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Modernisation and Changing Family Structure in Korea

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MODERNISATION AND CHANGING FAMILY STRUCTURE IN KOREA Hyun-Seob CIIANG Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the Department of Sociological Studies, University of Sheffield. July 1993 "for parenthood" My heartfelt thanks to - Trevor Noble, my supervisor, Sang-Kie Chang and fm-Sun Cho, my parents, Young-Han and Mun-Han, my sons. Jin-Sook Kim, my wife, Summary MODERNISATION AND CHANGING FAMILY STRUCTURE IN KOREA Hyun-Seob CHANG The thesis comprises three major parts and 8 chapters. First of all Part I consists of two chapters: a discussion on the theoretical frame of reference and a brief review of the social changes that have been both causes and consequence of the family changes of the modernisation process of the last few decades. Part II comprising four chapters examines the result of the socio-economic change or modernisation of the last four decades in the family field : a review of the traditional family as an analytical framework; a discussion of the changes in the kinship network and marriage customs; and lastly a discussion on the relationship among family members. Part III comprising of two chapters, sets out the conclusions to be drawn. It examines first dissolution of the family and changing attitudes and values concerning family life next discusses what sort of family policies should be arranged to meet the huge variation and diversity of family life in which conventional values relating to the family no longer appear to work properly. lv CONTENTS Abbreviation List of Tables and Figures Romanisation of Korean language Preface PART ONE INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER ONE THE THEORETICAL FRAME OF REFERENCE 1.1. FRAMEWORKS FOR FAMILY STUDIES 3 1.1.1. Brief History of Family Study 3 1.1.2. The Positivist Tradition 7 1.1.2.1. The institutional approach 8 1.1.2.2. The system approach 10 1.1.2.3. The interactionist approach 12 1.1.2.4. The developmental approach 14 1.1.3. The Critical.Tradition 17 1.1.3.1. Critical theory 19 1.1.3.2. The feminist approach 21 1.1.4. Postmodernism 23 1.2. LEVELS OF ANALYSIS OF THE FAMILY26 1.3. DATA USED 29 1.3.1. FAM89 29 1.3.1.1. Survey size and target 30 V 1.3.1.2. Random sampling of the survey area 30 1.3.1.3. Field survey 31 1.3.1.4. Result ofsurvey 31 1.3.1.5. Uniqueness and limitation of data 32 1.3.2. FAM86 33 1.3.3. Secondary Data 33 CHAPTER TWO MODERNISATION, DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES, AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 2.1. MODERNISATION 36 2.1.1. The Beginnings Of Modernisation 36 2.1.2. Characteristics Of Modernisation 37 2.1.2.1. Industrialisation 37 2.1.2.2. Urbanisation 40 2.1.2.3. Westernisation 41 2.1.3. Conclusion - Government Interventionism 45 2.2. DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES 47 2.2.1. Population Policy 47 2.2.2. Demographic Changes 52 2.2.2.1. Population size 52 2.2.2.2. Population structure 55 2.3. ECONOMIC GROWTH 59 2.3.1. Labour Supply 59 2.3.2. Economic Development 64 2.4. CONCLUSION: THE SPEED OF CHANGE 66 PART TWO CHANGES IN FAMILY STRUCTIJRE 1950s TO 1980s vi CHAPTER THREE THE TRADITIONAL FAMILY IN KOREA 3.1. TRADITIONALITY 73 3.2. THE SOCIAL SITUATION 74 3.2.1. Neo-Confucianism 74 3.2.2. The Yöksöng Philosophy 76 3.2.3. The Formation Of Bureacratic Society 77 3.2.4. Class Society 79 3.3. TRADITIONAL FAMILY STRUCTURE 83 3.3.1. The Ideological Aspect 83 3.3.2. Demographic Aspects 87 3.3.2.1. Size of family 87 3.3.2.2. Patterns of family membership 89 3.3.2.3. Family composition 90 3.3.3. Marriage 94 3.3.3.1. Early marriage 94 3.3.3.2. The age gap between husbands and wives 96 3.3.3.3. Clan exogamy 99 3.3.3.4. Class endogamy 101 3.3.3.5. Divorce 102 3.3.4. Inheritance 106 3.3.4.1 Inheritance of ancestral rites and adoption 106 3.3.4.2. Inheritance of family property 110 3.4. COCLUSION : CLAN SOCIETY 113 3.4.1. Summary : The Club Idea 113 3.4.2. Munjung: The Clan Group 115 CHAPTER FOUR CHANGES IN FAMILY SIZE AND PATTERN 4.1. FAMILY AND HOUSEHOLD 119 4.2. THE SMALL FAMILY 125 4.3. THE MODIFIED STEM FAMILY PRINCIPLE 131 4.3.1. Decrease In Stem Family Households 131 4.3.2. Changes In Family Membership 138 vii 4.4. NON-IDEAL TYPICAL PATTERNS 143 4.4.1. One Person Households 143 4.4.2. Extraordinary Patterns 147 4.5. CONCLUSION 148 4.5.1. The Increase In The Number Of Separate Households 148 4.5.2. Housing Problem 151 CHAPTER FIVE THE KINSHIP NETWORK AND MARRIAGE 5.1. CHANGES IN CLAN AND KINSHIP157 5.1.1. The Munjung group: Chongc/i 'in/we 157 5.1.2. Kinship Membership 163 5.2. MARRIAGE 168 5.2.1. Mate Selection 169 5.2.2. Demographic Features Of Marriage 173 5.2.3. Regional Propinquity Of Modern Marriage And Match-maker 181 5.2.4. Changes In Clan Exogamy 187 5.2.5. Changes In Class Endogamy 188 5.3. CONCLUSION : THE LIFE CYCLE OF INDIVIDUALS 194 CHAPTER SIX HUSBAND AND WIFE : ROLES AND POWER 6.1. THE CHANGES IN ROLE STRUCTURE 203 6.1.1. Changes In Role Performances 203 6.1.1.1. Housework 204 6.1.1.2. Parental roles 207 6.1.1.3. Outside activity 210 6.1.1.4. Economic activity 212 6.1.2. Role Conflicts 218 6.1.2.1. Conflicts between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law 219 6.1.2.2. Role conflict among dual career wives 222 6.2. THE POWER STRUCTURE 227 6.2.1. Economic Decision-making 228 6.2.2. Children's Affairs 230 6.2.3. Activities Outside The Family Household 232 viii PART THREE PROBLEMS AND POLICY FOR TIlE FAMILY IN A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT CHAPTER SEVEN FAMILY DISSOLUTION AND CHANGING VALUES 7.1. FAMILY DISSOLUTION 238 7.1.1. Changes In The Family Life Cycle 238 7.1.2. The Increase In the Divorce Rate 244 7.1.3. Prospects For Family Disorganisation 247 7.2. CHANGING ATTITUDES AND VALUES 249 7.2.1. Matrimony 249 7.2.2. Neo-familism : The Saemaul Movement 254 7.2.2.1. A brief introduction to the movement 254 7.2.2.2. The influence of family values on Saemaul movement 256 7.2.3. Changes in Family Law 262 7.2.3.1. The confrontation between tradition and human rights 262 7.2.3.2. Changes in the family law 268 CHAPTER EIGHT CONCLUSION 8.1. SUMMARY 277 8.1.1. The Tradition 277 8.1.2. What Has Changed 280 8.1.3. Continuities 285 8.2. FAMILY POLICY 293 8.2.1. Social Policy and Family Policy 293 8.2.2. Conclusion : A Direction for Future Family Policy 304 FOOTNOTES AND REFERENCES 313 lx APPENDICES 353 1. Chronology of Korea 2. Illustrated Map of Korea 3. Questionaire (FAM86) 4. Questionaire (FAM89) x Abbreviation FAM89 : The Changing Family Functions and Role Relations in Korea, surveyed, analyzed, and finally published by H. S. Chang, J. S. Kim, A. J. Cho, and S. K. Kong of the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs in December 1990. FAM86: The Family Transition in Korea, surveyed, analyzed, and published by H. S. Chang, J. S. Kim, I. H. Park, and S. K.Kong of the Korea Institute for Population and Health Affairs in December 1987. SIlK : Social Indicators In Korea published by the National Bureau of Statistics, Economic Planning Board, Republic of Korea in 1992, 1990, 1989, 1988. Census : Population and Housing Census Report by the National Bureau of Statistics, Economic Planning Board, Republic of Korea in 1990, 1985, 1980, 1975, 1970, 1966, 1960, 1955, 1949, 1944, 1940, 1935, 1930, 1925. Gallup : The Debate on Feminily surveyed by the Korea Survey (Gallup) Polls Ltd from February to October 1989, sponsored by the Korea Broadcasting System (unpublished). SIIKF : Chae Sok Choi, A Study of the History of the Korean Family Institution (Korean edition, 1986). SKF : Chae Seok Choi, Korean Family Studies (Korean edition, 1985). SKFI : Du Hun Kim, A Study of the Korean Family Institution (Korean edition, 1985). HSKF : Kwang Kyu Lee, An Historical Study of the Korean Family (Korean edition, 1986). KOIS : Korean Overseas Information Service, A Handbook of Korea (Seoul: Samhwa, 1990). xi List of Tables and Figures Tables Table 1.1 Sample Size 31 Table 1.2 Number Of Household Surveyed 31 Table 1.3 Number Of Women Interviewed 32 Table 1.4 Sample Size And Number Of Household Surveyed 33 Table 2.1 Composition Of Employed Persons By Industry 39 Table 2.2 Population Size (in millions) And Proportion Of Urban To Total Population 41 Table 2.3 The Growth Of Christians 43 Table 2.4 School Enrollment Ratio 45 Table 2.5 Total Population And Vital Statistics, 1925 - 1990 52 Table 2.6 Age Specifics And Total Fertility Rates By Years, 1960 - 1989 Table 2.7 Changes In The Age Structure Of Population And Projection Table 2.8 Changing Trend Of The School Age Population 56 Table 2.9 The Change Of Demographic Structure By Region 59 Table 2.10 Trends And Prospects Of Labour Force Supply 60 Table 2.11 The Elasticity of Employment to Economic Growth By Industry Table 2.12 Attitudes Toward Social Mobility By Educational Level 69 Table 3.1 Social Mobility Amongst Classes In The Early 18th Century Table 3.2 Average Number Of Household Members At An Interval Of 30- Year 87 Table 3.3 Size Of Family By Numbers Of Family Members In The Early 17th Century And Early 19th Century 88 Table 3.4 Distriliution Of Family Pattern By Class In 17th And 19th Centuries Table 3.5 Proportion Of Households Containing Family Members Only And Non-Family Members 91 Table 3.6 Rate Of Household In Possession Of Slaves By The Number Of Them 91 Table 3.7 Age Gap Between Father And Son In The Early 19th Century Table 3.8 Age Gap Between Couples 97 Table 3.9 Size Of Gap When Wife Is Older Than Husband 98 Table 3.10 Size Of Gap When Husband Is Older Than Wife 98 Table 3.11 Percentage Of Clan Endogamy And Clan Exogamy In 17th Century.
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    LUND UNIVERSITY • CENTRE FOR EAST AND SOUTH-EAST ASIAN STUDIES ‘Hell Joseon’ - Tales from a South Korean Youth Trapped Between Past and Present Author: Johan Cornelis Schoonhoven Supervisor: Erik Mobrand Master’s Programme in Asian Studies Spring semester 2017 Abstract This thesis takes its outset in the newly coined expression ‘Hell Joseon’ used by the youth in South Korea. ‘Hell Joseon’ is a comparison between today’s society and the pre-modern Joseon Dynasty. By asking “what are the main characteristics of life in ‘Hell Joseon’ from a youth perspective?”, I arrive at the following conclusion. Life in ‘Hell Joseon’ is highly characterized by discrepancies between rich and poor, old and young, men and women, global and local. This is a peculiar result of Korea’s double-compressed modernity which derives from a colonial legacy, top-down modernization in the post-war era and condensed transition to a neoliberal world economy, also known as the second modernity. Therefore, traditional and (post)modern elements coexist in Korea’s society, and is partly the reason why the youth are now drawing references to the pre-modern Joseon Dynasty. Life in ‘Hell Joseon’ thus implies frustrations over high unemployment rates, a new ‘spoon class’ class division, lack of social mobility, an education fever and a downright “gender war”. More than that, it shows traces of apathy in the fact that the young generation is giving up marriage, children, jobs, hope, housing etc., but also traces of transformation since the ‘Hell Joseon’ discourse have made the youth take it to the streets, last seen in the mass demonstrations against now impeached President Park Geun-hye.