people’s service for granted. Cultural differences, to be sure, but there is more to it if you feel guilty or sorry; it means you are caring and conscientious. 

We Koreans, too, should feel guilty for taking for granted our soldiers’ military service. We should be grateful to them because they serve the country for two long years when they are in their prime age and career. We should appreciate their honorable sacrifice for national defense. Unfortunately, however, few Koreans seem to be thankful to them. On the contrary, we tend to think of them as free ready-made labor when disasters hit the countryside such as typhoons, floods or snowstorms.  

A few days ago, my Spanish friends told me two interesting stories about acknowledging our indebtedness to someone. They told me that French wineries originally learned from Spanish wineries which were better than the former due to the sunny Spanish weather. They argue that the French people were very good at advertising and making French wine more fashionable than Spanish wine.

In the eyes of Spanish people, French wine has usurped the throne of Spanish wine. My Spanish friends also told me that Italy has been importing olives from Spain and producing the famous Italian olive oil. My Spanish friends argue that thus the credit should also be given to Spain in both cases, and therefore both France and Italy should acknowledge their indebtedness to Spain.   

Those who do not update the old information they posted on the internet should also feel guilty and apologize. Old information is not only useless but also hazardous. That is why information on the internet should be immediately and constantly updated whenever changes arise. Suppose the location of a bank has not been updated after it moved to another place, it would be terribly inconvenient for its customers. If the map of a particular place has not been updated, people will wander around, consulting the useless obsolete map. If the micro-dust forecast is not updated, it would gravely damage people’s health. The same thing applies to incorrect information. In fact, you can frequently find incorrect, outdated, and misleading information on the internet. Those who do not correct or update old information should feel guilty and ask for forgiveness.  

We should learn to feel guilty and grateful. We should assume moral responsibility. We should acknowledge our indebtedness and appreciate others’ service and assistance.

By Kim Seong-kon

Kim Seong-kon is a professor emeritus of English at Seoul National University and president of the Literature Translation Institute of Korea. — Ed.