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Korean Family Then and Now

Korean Family Then and Now. Christian J. Park, Ph.D. Chonnam National University. Popular Sitcom the Unstoppable High Kick. Patriarchal Intergenerational (extended) family Preference to sons. Ancestor Worship. Confucianism Specific gender roles Inside and outside : public and private.

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Korean Family Then and Now

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  1. Korean Family Then and Now Christian J. Park, Ph.D. Chonnam National University

  2. Popular Sitcom the Unstoppable High Kick Patriarchal Intergenerational (extended) family Preference to sons

  3. Ancestor Worship Confucianism Specific gender roles Inside and outside : public and private

  4. Filial Piety Familism

  5. General Description • Patriarchal • Gendered division of household labor • Gender roles: men as breadwinner, women as homecarer • Inside and outside segregation – anae, jipsaram • ‘Pure blood’ - lineage

  6. Current debate on disintegration of Korean family • OECD’s lowest total fertility rate of 1.2 as of 2008 (A rate of two children per woman is considered the replacement rate for a population, resulting in relative stability in terms of total numbers) • Aging society • High divorce rate of 47.4% as of 2007 (3rd in the world, US 51%) • National Court Administration reports 9.3% based on the family registers

  7. Continued • Negative views toward marriage • 46% women in their 20s in 2003 • Among 3,500 households in 2003, 51.2% are nuclear families, 15% childless couples, 15.5% singles, 5.2% single parents • Domestic violence – 30%

  8. Causes • Urbanization and concentration • 20% of population (10 million) lives in Seoul, capitol • 17,275 persons/km2 (6th in the world, 29,650 Mumbai, 8,400 Mexico City, 2,050 New York) • Industrialization • Westernization • Empowerment of women • 52.5% of women work in 2005 • Still 39.8% wage gap as of 2004

  9. Korean Family • Primogeniture patrilineal descent • Only the eldest son succeed his lineal ancestor • Nuclear family vs. Lineage • Koreans do not change their last name • Bongwan – place of origin • Agnation • Distinction between father’s family and mother’s family (cheogajok) • Established in the mid Joseon dynasty • Different from Goryeo and early Joseon (1392-1600) • Descent groups are vaguely referred to as choksok • Based on Neo-Confucianism

  10. Neo-Confucianism • Formulated principally by Cheng I (Jeong I, 1037-1107) and Chu Hsi (Ju-hui, 1130-1200) • Makes agnatic lineal descent groups the basic element of society • They structure society • They guarantee the uninterrupted continuation of the political process • If the high officers of the land preserve their houses, they develop loyalty and righteousness, and the state’s foundation is firm

  11. In order to control the minds of the people, unify one’s kin, and enrich social customs so that people will not forget their origin, it is necessary to clarify genealogy, group members of the clan together, and institute a system of heads of descent. Cheng I quoted by Chu His Five Descent Groups’ Ancestor worship as a method

  12. Confucianization of Korea • In the beginning of Joseon, Korean custom granted equal rights to all a man’s children – daughters as well as sons. • Fraternal succession • 1390s a series of laws were enacted ordering to perform ancestral services based on Jujagarye but with gradation • Special incentives were devised to hasten cooperation. Extraordinary filial behavior was royally rewarded. Violators of the laws were threatened with harsh punishment.

  13. During the Sejong period, the problems arise in connection with the generational gradation of ancestral services and the direct lineal descent • Kyeonggukdaejeon (Great Code of Administration) was revised in numerous times to settle discrepancies • Women and secondary sons lost out • Korean lineages were built on the desire to maintain and enhance prestige.

  14. Korean Family Now • Introduction of the head of the family system – nuclear family • First introduced in 1958 but originated in the colonial period • The order of succession is Son – unmarried daughter – wife – mother – daughter-in-law • Abolished in 2008 • Continuation of Confucian cultural community

  15. Continued • Preference to son remains • Continuation of segregation of gender roles • Rearrangement of the outside and inside segregation – home is a place to rest • Family provides a model for community solidarity based on jeong among male workers • Christianity and ancestor service

  16. Popular telecom commercial

  17. Continued • Nation-state as a family • Company as a family • Rise of women-centered kinship • “Multicultural Family” • 11.9% of marriages are international marriage (2006) • Predominately Korean men marrying foreign women • Transnational Family

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