The concept of civil religion refers to beliefs, symbols, and rituals as well as institutions which reinforce social cohesion, legitimate the socio-political system, and mobilize citizens to achieve common national objectives. Because it celebrates and reinforces the nation’s culture and history, civil religion is a source of powerful identity which promotes national unity and sustains individual commitment toward national goals. The question is thus: Is there civil religion in South Korea? If so, what are its characteristics? In view of these questions, this paper examines Korea’s culture, history, national symbols, and renewed traditionalism to identify the characteristics of Korean civil religion. The paper argues that a strong civil religion exists in Korea and that it has been an integral part of the nation-building process since the founding of the First Republic in 1948. The paper also asserts that a succession of authoritarian governments (1961–1993) has promoted strong civil religion to legitimatize the regime and to mobilize the masses to actively participate in the modernization and industrialization processes. Also examined in the paper is how Korean civil religion to this day has endorsed economic growth as the national goal to overcome all social ills; how Korean civil religion has promoted national confidence and pride regarding the country’s alleged ethnic and cultural homogeneity; how it has ascribed sacred meanings to such secular symbols as the flag and the national anthem; and how it has exalted Shamanism as a repository of Korean culture and has glorified certain traditional Confucian values.
목차
Abstract INTRODUCTION THE BIRTH OF A REPUBLIC: POLITICAL CHAOS, ECONOMIC STAGNATION, AND CONFLICTS IN NATION-BUILDING KOREAN CIVIL RELIGION: CONCEPTUALIZATION OF INDUSTRIALIZATION AS A NATIONAL DESTINY ELEMENTS OF KOREAN CIVIL RELIGON Long History and Common Historical Experiences Ethnic and Linguistic Homogeneity National Symbols SHAMANIC AND CONFUCIAN ELEMENTS IN KOREAN CIVIL RELIGION Shamanism and Cultural Unity Confucian Values and Korean Civil Religion CONCLUSIONS REFERENCES
키워드
Koreacivil religionnation buildingnational identityand national symbols.
한국연구원은 1970년 5월 한국 민속의 각 분야에 걸친 자료의 수집과 학술적 연구를 목적으로 '한국민속연구소'로 출발하였다. 그 후 1973년 5월 연구 분야를 확대하며 민속뿐만 아니라 한국학 전반에 걸친 연구를 위해 '한국학연구소'로 개편하였고, 다시 1989년 3월 한국의 국제적 위상의 부상과 함께 한국학 연구의 중요성이 높아짐에 따라 '한국학연구원'으로 확대, 개편하였다. 한국학연구원은 한국학 전반에 걸친 연구를 통해 지역과 민족문화 발전에 기여하며 한국학의 세계화를 위해서 학술활동을 강화하고 나아가 내·외국인에 대한 한국문화 교육을 담당하고자 한다.