Changes in the Perception of Work in Korea from the Late Nineteenth Century to the Late 1970s

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

It is widely recognized that one of the most important prerequisites of industrialization involves mobilizing the labor-force’s commitment to industry. Of various aspects of labor commitment, the subjective perception of the meaning and value of work is probably the most crucial of social psychological factors. In view of this, this paper aims to examine ways in which ideas about work developed and changed in South Korea from the late nineteenth century to the 1970s, the period marking the country’s remarkable transition from economic backwardness to dynamic industrialization. In the process, the following observations are made: 1) pre-industrial economic culture in the late nineteenth century Korea was largely shaped and influenced by Confucian ethics, which generally regarded work and commercial activity as inferior and demeaning; 2) the perception of work during the Japanese colonial period was primarily informed by the ideal of independence; 3) the political chaos during the post-liberation period hindered the formation of positive conceptions of work and economic growth; and 4) the “official” ideology of work during the 1960s and 1970s equated economic objectives with national aspirations and drew upon pro-growth Confucian ethics. This paper will trace these ideas about work in historical perspective and sociologically analyze their relevance to economic stagnation or growth in South Korea. In addition, this study will draw attention to many areas of comparison concerning the role of values in economic transformation, particularly those involving Japan and other Newly Industrializing Economies (NIEs).