Overview

When we think about Korean Thought or Korean Philosophy, much of the focus tends to be on the distinguished figures, their writings, and their intellectual debates. Korean Political Thought, however, while not entirely overlooked, remains relatively underexplored, and perhaps, underappreciated. But, we should remember that most Korean Confucians were not merely intellectuals. They aspired to put their ideas into action, trying to realize an ideal Confucian society. In that sense, they were also politicians, either with or without government participation. As such, they are often referred to as scholar-officials. It is, therefore, crucial to understand what their political visions were, how their ideas influenced Korean society, and what we can learn from them to make our world a better place. This lecture series, featuring eight thought-provoking sessions, offers a valuable introduction to Korean Political Thought. It is designed to engage everyone, both those already familiar with Korean philosophy and those encountering it for the first time.

Syllabus

Foundation of Joseon Dynasty and Political Legitimacy

Nice to meet you, everyone! Our course will kindly look at Korean political philosophy in its introductory stage, from Joseon to modern times. In this week, we will have Prof. Back's overview of the entire parking space and Dr. Lee's course that introduces the founding of Joseon with the concept of political legitimacy.

King Injo's Restoration

Restoration is one of the most dramatic events in the history of the Joseon Dynasty. In this week, we will look at how this event was justified in Confucian discourse.

International Order: China-Centered Tributary System

In this week, we will take a look at the traditional international relationships in East Asia. In East Asia, there was a long period of particular forms of system, not simple domination and submission. You can look at them and think about how they differ from modern international relations and how they inspire us.

Confucian Theory of Just War

Confucianism, which features benevolence (ren 仁), faces situations in which war must be fought in real politics. Some people said it could be justified as a war for moral principles, while others said it should be given up the war for the sake of the people's well-being, which is the purpose of politics. In this week, through this interesting tension, you will be able to see an important aspect of Confucian virtue politics.

Colonization and Korea’s Independence Movement

Joseon lost its sovereignty and became a colony of the Japanese Empire, and in Korea, many people participated in the independence movement, especially the March 1st Movement, a monumental event. In response, the two Joseon thinkers gave different evaluations. In this week, we will read a paper comparing it and reflect it.

Family System & Norms in Korea and Confucian Human Rights Theory

From this week, we will cover modern Korea. Unlike Joseon and the Japanese colonial era, modern Korean society is similar to many in the modern world, but it also maintains Confucian values in some respects. It works particularly strongly in the family domain and has shaped the role of women in the family. In this course, we look at the process by which changes are required and made through the women's movement in Korean society.

Civil Society and Nun-chi in Korean Culture

In this week, we will examine Korean civil society through 'Nunchi', a concept that shows the characteristics of Korea well. We also examines the hierarchy and distance that play a major role in Korea, and examines how it can move toward an equal civil society.

Korean Democracy and Confucian Virtue Politics

In this week, we will explore the decisive factor in the impeachment of Park Geun Hye's president in 2016 through the concept of affective accountability. Thank you for your hard work in taking all the lectures, and we hope it was a rich learning opportunity for you.