The vast changes that have swept Asia and the rest of the
world in the latter half of the 20th century have naturally been felt in the
day-to-day lifestyle of every Korean. Traditional customs and mores have undergone
a great deal of change due to the rapid modernization of society. Despite these
changes, however, Korea is still one of the most Confucian nations in the world.
The traditional ways of the past and the long-cherished customs continue to
influence Koreans' newly acquired modern ways.
In the past, several generations often lived together, and
people believed many children were desirable for the stability and security
of the family. It was not unusual for the number of people sharing one house
to total a dozen people or more. In recent years, however, the move to urban
areas and the popularity of new apartment-type housing have meant that newly
married couples tend to live on their own, creating nuclear families, instead
of sharing quarters with other family members.
Traditionally, the eldest male of a family was regarded as
the source of supreme authority. All family members were expected to do what
was ordered or desired by him. Strict instructions were to be obeyed without
protest. It would have been unthinkable for children or grandchildren to place
themselves in opposition to the wishes of their elders. Obedience to one's superior
was deemed natural; in addition, filial piety in particular was viewed as the
most important of all Confucian virtues. On the other hand, it was understood
that the patriarch of the family would be fair in all matters relating to the
discipline of family members.
The adage that a man must first seek his own development and
manage his family properly before he can seek to govern others reflects the
principal tenet behind the ideal of the Confucian social order. Under this system,
man has traditionally been given the responsibility of representing, supporting
and protecting his family. Order at home is maintained through the principle
of hierarchy in which children must obey parents, the wife the husband, the
servants the master. Reverence and respect for one's elders is a long-held social
tradition in Korea.
There are many monuments throughout Korea commemorating loyal
subjects, filial sons and faithful women. These monuments were erected as a
way of honoring such people as models of society. Community service and spirit
were also nurtured and promoted by the social recognition given to those who
adhered to family values, the social order, loyalty, filial piety and fidelity.
The Korean people have always attached particular importance
to the concept of fidelity. Widows, even if their husbands died young, were
encouraged to be faithful by obediently serving her husband's parents and not
remarrying. In some cases, girls whose husbands-to-be died during the engagement
period were pressured not to marry. Such behavior was admired and many communities
erected stone monuments recognizing these virtuous wives for displaying such
loyal attributes.
The importance of filial piety was even reflected in Korean
speech. The Korean language is endowed with a complicated and elaborate honorific
system. Depending upon who the speaker is talking to, different word and verb
usages are applied, which accurately reflect his or her social standing with
regard to the listener.
In traditional Korea, the typical family was large with three
or four generations usually living together. Because infant mortality was high
and a big family was thought of as a blessing, having many children was desired.
However, the rapid industrialization and urbanization of the country in the
1960s and 1970s were accompanied by an effective birth control drive, and the
average number of children in a family has been dramatically decreased to two
or less in the 1980s.
Having a long Confucian tradition under which the eldest son
takes over as head of the family, a preference for sons was prevalent in Korea.
To tackle the problem of male preference, the government has completely rewritten
family-related laws in a way that ensures equality for sons and daughters in
terms of inheritance.
Industrialization of the country has made life more hectic
and complicated. Young married couples have begun to separate from their extended
families and start their own homes. Now almost all families are couple-centered
nuclear families. |