[K-Women Talk] Let Us Protect Our Society Through Care and Sharing

[Asia Economy] Our society sometimes seems to have excessive expectations and demands of the government. Of course, the government needs to extend care throughout our society and manage things more efficiently. However, let me share a recent experience from my time working in the UK to reflect on whether we, as citizens, might be neglecting our role in caring for the community.

As the first female Ambassador of Korea to the UK, I once spent a night at Dumfries House in Scotland, under the management of the Prince’s Foundation, by invitation of Prince Charles. Dumfries House originally belonged to the Earl of Dumfries and is famous for its 18th-century Chippendale furniture. Since there are only about 120 original Chippendale pieces worldwide, the value of the 70 or so pieces in this house is considerable. In modern times, maintaining such a vast estate and grounds became difficult, and in 2007, the Chippendale furniture was put up for auction, destined to be scattered worldwide. However, public opinion formed around the need to preserve the unity of Dumfries House and its furniture as cultural heritage. Just before the auction, the Prince’s Foundation intervened, halted the auction through a citizen fundraising campaign, and succeeded in saving Dumfries House and its furniture?a truly dramatic story.

It did not end with citizens saving a cultural heritage site. The estate has been transformed into a place of tourism accommodation, farmland cultivation, a vocational training center, and a community welfare center, becoming both a living and working space for nearby residents. It now serves as a model for job creation and lifelong education, employing about 3,000 residents in a declining rural village. I share this because it made me realize that the true strength supporting the UK and the real pillars of society are not the royal family or aristocrats, but the citizens’ interest, participation, and contributions toward what is precious and worth protecting.

The UK was among the first countries to begin efforts to preserve culturally valuable nature and heritage such as castles, estates, and old churches. Unlike neighboring France, where many castles have been sold abroad due to maintenance difficulties, the UK established The National Trust in 1895, a citizen-driven organization funded by public contributions to manage natural and cultural heritage.

What is remarkable is that the institution preserving and managing the UK’s vast natural and cultural heritage is not a government agency but a charity. The founders established the charity based on the belief that the UK’s heritage must be preserved and that nature, beauty, and history belong to everyone. It has since grown into Europe’s largest charitable organization.

To complement these private efforts, the UK government established English Heritage, which has also become a charity. Thus, the UK has fully entrusted cultural heritage protection and public access to citizens. There is good news that a National Trust movement has recently begun in Korea as well.

Although the UK faces challenges such as globalization side effects, polarization, inefficiency, and the pandemic, compounded by the difficulties following Brexit, the atmosphere in the UK is less tense and more stable than outsiders might think. Having lived in several countries, I often joke that the homeless in London are relatively less aggressive and more peaceful. Why is that? It seems that a culture of care and sharing is more deeply rooted. When COVID-19 struck London and lockdown orders were issued, a yellow note was hung on the front door of every house in the neighborhood, including the ambassador’s residence. It was a warm notice offering help whenever residents needed to buy food or handle other necessities by contacting a volunteer group. Volunteer groups for the elderly and disabled were immediately organized, fostering a culture of mutual care that helped London remain calm through multiple lockdowns.

Caring for the vulnerable and for public goods such as nature and cultural heritage requires time, dedication, and money. That is why care and sharing go hand in hand. If we do not expect everything from the government but each of us tries to practice care and sharing in our own places, our society will become more livable and sustainable.

Park Eun-ha, Former Ambassador to the UK

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.