Page 53 - A Dissertation for Doctor of Philosophy
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As a result of the present study, the most remarkable characteristics of the values of
late 1990s Koreans were (1) increase in individualism centered on self and family
(especially among those younger, higher in education, and higher in income), (2)
changes in attitude toward women (in terms of pursuing a career and issues of
chastity), (3) decrease in postmaterialistic tendencies (as a result of a slight
reversion toward materialism after IMF), and (4) increase in self-assertiveness and
acceptance of uncertainty. 106
Except for the slight decrease in post-materialism due to the experience of an economic
breakdown in 1997, the other tendencies are those of postmodernism. These factors seem to
indicate that Korea is poised toward a postmodern society.
Mixture of Values and Customs
Due to the marvelous economic growth in Korea from the 1960s, the Korean society
changed drastically from a traditional pre-modern culture to a modern culture in terms of its
socio-structure. Organizations and institutions became increasingly modern. The Sinsedae, the
new generation with a postmodern paradigm, has grown up and forms a new sub-culture. The
“habits of the heart” and the way of forming and maintaining social relationships, however, do
not seem to have changed accordingly. 107 Institutions and organizations with modern structure
continue to enjoy grounding through traditional social relationships, such as political parties,
business conglomerates, and other social groups. The “habits of the heart and customs of
ordinary people” could not follow the changing pace of “rush-industrailization.” 108
Contemporary Korean culture displays variegated layers of culture. Sometimes the lights
of culture mix and produce a different color completely. Sometimes they remain isolated, solid,
106 Ibid., 321-22.
107 Jaeyeol Yee, “Too Modern Too Soon?: Dualism in Civil Society, Everyday Life, and
social Relations in Contemporary Korea.” Korea Journal 40 (Spring 2000), 282.
108
Ibid., 282-83.
