That Moment When Haesindang Park (aka Penis Park) Leaves You Culturally Confused 🤔

" If any thing is sacred, the human body is sacred." - Walt Whitman

Recently, I've been trying to understand why does the U.S. have an immature mindset about human body parts, especially in art form, but can use the body parts sexually to sell, market, and capture people's attention. From changing diapers, to sharing accommodations with siblings/relatives, and possibly showering in a locker room with fellow teammates, all humans have seen body parts of the same/opposite sex other than themselves. Why does society condemn a woman breastfeeding in public but praise women that walk around in revealing tops that show her nipples or entire breast? Since people "use and sell" their bodies for attention in the U.S., does that create the immature mindset for us to where we shame other cultures for their presentations of the human body (e.g. sculptures of body organs, nude beaches, public bath houses)?

It gets to a point when you live in a different country, you'll began to compare the cultures, customs, way of living, etc.  I've come to learn that South Korea's culture is considered "sexually repressed," but they seem to have a mature mindset and approach to some topics and objects. (*This is my personal opinion.*) I thought about the times that I've been to public bathhouses here, butt naked in front of other women.  AIN'T NOBODY paying attention to anyone else. It's like a mindset free of judgement.  I'm pretty sure it's the same way in the male facilities.  I'll admit that when I was in the U.S., I went to a similar Korean establishment, but I was ashamed and bashful, worrying about being nude in front of other women...🙄🤦 We're quick to shout "I don't care what anyone else thinks..." but don't realize that somewhere in the back of our mind, we do.  

Haesindang Park (Penis Park) is in Sinnam, South Korea. It's "English" name is self-explanatory,  a park with penis sculptures of all kinds.  As I mentioned before, South Korea is considered sexually repressed.  This had me wondering: "why would a park like this be in the country?" "what's its significance?" and "why would people go there?" Well, Brittany and I decided to take a trip to see what Penis Park is all about. We both had a "weird feeling" about going to the park, but here's the story...

The Virgin

The Legend:

So, a young virgin was engaged to this man. One day, her fiancé took her to sea to harvest some seaweed. He dropped her off at an area that was at a distance from the beach. He promised he would return to pick her up. However, the weather turned as fierce winds and waves started appearing. She was trapped by the horrible currents, and her fiancé was unable to rescue her. She drowned. After that event, villagers were unable to catch any fish. Some fishermen blamed the shortage on the maid that died. They believed it to be a curse. So, to reverse the curse and please the maid, the villagers made several wooden penis carvings and held religious ceremonies. Later, fish started to gradually appear, and the villagers could fish and live comfortably again. The place where the maid died was named Aebawi Rock, and the building where religious ceremonies were held was named Haesindang. The ceremony is still honored today as a traditional folk event.

The After thoughts:
There came a point to where Brittany and I no longer felt awkward as we imagined. The other visitors seemed to have had an enjoyable time. There were children present, groups of males and females, foreigners... all accounted for. There was no feeling of shame, taboo, NOTHING. It was very peaceful and beautiful, too.  The way it is fixed upon the coast is indescribable. 

 This cultural park started to create more questions in mind, especially towards some cultural differences.

1. As females, Brit and I started to wonder is there a universal idea that a woman's sole purpose is to be sexually pleased? Like, did they believe she put a curse on the village because she was a virgin? This "dedication" seemed to put women in an unfavorable light. It seems that since she didn't experience sex, it created a tragedy for her life. Brit had another plausible reason...

"We should also consider what this young maiden's tale truly means. To many, the tragedy of the young maiden and the willingness of the villagers to appease her regrets may seem part of some fantasy. However, I believe it speaks more to a patriarchal mindset that connects to nature. Many cultures associate nature with femininity, often referring to it as "mother nature" or using the pronouns her/she. This ties into the story after the maiden's tragic death. The villagers believed the anomalies they face were a result of the maiden's virgin regret. So, how do the villagers (more specifically in this myth, fishermen) satisfy a dissatisfied virgin of mother nature? Obviously by, figuratively, penetrating her with multiple phallic symbols. But why so many? (Only a symbol of her fiancé should've sufficed, right?). It's as if that was the only purpose of the maiden's life, and even death--finally becoming a woman through sex. Heaven forbid we stress the fact that she was already in love with a man she planned to marry, because that's not a real-life accomplishment... Perhaps dying young without losing one's innocence is the real tragic story. Or MAYBE the tragedy is that men find any excuse to insert huge phallic objects inside something they connect with femininity (i.e. a park full of penises dedicated to one dead girl)."

2. As U.S. citizens, we came to a quick agreement that this type of park could not be in the U.S., nor be understood or replicated in the same manner.  Here's why... the U.S. over-sexualizes the human body, parents that would bring their children would be shamed, males that visit would be "questioned", the entrance fee would be marked up tremendously (it's $3 in Korea), and it would be a stretch to have some type of significant meaning, more so, it would be strictly adult entertainment. I'm pretty sure there would be a gift shop full of things.  So, why is it that [the U.S. society] can over-sexualize the body comfortably, but it's difficult/frowned upon to talk and educate our family, peers and friends about sex? 🤔 

If you've actually read up to this point, it's one of 3 things: 1. you have a mature mindset and I've got you thinking, 2. you're just seeing what more none-sense I came up with, or 3. you're just here to see the pictures. 🤗🙃

I had a "table discussion" with some of my close male friends. I wanted to hear some thoughts on things from a male's perspective.  Here's what they had to say...

1. Why is it harder for a male to save himself for marriage?
- Male 1: "It's hard because temptation is [something else]. Teenage boys will break their neck to get a piece of 😺. Then from a societal standpoint that's all you here and see. SEX. And if you aren't participating then you get looked down on, so the pressure to have it is crazy." 
Male 2: "I feel like if you put two curious people in a room, it's bound to happen. I don't feel like saving yourself was preached as much back then."

2. Do [males] value [themselves] like society encourages and stress for females to value themselves? (Like when people tell women don't sell/give yourself to just anybody.)
- Male 1: "I'm finding value in myself. I got to a point that I saw [females] were only tryna holla to see how I was sexually and not seeing me for me. That realization made me go like "WTF?"  
Male 2: "Realizing what my goals were, I could truly see the value of the person I am. I began to see life through a different light. I began to realize what was important and what wasn't. Being social media famous isn't important unless it's paying bills."

3. Why is it that males/society condemn females for her body count (doesn't matter the number), but praises a male for his body count (starting with double-digits)?
- Male 1: "Body count is 'bs' and comes from a lack of maturity. I honestly don't care what a [female's] body count is, as long as she doesn't have any diseases... I hate that society shames [females] for the same behavior [males] do." 
Male 2: "As long as [she] isn't on a porn site and doesn't have a STD. I don't want to be condemned for my body count and miss out on someone I really like... If [she's] not claiming to be a virgin, then I expect [her] to have some mileage."

4. Why [does the U.S.] over sexualize things, but can't talk about sex comfortably, shaming sex talk/conversations between family and/or friends? (I'm talking in the educating context.  Helping people understand the importance of getting tested, knowing someone's status, contraceptives, etc...)
-Male 2: "Sex is a touchy subject to certain people. People have different levels of how they view it... Sex is practically everywhere, and I'm pretty sure there's a study that says how attracted people are to sexual connotations and why it's being used to do/sell/get any message across that you want."  
Male 1: "Everything is sexualized because sex sells, and it sells BIG. Folks can't talk about it openly in America, because society hasn't figured out a way to talk about it freely while staying within the confines of religion. Christianity rules America, and premarital sex, in the realm of Christianity, is taboo. Blasphemous... It's too much hypocrisy in society for sex to ever be something discussed."

What are your thoughts?

Would you visit Penis Park? 🤔
Until the next adventures...🤸