Seventh Cultural Post (SDLC 110)

[Carson Watlington]

Attitudes about Family in the Target CultureKorean attitudes about family are rooted in Confucianism. Confucianism dictates that the harmonious family is the basis for a harmonious country. This harmony is dependent on familial piety, adherence to the patriarchal system, and continuation of the blood line, and it serves as the foundation for the ‘traditional’ Korean family. The traditional Korean familial system crossed into the country’s code of law until around the end of Japanese occupation in the 20th century. This organization of the family gave the family’s patriarch full control over the other members, including who married whom. The eldest son inherited the majority of the family’s wealth, eventually became the head of the family, and then took care of his parents. The daughters would be married off, so they were not highly valued members of their original family since they would join a different one. Even when the woman would join her new family, her position in the family was not secured until she had a son. There were exceptions to the patriarchal system, but it did affect the majority of Korean families.This system is very archaic and lessened in severity as time went on, especially after the industrialization. After the end of Japanese occupation, the Korean legal system was revised and took power away from patriarchs. The movement away from farming and towards city life meant smaller living arrangements that did not accommodate large family units and more breadwinners in the family, including women. With demanding jobs and their own place to live, children gained more independence from their parents and more separation. Although the modern Korean family is more progressive, it is not similar to the American attitudes towards family. Korean families are supposedly still very close knit and steeped in Confusions thought, but each family member have much more autonomy.