A theological-ethical critique of Korean entertainment television in the light of Alasdair MacIntyre's ethics by Hoseok Kim Thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Theology (Systematic Theology) at Stellenbosch University. Supervisor: Prof. Dion Forster April 2019 Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Declaration By submitting this thesis electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my own, original work, that I am the sole author thereof (save to the extent explicitly otherwise stated), that reproduction and publication thereof by Stellenbosch University will not infringe any third party rights and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it for obtaining any qualification. April 2019 Copyright © 2019 Stellenbosch University All rights reserved ii Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Abstract The mass media is exerting an enormous influence on Korean society today, especially television media. The latter does not only mirror Korean norms, but also determines and reinforces current ethical trends. Amongst others, survival audition programs have gained much popularity in recent years This study argues that the neoliberal values embedded in these programs are impacting on the moral formation of viewers, and thereby facilitating the ethical deficiency of Korean society. To understand this phenomenon further, this study examined the specific values of Korean television entertainment, and took cognizance of why and how these programs should be critiqued. This analysis was done from three different perspectives: A socio-historical perspective, a media theoretical perspective, and an ethical-theological perspective. The former tracked the origin of neoliberalism in Korean society and how it has evolved over time. Neoliberalism in Korea started with the influence of the economic policies of Western countries, but there were already traces of neoliberalism before that, i.e. during the Korean War and monocracy. Through the theories of representative media scholars, namely, Walter Benjamin, Harold Innis, Marshall McLuhan, and Günther Anders, it was found that media is no longer just a tool to deliver content, but also exercises a profound and powerful influence on the moral trends of society. Finally, this study critiqued neoliberalized Korean television entertainment from an ethical-theological perspective. Alasdair MacIntyre's ethics formed the basis for this critical reflection, and his virtue ethics, which emphasizes community, was proposed as an alternative. MacIntyre‘s ethics was introduced as an ethical foundation to critique Korean television entertainment in conjunction with the theological viewpoints of John Milbank, Stanley Hauerwas, and Graham Ward. iii Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Opsomming Die massamedia oefen vandag 'n geweldige invloed op die Koreaanse samelewing, veral televisie-media. Laasgenoemde weerspieël nie net Koreaanse norme nie, maar bepaal ook en versterk huidige etiese tendense. Oorlewings-oudisieprogramme het onder andere in die afgelope jare baie gewild geword. Hierdie studie beweer dat die neoliberale waardes wat in hierdie programme ingesluit is, 'n impak op die morele vorming van kykers het, en sodoende die etiese tekort van die Koreaanse samelewing vergemaklik. Om hierdie verskynsel verder te verstaan, het hierdie studie die spesifieke waardes van Koreaanse televisievermaak ondersoek, en kennis geneem van waarom en hoe hierdie programme gekritiseer moet word. Hierdie analise is gedoen uit drie verskillende perspektiewe: 'n sosio- historiese perspektief, 'n media-teoretiese perspektief en 'n etiese-teologiese perspektief. Die voormalige het die oorsprong van neoliberalisme in die Koreaanse samelewing opgespoor en hoe dit met verloop van tyd ontwikkel het. Neoliberalisme in Korea het begin met die invloed van die ekonomiese beleid van Westerse lande, maar daar was voorheen spore van neoliberalisme, dws tydens die Koreaanse Oorlog en monokrasie. Deur die teorieë van verteenwoordigende media-geleerdes, naamlik Walte r Benjamin, Harold Innis, Marshall McLuhan en Günther Anders, is bevind dat di e media nie net net 'n instrument is om inhoud te lewer nie, maar ook 'n diepga ande en kragtige invloed op die morele tendense van die samelewing. Ten slotte het hierdie studie die neoliberaliseerde Koreaanse televisieverm aak vanuit 'n eties-teologiese perspektief gekritiseer. Alasdair MacIntyre se etiek het die basis gevorm vir hierdie kritiese refleksie, en sy deugde-etiek, wat die ge meenskap beklemtoon, is as alternatief voorgestel. MacIntyre se etiek is bekend gestel as 'n etiese grondslag om Koreaanse televisievermaak te kritiseer in sam ehang met die teologiese standpunte van John Milbank, Stanley Hauerwas en G raham Ward. iv Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Acknowledgement I am deeply grateful to Trinity God and my supporters. This thesis could not have been finished without help from them. It is my great pleasure to acknowledge them who have given me help and encouragement. Firstly, I appreciate Trinity God for guiding the footsteps of all my life and providing all the help and wisdom. God has called me and made me a minister of the church. I pray that my study will be used correctly for the church of God, and I also pray that I will be a courageous and wise minister for the church of God. Secondly, I also appreciate my dear family. My mother, Mrs. Ryu, prays everyday for me and helps me spiritually and financially. Without her love, I would never have achieved anything. I also thank my parents-in-law. They have been caring to my family for a long time, and continue to provide generous financial support. Without their help, I would never have had the courage to study abroad. And I also thank my beloved children, Jian and Gangyu. They have endured the strange foreign life that they did not want, and they always give me courage and motivation. More than anyone, I owe a lot of love to my wife Seunghee Kim. I thank her for walking along this path bravely with me as the pastor's wife. Thirdly, I also wish to extend my heartfelt thanks to the following churches for their prayers and great encouragement: The Chambich Church and Rev. Kim Yoon-ha, who retained my church membership during my long leave of absence, and upon my return, invited me to be a minister of the church. This was a great honor. I also wish to thank the Dong-in Church and The Yanggu Central for their ongoing encouragement and support, even though I was not one of their main members. I will always remember your love. Lastly, I would like to send my deep appreciation to my supervisor Prof. Dion Forster for his patience and the continuous support of my MTh study. Through him, I was able to learn a balanced perspective on Christian ethics and gained proper help for media research. Above all, I was able to get a great deal of encouragement every time I had a conversation with him because he always had a kind attitude to me who is a foreign student not fluent in language. v Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................................. IV 1. INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY ........................................................... I 1.1 RESEARCH PROBLEM ................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1.1 BACKGROUND & RATIONALE ................................................................................................................ 1 1.1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM ............................................................................................................... 6 1.1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS ............................................................................................................................ 6 1.1.4 CONTRIBUTION AND RELEVANCE ............................................................................................................ 7 1.2 RESEARCH OUTLINE ................................................................................................................................... 9 1.2.1 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND GOALS .............................................................................................. 9 1.2.2 CHAPTER OUTLINE ................................................................................................................................ 10 1.3 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................................................. 12 2. TELEVISION ENTERTAINMENT AND THE ETHICAL TREND IN KOREAN SOCIETY.... 13 2.1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................................. 13 2.2. CHARACTERISTICS OF TELEVISION ENTERTAINMENT IN KOREA ............................................................ 13 2.2.1 APPEARANCE OF KOREANIZED REALITY AUDITION PROGRAMS .................................................... 13 2.2.2 REASON FOR APPEARANCE: COMBINATION OF REALITY AND SHOW TO MAXIMIZE FUN AND DESIRE ..................................................................................................................................................................... 15 2.2.2.1 FUN EVOLVING MODEL .................................................................................................................