[KS] New issue of the Korean Journal (winter 2003)

[Korea Journal]

Dear List members,

We are pleased to announce the publishing of another issue of the Korea Journal. The Winter 2003 issue addresses two special topics: "Transformations of Dominant Ideologies in Korean Society" and "Confucianism Meets Western Political Philosophy." 
 
Ⅰ. Transformations of Dominant Ideologies in Korean Society
 
In this issue, the Korea Journal examines the dominant ideologies and thoughts that shaped Korean history. Designed to provide an opportunity to understand Korean society as a whole, this issue features five articles (including introductory remarks) that take a look at the historical background of dominant ideological discourses--namely shamanism, Buddhism, and Neo-Confucianism--and their impact on Korean history during the broad span of time from antiquity to the 19th century. From this, we hope to vividly illustrate the ideological transformations Korean history has undergone, which were characterized by the harmonious co-existence of varied and heterogeneous elements, a positive response to the demand for change, as well as an open-minded attitude toward foreign cultures and the Koreans' ability to transform these outside influences into their own system of thought. We hope that reading Korean history in such a manner will help Korean society develop into one that is more harmonious, progressive, and flexible.
 
* Ahn Byung-ook (Korean history, Catholic Univ.)
Dominant Ideologies and Thoughts that Shaped Korean History
* Na Hee La (Korean history, Univ. of Ulsan)
Ideology and Religion in Ancient Korea
* Nam Dong-shin (Korean history, Duksung Women's Univ.)
Buddhism in Medieval Korea
* Koh Young-jin (Korean history, Gwangju University)
Neo-Confucianism as the Dominant Ideology in Joseon
* Noh Daehwan (Korean history, Dongyang Univ.)
The Eclectic Development of Neo-Confucianism and Statecraft from the 18th to the 19th Century
 
 
Ⅱ. Confucianism Meets Western Political Philosophy
  
This issue also features three articles offering a comparative analysis of Eastern and Western political thought. The first raises an objection to the theory of Oriental despotism, which had been prevalent at one time in Western scholarly circles, and still remains influential. After showing that the Neo-Confucianism of the Joseon (Choso^n) dynasty richly included the concept of "public" and "private," The second article points out that the source of a vague distinction of public and private in present-day Korea does not lie within Neo-Confucianism itself. The third article on the subject makes clear that Korean enlightenment intellectuals during the 19th century accepted Western concepts of political thought, such as rule by the people, the rule of law, as well as those of liberty itself, by utilizing a theoretical framework of their own making--based on the mutual integration of Confucian thought and Western political concepts. These articles, which aim to fuse Eastern and Western political lines of thinking in this manner, seem closely connected to the effort to overcome a Eurocentrism whose influence on Korean academics nowadays is impossible to ignore.
 
* Kang Jung In and Eom Kwanyong (Political Science, Sogang Univ.)
Comparative Analysis of Eastern and Western Tyranny: Focusing on Aristotle and Mencius
* Lee Seung-Hwan (Philosophy, Korea Univ.)
The Concept of Gong in Traditional Korea and Its Modern Transformations
* Ahn Wae-soon (Political Science, Ewha Womans Univ.)
A Review of the Intellectual Thrust to Adopt Democracy in the Late 19th Century: The Integration of Eastern and Western Thought
 
Ⅲ. Articles

In addition, an analytical paper focusing on Chinese policy toward Korea reveals that, contrary to the established understanding that China played a significant role in the Korean independence movement, the Chinese Guomindang (Kuomintang) government did not positively support Korea regarding the so-called "Korean question," and often even worked as an obstacle to Korean independence.
This issue also features a new interpretation of the Chunhyang ga. While thoroughly examining various interpretations surrounding the author's motives in composing the work, this paper clearly shows Sin Jae-hyo's political consciousness and his moderate approach to social reform that made possible the compromise between radicals and conservatives. 
 
* Ku Daeyeol (Political Science, Ewha Womans Univ.)
China's Policy toward Korea during World War Ⅱ: Restoration of Power and the Korean Question
* Cho Sung-Won (English Language and Literature, Seoul Women's University)
Waiting for the Sage King: The "Political Unconscious" of Namchang Chunhyang Ga
 


Korea Journal

Tel: 82-2-755-6225
Fax: 82-2-755-7478
Home page: www.ekoreajournal.net
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