Education- Starvation Paradox In Korea

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31017, 24 March 1966, Page 2

Education- Starvation Paradox In Korea

To South Koreans education is supreme, and so arises the strange paradox of a country which has a literacy 7 rate of 98 per cent while most of its 30 million people still live on the verge of starvation.

Education does not ensure the Korean a full stomach, and thousands graduate from university but cannot find work. Miss Josephine Roberts, a Mother’s Union missionary worker in New Zealand on furlough from Korea, said yesterday.

Families will deprive themselves of one of their two meals a day to send a child to school. Education is free in South Korea, but even the cost of exercise books can be a tremendous burden.

“Refugees poured in from the north during the Korean war,” she said, the whole country was flattened four times, everywhere thousands were killed and children separated from their families.

“Everyone is hungry. They suffer from malnutrition. The soil is poor and there is no fertiliser in the country so they use night soil, and that contaminates the vegetables, and infects the population. "But the government is working terribly hard, and if progress continues as it has in the last eight years I’ve been in the country, it will be on its feet in 10 years.” The main developments are concentrated on building up the cities and opening up the country. Miss Roberts is convinced that building the economy to encourage foreign investment export and import trade, and private enterprise, is the only way to raise the standard of living. Touching Fringe “It sounds cruel, but no mis-1 sionary work or relief efforts' can help much. We are only ■ touching the fringe, and the Government has to direct money into capital development” she said. The extent of the misery and suffering was daunting, but Miss Roberts takes a philosophical view. “We must just keep on. We work with the people that hit us in the eye, those in the church community. But I do as much extra as possible.” American aid and boatloads of American surplus food keep the country going. This financial and relief aid is essential, but South Koreans resented its necessity. “Wouldn’t any of us want to stand on our own feet but naturally the Americans cannot understand this lack of gratitude,” Miss Roberts said.

Days of her early childhood | epent in China left Miss I

Roberts with a desire to return. She trained as a nurse, a Church Army sister, and in social work with this in mind. But when the Communists came to power the doors were closed to European missionaries and Miss Roberts returned to nursing. She did her maternity training in Wellington, midwifery in Auckland, and was matron of Hokitika Maternity hospital before going to England in 1953.

Her first two years in Korea as the first Mothers’ Union missionary in the country were spent learning the

language. She is now based in Seoul, with headquarters in the old palace building in the cathedral compound. Her work goes on 24 hours a day, amid overwhelming poverty with only a “shoestring” budget to meet the many needs. Beggar Boys “Hundreds die every day from TB. 85 per cent of the population is diseased. They have sores, bad ears and eyes. One to 2000 beggar boys road the streets of Seoul, freezing to death in the winter. Many are only five to six years old, and survive by picking pockets. “About 100 sleep under the cathedral in the winter, and

we give them heavy coats—no' blankets—and keep a fire alight. Of the ones we put in orphanages almost half run away, because they are not used to discipline; they like to be free.

The girls who come to Seoul from the country become prostitutes to get enough money for food. Huge armies of Koreans, Americans, and representatives of the countries who fought in the war are still in Korea, so that there is plenty of trade,” she said.

Country trains brought thousands of youngsters searching for work into the city every year. The men and women who run the pickpocket schools, and the brothels meet the trains. They offer to help the youngsters and before they know where they are they are embroiled in the trade.

The churches in Seoul have combined and now run three homes for the girls who come to them for help, or those they pick up at the station. More than 45 girls a year are taught a trade and found jobs. Many others are returned home, their parents often coming into the city to -fetch them back. Work In Country For three weeks each month Miss Roberts travels through the countryside holding mother’s union meetings, instructing Sunday school teachers and writing material for them, working at the church’s orphanage, lecturing to theological students, running health clinics and carrying out social work. The union fund pays her salary and her fare to and from Korea, but she must rely on money from friends in New Zealand and England for her work. Much help is received from C.0.R.5.0., particularly food and dried milk. Hospitals and schools are excellent in South Korea, so churches concentrate on giving scholarships and paying hospital expenses. Miss Roberts has received help from girl guides associations, churches, families and youth groups here and overseas who sponsor children and families. Birth Control Birth control is readliy accepted by men and women in South Korea. There is no religious barrier, and World Health Organisation clinics are well attended. “The pill is too expensive, but the new plastic coils and loops are cheap and seem very popular. Isolation is the main difficulty. Those who need help most are usually too far away to attend a clinic,” Miss Roberts said. While in New Zealand Miss Roberts is speaking to Mothers’ Union groups and Anglican church organisations telling them of her work, and the urgent need for funds.