A Narrative Approach to Pastoral Care for The
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A NARRATIVE APPROACH TO PASTORAL CARE FOR THE ELDERLY FACED WITH THE OPTION OF SUICIDE IN SOUTH KOREA By YOENG SIK MUN A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of PHILOSOPHIAE DOCTOR FACULTY OF THEOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF PRACTICAL THEOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA SUPERVISOR: PROF. J. C. MÜLLER APRIL 2017 i © University of Pretoria ii © University of Pretoria ABSTRACT This study is an attempt to analyse and understand elderly suicide within the context of pastoral counselling in the current Korean society. This research on elderly suicide is carried out from the perspective of postfoundationalist practical theology, using a narrative method as a methodological approach. For this purpose, Korean novels that deal with elderly suicide were analysed and in-depth interviews with four co-researchers who have attempted suicide or have any family members who committed suicide were conducted. This research was conducted on a social constructionist basis. The power of modern discourses were analyzed using the narratives of the four co-researchers’ experiences. The aim of this analysis is to figure out the ways in which the dominant discourse of South Korean society constructs the lives of the co-researchers. The harmful influences of these discourses have been deconstructed through the interviews. In order to better understand the narratives of the co-researchers, an interdisciplinary team approach to this research was employed. As informed by the various interpretations and new understandings that all four team members provided, I am impressed by the power of the narrative approach. This study demonstrates that elderly suicide is not a trivial problem but a very serious problem in South Korea. The contribution of this study is to show that elderly people are able to re-author their own lives, as opposed to the social common belief that they are obstinate and unchangeable. I would never have reached this conclusion without listening to the narratives of the co-researchers. i © University of Pretoria ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First, I would like to thank Prof J C Müller, who introduced me to pastoral counselling and postfoundational practical theology. Without his supervision, guidance and support, the study would have never been possible. Second, I would like to thank Youngwoo Kim and Jun Kim who respectively the president and the head of counseling department of Chongshin University where I have been teaching. Without their support, I would have not even dreamed of pursuing another doctorate degree. Third, I am grateful of rev Pyung S. Chung of MANNAM Church and rev Jong Joon Kim of Flower Garden Church for their continuous prayers and spiritual encouragements. Forth, I want to say thank you to my friends, Hye Young Kwon, A Yang Jae, Chang Young Lee, and Mee Ock Ahn. They gave me important insights and advice in writing a thesis. Also they helped me in getting important data. In addition, I would like to thank my friends, C H Han, J G Park, J S Kim, J U Kim and S G Yu, S J Park too. I am grateful of their helps in my study. Fifth, I wish to thank my co-researchers and interdisciplinary team for their participation and sharing their deep emotions and thoughts. Last, I would like to thank my parents, spouse, son, daughter and son in law. Their personal supports have given me the peace of my mind, enabling me to fully dedicate myself in pursuing this study and finishing the thesis at the age of early 60. ii © University of Pretoria TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. RESEARCH ORIENTATION ············································································· 1 1.1 Introduction ······································································································· 1 1.1.1 My Story ······································································································ 2 1.1.2 The Need for the Research ··········································································· 5 1.1.3 The Purpose of the Research ········································································ 8 1.1.4 Research Design························································································· 10 1.1.5 Ethical Considerations ··············································································· 15 1.1.6 Chapter Outlines ························································································ 17 2. POSITIONING AND METHODOLOGICAL CONCERN OF THE RESEARCH ······················································································································ 20 2.1 Research Positioning ······················································································· 20 2.1.1 Narrative Perspective ················································································· 20 2.1.2 Social Constructionism ·············································································· 22 2.1.3 Post-foundationalism ················································································· 24 2.1.3.1 Modernism and Foundationalism ························································· 24 2.1.3.2 Postmodernism and Nonfoundationalism ············································· 25 2.1.3.3 Postfoundational Rationality for an Interdisciplinary Dialogue ············ 27 2.1.4 Postfoundationalist Practical Theology ······················································ 28 2.2 Research Framework ······················································································· 35 2.2.1 Narrative Research ····················································································· 35 2.2.2 Doing Postfoundationalist Practical Theological Research: The Seven Movements Developed by Müller ···························································· 38 2.2.2.1 A Specific Context Described ······························································· 38 2.2.2.2 In-context Experiences Described ························································ 44 2.2.2.3 Interpretations of Experiences Made, Described, and Developed in Collaboration with “Co-researchers” ···················································· 45 2.2.2.4 A Description of Experiences Continually Informed by Traditions of Interpretation ······················································································· 49 iii © University of Pretoria 2.2.2.5 A Reflection on Religious and Spiritual Aspects, Especially God’s Presence, Understood and Experienced in a Specific Situation ··········· 52 2.2.2.6 A Description of Experiences Thickened through Interdisciplinary Investigation ························································································ 53 2.2.2.7 The Development of Alternative Interpretations That Point beyond the Local Community ··············································································· 56 2.3.3 Qualitative Research ·················································································· 57 2.3.4 In-depth Interview ······················································································ 59 2.3.5 Pastoral Care ······························································································ 63 3. PERSPECTIVES ON ELDERLY SUICIDE IN KOREAN SHORT AND MEDIUM-LENGTH NOVELS ········································································· 67 3.1 Introduction: Literary Texts ············································································· 67 3.2 Short and Medium-length Novels That Deal with Elderly Suicide from the 1920s to the 1960s ····································································································· 68 3.3 Short and Medium-length Novels That Deal with Elderly Suicide in the 1970s ······················································································································ 74 3.4 Short and Medium-length Novels That Deal with Elderly Suicide in the 1980s ······················································································································ 84 3.5 Short and Medium-length Novels That Deal with Elderly Suicide in the 1990s ······················································································································ 94 3.6 Short and Medium-length Novels That Deal with Elderly Suicide from the late 2000s to the Present····················································································· 109 3.7 Conclusion ····································································································· 115 4. LISTENING TO THE NARRATIVES OF MY CO-RESEARCHERS ········ 119 4.1 Introduction: The Reality of the Interview Process ········································ 119 4.2 First Co-researcher’s Story ············································································ 124 4.2.1 Stories of Now and Then ·········································································· 124 4.2.2 Depicting Her Identity Narrative: “I Was Born under an Unlucky Star.” · 125 4.2.2.1 Reflection ··························································································· 126 4.2.3 Her Narrative about Her Family and Others: “I Am Scared to Look at Mom.” ···· 127 iv © University of Pretoria 4.2.3.1 Reflection ··························································································· 130 4.2.4 Her Narrative about Her Relationship with God: “I Have a Noble Mind.” ·················································································································