A SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY ON THE CAUSES OF THE POVERTY IN KOREAN RURAL COMMUNITIES
Dept. of Farm Management, College of Agriculture
Chonnam University
JAE-YOOL CHOl
In Korean rural commnunities there are rnany causes of poverty, some of which are econo...
A SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY ON THE CAUSES OF THE POVERTY IN KOREAN RURAL COMMUNITIES
Dept. of Farm Management, College of Agriculture
Chonnam University
JAE-YOOL CHOl
In Korean rural commnunities there are rnany causes of poverty, some of which are economical, technical and social. I want to explain causes for the poverty in rural communities by farmers social point of view.
My first aim is to find how the farmers think and how their social point of view has developed,considering especial1y objective causes such as the natural and geographical conditions and subjective causes such as religious influences.
Our ancestors enjoyed good farming conditions, because temperature is high and rainfall is heavy.
There is a characteristics of rice growing society. korean farmers, today as well as the past, are influenced by Buddhism and Confucionism.
G대graphical environment has influenced national character, because Korea is naturally protected by the sea and mountains. Therefore, Korea was for many years lived in secured isolation from external enemies. Finally, however, our nation fell in the control of foreign
pewers.
The ideological values which the people of our nation pursue are personal and social relation rather than material things.
This study will indicate that surplus population in rural areas and small scale-farming, and the concentration of living in villages rather than the isolated farmetead have given to evil practices in rural economy.
This study also will indicate that feudalistic value consciousness has made the farmer conservative and exclusive.
Farmers in Korea are not governed -by rationalism and do not understand the need for economic cooperation.
There are many examples by which can be illustrated the causes of poverty from such conditions.
This thesis aims to find a new motive for rural development through a new spirit of enterpreneur.
Our farmers have been too much confined by the social point of view of family relations.
They have not cared about economic development. This is one reason why they are so poor nowadays.
Like it or not, all farmers must live in a competitive society. We Cannot live within a self-sufficient economy, because farmers' children receive modern education and farmers themselves are influenced by contact with modern civilization.
There have been many social values which our nation has received from adhering to traditions and social idea. But those merits are now almost lost, because farmers are too poor. We find it very difficulty to conserve social values without the improvement of living standard.
So this thesis' conclusion is that all farmers should manage their farms according to entreprenaur spirits and the same time endeavor to keep our proud traditions and social value.