Stand Up, Yumi Chung!

Stand Up, Yumi Chung! examines the dilemma of a Korean American preteen who wants to express herself artistically. While this might be a common experience of many American youngsters, Yumi’s position is made especially difficult because of the cultural context in which she was raised. At many points in the book, she wryly comments on the high expectations that Korean parents have for their offspring. Children are expected to excel academically, and their personal needs and desires are routinely sacrificed for future career success.

This phenomenon of overachievement isn’t limited to Korean culture. It is a common pattern in China and most East Asian societies and has earned the colorful name of “tiger parenting.” The term was first popularized by Yale law school professor Amy Chua in her memoir, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother (2011). Chua describes several attributes related to tiger parenting that can be seen in Yumi Chung’s relationship with her parents. Tiger parents instill in their children the message that they are supposed to succeed in their schoolwork. Excellence is demanded. By aggressively pursuing their studies, children are then expected to attend top-ranking schools and eventually pursue prestigious careers in law, medicine, business, or science.

The novel describes this pattern when Yumi’s parents send her to a private academy called a hagwon to prepare for her SSAT exam. Such institutions are common in South Korea. They are sometimes called cram schools and are meant to supplement a student’s regular education and provide a competitive advantage in the classroom. Yumi’s parents are representative of their culture, but the phenomenon of tiger parenting is more pronounced among East Asian parents who have migrated to other countries. Presumably, the desire to succeed in an alien environment is driven by economic necessity. Concerned parents feel that the best way to ensure their children’s future financial security is by closely managing their schooling and extracurricular activities. This behavior pattern is not simply found in Asian American communities but also among Asian immigrants to other countries.

Tiger parenting rests on a foundation of strict discipline, a demand for excellence, and complete control of a child’s activities. While Western culture tends to be more permissive in its parenting style, it contains analogies such as the stage mother or helicopter parents. It is undeniable that tiger parenting produces children who are overachievers. They tend to reach the top of their chosen professions, and many are appreciative of the strong work ethic instilled in them by their parents. However, the approach remains controversial because of its disregard for the emotional and psychological well-being of the children involved. Some statistics suggest that anxiety and depression are higher among populations where tiger parenting is the norm. Children often feel like failures and suffer from low self-esteem because impossibly high standards are thrust upon them. East Asia, and South Korea in particular, have the highest suicide rates in the developed world. Stand Up, Yumi Chung! explores the psychological consequences of unrealistic expectations placed on children. Fortunately, the novel offers insight rather than condemnation and provides a compromise solution to a situation that might not ordinarily be considered fit material for comedy.