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learn-about-korea · 4 years

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PART ONE

Explain general characteristics of this culture in terms of family configuration (nuclear/extended), social skills that are important, age grouping and gender roles.

Family configuration

Humans are social animal therefore every interaction can be a learning experience. Even though we all share different values and opinions, we are still governed by the same cultural norms which are learned from our closet contact since early childhood (family, friends, and school). The oldest and most important institution known to mankind is family.

Belonging to a heteronormative structure, relationships are expected between a man and a woman with the intention to continue the family lineage. Uichol et al. (2012), explains that while the man is the head of the household till the age of 60, the woman’s duty is to manage it. Both of these roles are passed down to their eldest son and eldest daughter-in-law respectively. Korean family organization adheres to traditional Confucian principles, rights, and obligations which are role-attached, unequal, paternalistic, and situational. As a result, mothers and fathers serve different roles. Whereas mothers are expected to raise the children, manage the household, relationships, economy, and represent the inner world (human-heartedness) for the kids; a fathers role is to maintain or elevate the social status of the family, to educate the son to carry on the family name, and to represent the outsider world (rightness).

Age grouping

Easter societies perceive ageing in a positive light and display strong respect for the elderly. Samovar et al. (2017), postulated through storytelling kids are taught to care for their parents. Korean culture puts great emphasis on remembering those before themselves, for example, seniors are venerated and influential. Worshiping ancestors is highly value in these cultures, quoting the authors, “children are taught at a young age that grandfathers and older members of the family are authority figures” (Samovar et al., 2017, p.72).

Contrarily to what has been discussed, Yun et al. (2006) propose that urbanization has weakened values regarding senior citizens. As a consequence of accelerated economic development in South Korea, population ageing, family structure (from extended families to nuclear families), and women taking a step back from primary caregivers of elders to join the workforce are all factors that have impacted culturally. The study also notes that, “younger aged participants portrayed less complex representations and depictions of the elderly than the old aged sample” (Yun et al., 2006, p. 57). We can conclude that despite elders having a more positive outlook towards their own than younger generations, they continue to have a major unfavorable perspective towards aspects of aging.

Gender roles

Expected behaviors of a person’s biological or perceived sex are strongly linked to a society’s standpoint. Stereotypical and unrealistic images of women have flooded mass media. As a result, gender roles have been reinforced into Korean society. Television and advertising are loaded with severe patriarchal ideologies and practices. As Kim et al. (2005) explains, gender representation in advertising reflects fundamental features of social structure. Advertisers use stereotypes as a tool to communicate with a target audience and sell their products. Through social base and processes, subjective reality is maintained which means it’s continued by affirming or adjusting realities. By implementing stereotypical gender roles, media has reinforced the audience’s subjective reality without portraying society’s real life.

Through television programs and commercials, conventional gender stereotypes are reinforced. Kim et al. (2005) notes that, “according to McGhee and Frueh (1980), viewers stronger belief in cultural stereotypes correlates with increased television viewing. They reported that heavy viewers of television attributed a higher status to men than to women. Men were perceived as having more diverse and improved life options” (Kim et al., 2005, p. 902). It wasn’t till the late 70’s and early 80’s that there was a changing role for women specifically scholars.

It’s worth pointing out that, historically, female characters are prone to represent household products and to be portrayed as products rather than experts, dependent, and are meant to look younger than their male counter parts. On the other hand, men represent non-domestic products such as financial or technological commodities and are most likely to use scientific data when exhibiting products (op.cit.).

Gender roles in advertisement are limited to those that are deemed traditional and acceptable. They reinforce heteronormative norms and ignore diversity. Even though there’s been strives to adjust and revise these portrayals of an unrealistic community, they remain prevalent in South Korean society. There’s a plethora of steps that need to be taken in order to change theme since they’ve been historically used (op.cit.).

According to the Korean Overseas Information Service (KOIS), in preparation for their roles as wife’s and mothers, Korean women were taught subordination and endurance. Confined to household matters, women could not participate in society as men did. During the late 19th century, as a result of the country opening to the rest of the world, schools were established. With the purpose of enlightening women, some schools were founded. They began to take part in the arts, teaching, and religious work.

The year 1948 marked the beginning of the Republic of Korea in which women attained constitutional rights. The female labor force contributed to the rapid economic growth of Korea and, as a result, circumstances in Korea were bettered. 1966 saw a noticeable educational acquirement for women. The percentage of girls continuing their education in middle school was 33 percent. The percentages for high school and university where 20 and 4 respectively. By 1998, those ratios were elevated to 99.5 and 61.6 (op.cit.).

An increase between 1975 and 1998 in the female labor workforce, pushed the passage of the 1987 “Equal Employment Act” which hindered discriminatory practices against workers and increased promotion opportunities. (op.cit.). Since then, there’s been more acts implemented, for instance, “Act on Equal Employment and Reconciliation of Work and Family” (1989), “Mother-Child Welfare Act” (1991), “Punishment of Sexual Violence and Protection of the Victim Act” (1993), “Women’s Development Act” (1995), and “Prevention of Domestic Violence and Protection of the Victim Act” (1997).

Social Skills

For kids to have a notion of their own culture, social skills are taught from a very young age. Using Park et al. (2005) work as reference, one can remark that socialization enculturates children and prepares them to function in culturally acceptable ways. They must follow system of beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors in order to thrive in their own country. Through proactive behavior, parents mold children to their desired skills. Goals are established and kids must achieve them. Such goals can be moral, for example, kindness, respect, and equal treatment of others. They can also be socially conventional such as appealing to the expectations of the group.

Confucian ideologies are a repetitive theme in Korean culture. According to them, positive behavior and disposition are results of environmental influences. This means that a child’s upbringing is heavily influenced by the creation of the right environment. Following this ideology, a kid’s gender is a factor in the attribution for social behavior, for example, daughters are perceived as innately helpful (op.cit.)

The article “Korean culture and its influence on business practice in South Korea”, illustrates social skills expected in a professional setting. Koreans strive to maintain a stable environment, consequently, they named balance and good behavior as kibun. Aligning with the previous definition, inhwa is defined as harmony. The author, Lee (2012), also describes hierarchy in which the eldest person initiates activities suchlike eating, greeting, and entering a room. Senior members expect to be seated in the center or head position and are served first. Koreans address each other by their titles. Even in school this power dynamic is followed since freshman’s call their elders brothers and sisters. As the author explains, “Korean status is determined by age, gender, education, family background, wealth occupation, and political ideology. Social contracts determine success” (Lee, 2012, p. 187).

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mi5014andrewjung · 5 years

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Study of Korean culture

Cultural Orientation: Traditionalist, One Cultural Identity,

Possible Options;

1) Korean missionary

2) Cult like church/unification church (guns for god)

Believers will rule with a rod of iron

Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven

Build God’s kingdom on earth: Use of arms to do so.

Peace kingdom police (not a vigilante): There’s evil in the world- need to protect ourselves.

Against the Gun control debate.

Psalm 2:8-9

“Ask of me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession. You shall break them with a Rod of Iron (gun); You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.

Break a nation into shivers

Revelation 2:27

“He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’”

Korean Etiquette

Pastor Sean Moon: who studied religion in Harvard. (outfit- ebay suit, and crown attached ornaments of bullets) {Harvard Theologian}

How to build God’s Kingdom proposal. Using the rod of iron.

Koreans perceive it as a cult.

AR-15- what if the students at Parkland school could have shot back?

Unification movement

Accuse church of brainwashing. Infamous for mass weddings.

Nunchi, Kibun

Social Harmony

Addressing by Last name and than given name, addressing each other by title

Meeting and greeting- bowing, using both hands to give something

Communication: no excess body language, misdemeanour to use no., good posture

No direct eye contact, personal physical space, don’t point at people

Wrapping paper for gifts- avoid red, host should present first when meeting, feel indebted by receiving expensive gifts. Avoid red writing

Food: used to build relationships, women often pour for men, do not pour your own drink, socialising happens once feasted, never refuse invitation or suggestions (singing)

Palli Palli culture

Avoid using the number 4.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanbok

Korea basic history of religion

https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Christianity_in_Korea

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Korea

https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/2018/february/korean-christianity.html

Fundamental

Opening the door fo the christianity

Buddhist split between state and church was eliminiated

Neo-confuscioan

out side yangban and aristocrats discontent with ideologies.

Korean government against Proselytizing koreans

YI Kwangjong returned from Beijin carying a world atlas and theological books written by Matteo Ricci.

17th century: Yi Sugwang, Yu Mongin wrote critical commentaries on Ricci’s workd.

Criticism of christianity continued unabated.

Silhak schools development

= attracted to egalitarian values of christianity.

55 percent of all catholic had family ties to Silhak schools.

First Prayer House: 1784 In Pyongyang

Different to the development of faith from Europe

Catholics practiced faith through studying texts brought in from China. (developing communities of faith)

Against the official rule (Canon Law) of establishing a hierarchy of lay priests.

Early spread was done through the initiatives of the indigenous lay workers.

1780’s: portions of the Gospels appeared in hangul.

Effect of translating written work to Hangul- assisting the message to be spread outside the upper class.

Struggle in spreading faith.

IMPACT: The network of schools implemented by Christian missionaries led to the dissemination of Christian assisting the literacy rate.

Hangul invented by Sejong in 1446- it was not used for several centuries because of the pereception that chinese is superior.

Catholic Church valued Hangul

Protestant church: had hangul literacy as a pre-requisite for admission to Holy Communion.

Auspices of the missions schools: female literacy rose sharply.

Many South Korean Christians view their religious faith as a factor in the country's dramatic economic growth over the past three decades, believing that success and prosperity are indications of God's blessing

exceeding their American counterparts in such areas as frequency of attendance at group worship services

Social

Before inbred of confucianism hierarchical teaching. However, when the top declines in providing help and care for the lower class. The structure tends to turn despotic. When those at the top do not have the attribute to support any longer.

Lower class constituent during the Joseon Dynasty. Individual rights had little standing.

However, the christian teaching that: The Christian teaching that all men are created in the "Image of God" (Genesis 1.26-27), and thus that every individual has implicit worth, radically challenged that structure. The right to own private property closely aligned to that concept.

. The Church prohibited the traditional arranged child marriages, and the neglect of daughters (who, in Asian society were often regarded as less "desirable" than sons).

prohibition of ancestor worship put a strain on family and social relationships in a Confucianist society where veneration of ancestors has long been an expression of the esteemed virtue of filial piety.

Furthermore, many Christian denominations had a Fundamentalist outlook that disparaged believers in Buddhism and Confucianism, thus breaking up social and familial cohesion in a society that had been relatively tolerant of religious diversity.

Minjung point of view

Term: common people

History to judged based on the acts of minjung and acts upon minjung.

Christianity have appeared in order to improve the state of the minjung, to make life on earth more comfortable and pleasant for the minjung. Emphasizing nationalism as well as human rights, Minjung Theology appeals increasingly to both right and left, politically, in Korean society.

Catholic Farmers Movement and Protestant Urban Industrial mission: A campaign for better wages, working conditions for agricultural and industrial workers. (manifestation of minjung theology)

Such movements were seen as a threat to social stability- gov. Made attempts to stain the movement.

Kim Young sam (a practitioner of Minjung Theology)

President after 1988.

TODAY

29 percent are South korean.

⅔ of christians in North Korea before Korean War. But imbue to fleeing away from the country.

Christians in North Korea were repressed.

2nd to most missionaries sent abroad.

David Yonggi Cho: founder of colossal Yoido Gospel church.

Human Rights and Democracy appeal helped in exponential growth of churches.

Unification church development.

Christian intoleration has led to disregard and reflect upon christian compassion.

Ex: Unification Church

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