Koreans' Social Identity

Author: Myoung-Jin Lee and Ji-Young Choi

Hardcover

This book examines the changing characteristics of Korean society and Koreans in various areas, including politics, economics, and society, providing rich analyses on social identity.

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Summary

This book examines the changing characteristics of Korean society and Koreans in various areas, including politics, economics, and society, providing rich analyses on social identity.

Description

This book examines the changing characteristics of Korean society and Koreans in various areas, including politics, economics, and society, providing rich analyses on social identity. Factoring in the trajectory of Korean history, the authors chart the rapid economic growth of Korea and the ways in which this has significantly improved Koreans' material living standards. The book shows that despite the Cold War and inter-Korean confrontation, active citizen participation has institutionalized democracy in Korea. A society once characterized by strong familial ties and patriarchal verticality has shifted to a more horizontal structure with diverse values. Transitions from agricultural to industrial and information societies have occurred within one or two generations. Rapid aging is another critical issue, with Korea experiencing one of the fastest aging trends globally. The shift toward a multicultural society challenges the traditional identity of Koreans based on a single ethnicity. Against this backdrop, this book seeks to capture the characteristics of changing Korean society and the people living in it, based on the concept of social identity that an individual's evaluation is not just a temporary personal feeling or prejudice but a cultural product. It allows for an objective analysis of a society or its cultural characteristics by measuring social identity. The first part of the book introduces the concept of social identity and presents analysis results in several fields. The second examines changes in the values and attitudes of representative Koreans. The third part discusses the social problems and tasks created by the changes in various values and attitudes. Finally, the last section explores concrete measures to overcome these problems and aim for social integration in future and emphasizes elements that enhance social trust and integration. It is relevant to sociologists and scholars working across various social science dimensions focused on Korea.

About the Author

Myoung-Jin Lee is Professor and Vice President for academic affairs at Korea University. With a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Iowa, he has made significant contributions to the field, focusing on social mobility, information society, quantitative methodology, and political sociology. His academic journey began with a B.A. in sociology from Seoul National University and an M.A. from the University of Iowa. At Korea University, he has held several key positions, including Director of the Institute of General Education and the Institute of Social Research, and Associate Dean of the Graduate School. His leadership extends to the Korean Sociological Association and the Korean Association of Survey Research. Prolific Researcher, Professor Lee has received numerous honors and fellowships, and his work has been supported by major research grants. His dedication to public service includes roles in advisory committees and editorial positions in various academic journals. Ji-Young Choi is Research Assistant Professor of sociology at the University of Macau. She received her Ph.D. in sociology from Korea University in South Korea and B.A. in sociology from Peking University in China. Her research interests include gerontology, sociology of family, comparative study, and quantitative methods.