p. 11 | The Social Life of Korea

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 11, 1915

The Social Life of Korea

A KOREAN

Some scattered fragments of Korean social customs have already appeared in the writings of our Western friends, especially Christian workers, who are interested in the rapid and marvelous movement of Christianity in Korea. There is, however, much misinformation and misunderstanding.

In the first place, some of the writers get their information from foreigners, not Koreans, whose knowledge is neither definite, accurate, nor true. Again, it is mixed with some diplomatic purpose or with national prejudice. Some obtain their information from insignificant stories told them by an ignorant class of the natives. They write this down hastily, and sometimes even venture to criticize before making a careful research. Finally, a few of them collect their material and criticize justly. Yet even among these, many, being fond of curiosity, put too much stress upon the dark side of life. Others, unfortunately, have not studied Korean history long enough to secure the true conception of Korean life. Since the subject of their writing is chiefly the movement of the religion of the cross, time and space will not allow them to give full accounts. Whether they are correct or incorrect, fair or unfair, we thank them just the same, for they make us able to think about our society more carefully, and find out the weaknesses, defects, and corruptions in it.

A Korean family of ancient type is based on Confucianism. It is almost entirely different from that of the Western world. The family is the best-organized and most fully developed of all social and political units in Korea. According

to our conception, a state is merely an enlarged form of a family. It is a self-governing body of several members, with fixed rights, duties, and division of function among themselves.

Besides these mentioned, there are numerous less important rules and minor principles about the family which are left unmentioned. All these things are strictly observed, not through fear of the law of the state, but because disobedience to these unwritten social customs would bring shame and dishonor upon the family. A Korean is carefully trained from the beginning to the end of his life to be obedient to the time-honored customs of society, to be sensible to honor and shame, and to love others in order to be loved by others. The family is crowded, but peaceful; for it is kept in order. Therefore, in planning to reform the Korean family, we are going to encourage a revival of old customs and introduce new principles from the Western world. We hope we shall then have an ideal form of society, a combination of all the best moral and social principles of ancient and modern times.