I

UNIT 11 EVOLUTION O F MODERN

KOREA
Structure

11.0 Objectives
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Pre-Modern Civilization of Korea
11.2.1 The Form of Government
11.2.2 The Socio-Political Decline of Korea
11.3 The Rise of the Modernisatio~iQuest ill Korea
11.4 The Disilitegration of the Confucianized Monarchy
11.4.1 Western Encroachments
11.4.2 The Kanghwa Treaty
11.4.3 The Tonghak Rebellion
11.4.4 The Annexation of Korea by Japan
11.5 Evolution of the Modernisi~igProcess in Korea
11.5.1 The Reform Movement of the Progressive Party
11.5.2 The Enlightenment Movement of the independence Club
11 .5.3 The bevelopment of the Modern Ecnnomic Infrastructure in Korea
11.5.4 The Growth of Modem Education
11.5.5 The Social and Political Transformation during the Independence Struggle of
Korea
11.6 Let Us Su~llUp
11.7 Key Words
11.8 Sollie Useful Books
11.9 A~&*ers to Check Your Progress Exercises

11.0 OBJECTIVES

This unit deals with evolution of lliodcni Korea. The unit discusses about the history,
geography, civilization and ~~iodernization process of an ancient land. After going
through the unit you will he able to :
ide~ilifythe geographical location and understand the geopolitical imporlance of Korea;
trace the history of Korea;
discuss the refor111liloveliie~itsfor niodernization of Korean peninsula;
asses the depth of Japanese colo~iialexploitation in Korea;
study the liberation struggle of the Korean people against the foreign rule.

11.1 INTRODUCTION

Korea is a peninsula and is strategici~llylocated in East Asia. Its rieighbours are

Russia, China and Japan. Though they are separated fro111 the peni~lsularregion by
seas, rivers and mountains, all of the111 consider that a hogtile Korea is a sword
poi~rtedat their hearts. Since ti~iieimmeniorial therefore these states (or powers) have
been attc~lipti~igto intervene in Korean affairs at the slightest provocation. Followilig
the elid of the Second World War (1945) the USA, a very distant country, has also
got itself involved in Korean affairs because of strategical reasons.
Korea is an ancient lalid Like,other ancient cou~itricsit was also divided at the daw~i
of the civilization into several independent principalities. In course of tinie the
country was unified under a single political authority. The political disunity however
did not stand on the way of eniergiiig an identical culture, language and civilization
of all Korean people. Jt was perhaps due to the idelltical ethno-lingual genesis of the Content Digitized by eGyanKosh, IGNOU
Government and Politics in
East and South-LSIAsia
people. All Korean peoplcs emanate from the sanie ethno-lingual stock. 'The Korca~~s
developed their own culture and civilization, but they did not hesitate to borrow fro111 I
their ncighboursXhina and Japan. The Koreans however absorbed and adapted to I
their conditions the best of China and Japan. Korea had been all along an I -
independent nation till the first decade of 20th century, when Japan reduced the
peninsula to a colony of its own. When the colo~iialrule ended after the defeat of I
i
Japan in the Second World War, the country was liberated only to be occupied by I

the USA and Russia. The occupation culniinated in the partition of the ancient land
into two independent states South Korea and North Korea.
South Korea which is officially known now as the Republic of Korea (ROK),
occupies the southern region of the peninsula. To the north of the RDK lies the North
Korea, to the south is the East China Sea, to the east is the sea of Japan and to the
west of the RDK lies the Yellow Sea. Total land area of the RDK is 99.091 sq.km
where niore than 43 ~liillionpeople (as per the esti~ilateof 1991) live. Korean is the
language of the state. Buddhism a ~ Christianity
~ d are the principal religions. There are
also a few iiii~iorreligions'like Daoisln Confucianisni etc.
North Korea which has been named as the Deniocratic People's Republic of Kprea
(DPRK), is foniied with the northern part of the peninsula. To the north of the DPRK
is the People's Republic of China. Total land area of the DPRK is 122,400 sq.km.,
and its population as per the esti~iiateof 1990 is iiiore than 20 million. The language
of the DPRK is Korean. Here also like the ROK, Buddhis~iiand Christianity are the
main religions.

11.2 PRE-MODERN CIVILIZATION OF KOREA

Situated at the northeastern edge of the Asian continents, Korea is a peninsular

country endowed with encha~itingnatural beauty and chi~nils.Allout 4th century B.C.
there arose a ~iiagnificentcivilization known as 'Choson' (literal nieaning : ~lioniing
freshness) which reached its pci~kof prosperity around eighth century A.D. By that
time, the whole of the nation had bcen uriitied into a Kingdolt1 by a ruling dynasty
known as 'Silla'. It was during the reign of Silla that the groundworks of long lasti~ig
culture of Korca were laid. Remarkable achieve~iie~its were gai~iedin thc spheres of
art, literature, science and architecture. Buddhist doctrines, Co~ifucianethics and
Chinese technologies were incorporated into the native culture which enriclied the
Korea11 civilization. Later on, during the rcigns of Koryo and Yi dynasties, moveable
printing type and an indigenous writing systeni-based on Sanskrit phonetics-werc
invented. All these aconiplish~iientsiliade the Korean Kind011 "a country of educated
gentlcmcn" as na~iiedby T' ai-tsung, the eniperor of China of T'ang dy~ii~sty. Indian
and Chinese influences on the Korean socicty gave a hu~ila~iistic touch lo its culture
which found its expression in the for111 of 'Confuci;~n Humanisni' during the rule of
the ~iiostelllightened king of Korea, Scjong (r.141-50). With it s vast Buddhist
nionasteries and teniples strewn all over the land in secluded and serene surrounding,
Koreas also caliie to be kllow~ias the "Heniiit Kingdoai." It had giown inlo a pioiicer
civilization of the Orient long before the ~ilodcr~l European civilization traversed Asia.
"In the days when the early Briton paillled hi~llsclfwith woad ......Korea was a
powerful, orderly and civilised kingdom," says Mc Kenzie. It is a fact that evcli
Japan learned sollie of the artistic and linguistic skills from Korea.
But at the salile tinle, the incrcasi~lganluence ol' the country 11iilde its rulers lax and
conlylacent. The nobility of Korea beca~tlearroga~ltand divided into various factions who
began to fight with one another ovcr the spoils of power and wealth. Consequently, the
interests of the co~ll~ilo~lpeople were neglected who beca~iiepoor and oppressed. There
was also a chain of forcig~ii~lvasio~ls by the neighbouring powers and barbarian tribes
which ruined the country frequently.

11.2.1 The Form of Governme~it

During the reign of Yi dy~iastyin Korca, a herediti~ryking ruled ovcr the cou~ltry
with the help of an advisory Council of State consisting of a Chief Minister and
 Evolution of Modem Korea
some other minisferi.-The executive work was carried out by six Ministries or Boards
of Peisoonel, Revenue, Rites, War, Justice and Public Works. Thrke other orgalls of
t k Governn~ent(i) the Board of Censors, (ii) the Board of Inspectors, and (iii) the
Office of the Royal Lecturers also played a vital role. There was also a Royal
Secretariat to perforni the administrative functions. The country was divided into eight
pmvinces ruled by governors appointed by the central government annually. Each
province was divided into administrative units of prefectures, countries and districts.
The recruitment of government officials was done through a national civil service
examination. But only the members of the Yangban class were eligible for taking
examination for high government posts.
Although, as a matter of principle, all powers of the governn~entbelonged to the
n~onarch,but in actual practice, these were exercised by the feudal nobles who
occupied all the government posts. As these officials belonging to the nobility were
greedy and cruel, they often misused their powers in exploiting and oppressing the
common masses. Similarly, although the Confucian ethics expected the kings to be
bel~cvolentrulers, most of them played in the hands af the feudal lords and acted in
a tyrannicd manner. Thus for all practical purposes, the Korean n~onarchywas turned
gnto an oligarchy during the rule of the Yi dynasty. However, some of the Yi
monarchs like king Sejong etc. were enlightened and benevolent who cared for the'
public welfare.

11.2.2 The Socio-Political Decline of Korea

Taking advantage of the laxity of their rulers, the feudal lords and aristocrates of
Korea expanded their private estates and powers,. These estates became virtually
independent Kingdollis within the Kingdom. In order to strengthen their position
against the growing influence of the landed aristocracy, the Yi dynasty rulers of
Korea took sotne inlportant steps which affected the entire structure of the country.
First of all, they adopted the neo-Confucianis~n(Propodnded by Chu Hsi, the disciple
of Confucius) as the state creed which enlphasised hierarchical relationship between
rulers and subjects. It caused a rigid stratification of the Korean society dividing it
into four classes of aristocrats, middle-class, comlnonen and the low-born. At the
highest level were the aristocrats known as 'Yangban' who dominated the political as
well as econonuc life of the society and treated the coinmoners and low-borns as
their slaves. The commoners who carried the burdens of the state, supplied food,
labour and troops, and paid taxes, also the people who were exploited by the
aristocrats and middle-class. The most oppressed and i~~~poverished anlong the111 were
the farmers who were not the owners of land. They had to till the land only as
tenants. They had to pay high rents to their landlords and also the taxes illiposed by
the government. Secondly, the Yi rulers in order to enhance their esteem in the eyes
of the local nobility (and perhaps also to pass on the responsibility of defending the
country from foreign invasions) sought the diplomatic favour of the paranlou~~t power
of the Chinese empire. For this purpose, they accepted the Chinese suzerainty over
Korea in accordance with the Confucian precept of 'sadae' (subservience to the elder/
bidgreat). But this unden~unedthe sovereign status of Korea and opened the way for
outside interventions in her domestic affairs. Thirdly, as Co~lfucianismlooked down
upon those who engiged thenlselves in trade and business, there was no
encouragement to the economic and industrial developnlent of the country up to the
nud-dneteenth century or so. Fourthly, the Korean rulers also followed a policy of
isolation from the outside world except China for about three hundred years. They
wanted to renuin aloof from the international co~nplicationsbecause of their past
experience of recumng foreign invasions. Through this policy, they tried to appease
China with a show of respect and pacify Japan with linuted trade benefits while
cutting off completely from the rest of the world. But it did not help them in
safeguarding the nation. It obstructed the flow of new ideas into the Korean society.
Consequent upon the above reasons, the gulf between the ruling class and the conunon
people widened in the Yi dynasty of Korea. The oppression and impoverishment of the
nlasses reached its extreme. The society as a whole became immobile and the age-old Content Digitized by eGyanKosh, IGNOU
socio-economic and political institutions of Korea became obsolete and decadent.
Cmvermenl and Polltla In
k t and south-~prtAda 113 THE RISE OF THE MODERNISATI-ONQUEST IN
KOREA

The creative era in ancient Korea came to an end around the middle of the 15th
century (i.e. after the death of King Scjong who was the most enlightened and.
benevolent ruler of Korea). In the Meantime, scientific and technological advances in
Europe had given tre~nendouseconomic and military powers to the Western nations.
Tbey were utilizing these powers for establishing their vast enlpires around the globe
and the wave of western expansionism threatened t%e whole of Asia. But Korea was
still shut in its own shell oblivious of what was happening beyond its frontiers.
However, beneath the seeming tranquillity at the surface, there were pressures of change
building up slowly. The abuses of the rigid social stratification and orthodox custo~uswere
bringing a gradual respoase in the people who were beginning to question the legitimacy
of the whole of the unjust order. The nmin stimulation to this trend of distrust and criticism
of the prevailing system came from some of the members of the Yangban class which was
itself responsible for the misuse of the existing set-up. How it happened is yet another
interesting story of Korea.
Although confucian precepts helped Yangban to maintain t k i r privileges, impose
social stratification and extract loyalty and obedience fro111 the conlnlon people, their
own condition becanle miserable with the passage of time. Every Yangban thougbt
tbat the o~llypossible role for hi111 in the society was to serve the king so tbat he
might acquire the privileges attached to a govenl~ucntposition. Any other profession
except the royal service was considered a disgrace on hi~llselfand his family.
Therefore, those Yangban who failed to obtain government posts remained idle and
became poor.
Moreover, there were two bases of selection for the government posts: social status
and success in a national examination requiring mastery of Confucian classics. As a
result, a new class of Confucian literati, belonging to Yangban and aspiring for royal
service, eilierged in Korea. Those Confucian literati who were unable to achicve their
goal also joined the ranks of inlpoverished aristocracy. This gave them a chance to
identify their own nliserable conditions with the suffering of the collllllon nmsses.
Gradually, they became aware of the necessity of changing and refonlling the old
structure of the Korean kingdom. And for this purpose, they began to propagate the
ideas of hu~lmndignity, equality, freedom, public welfare and econonuc ndva~ice~llent
by adopting the western science and techology.
This led to the origin of a new school of thought known as 'Sirhak' or 'Pragiluitic
Learning' which becanrc the nleinstream of progressive thinking in Korea.
Check Your Progress 1
Ncite : i). Use the space providcd below each question to give your aIL5wer.
ii) Check your answer with the arlswcr give11at the erid of thc usit.
1) What werc the 1iui11fcaturcs of the Yi dy~iastygovenlmcnt i n Korea:'

2) Mention ally two of the inlportiirt political stcps taken by thc Yi dys;isty rulets ol'
Korea and their effects.

3) Read the followiilg exerciscs carefully and mark thc corrcct arlswcrs or state~iie~its.
i) Which one of the lbllowing causcd the rigid social str;~tificationi n Korea during the
Yi dynasty rulc?
a) Buddhism.
 b) Confucianism. Evolution of Modem Korea

c) Neo-Confucianism.
d) Western Imperialism.
li) Which one of the following statements is true? During the Yi dynasty reign in Korea
a) conlmon people could obtain the high government posts through success in a
national civil examination.
b) a meniber of the Yangban class could obtain the high government post without
taking the national civil exanunation.
c) a Confucian Scholar could obtain the high governnient post without taking the
national civil examination.
d) a niember of the Yangban class could obtain the high government post through
success in a national civil exanunation.

11.4 THE DISINTEGRATION OF THE CONFUCIANIZED

MONARCHY

Now you know how the centuries old social, political and economic structures of
Korea became obsolete and oppressive during the Yi dynasty rule, and how the desire
for change arose in the Korean people who were suffering under the unjust and
autocratic systein of government. This growing desire for change stimulated a two-
fold process of modernisation in Korea. On the one hand, trend to break away from
the past and throw away the Chinese shackles emerged among the Korean people. On
the other, they began an effort to reform and renovate the existing political, social
and econonuc structures by adopting the new ideas and institutions. The result was a
gradual disintegration of the Co~ifucianized~no~iarchyas well as the eniergence of a
dynamic and progressive nation. However, there were some significant events and
circunlstances of that time which accelerated the pace of both trends.
The major events and upheavals which caused the down fall of the traditional systems
as well as the rise of the new brces in Korea during the later half of the nineteenth
century are western encroachments, the Kanghwa treaty, the Tonghak rebellion and
the an~iexationof Korea by Japan.

I 11.4.1 Western*Encroachments
You might be aware how the western powers of France, Great Britain, the United
States of America, etc., con~pelledChina and Japan to open their ports for trade
during the middle of the nineteenth century. The nlcans employed by these powers

I1 for their expa~isio~i in East Asia is known as gun-boat Diplo~nacy.After their success
in China and Japan they turned their atlention towards Korea and began to pressurise
it to provide them econo~nicconcessions. Sonie of them also occupied certain
portions of its territoiy. Although Koreans resisted these pressures with remarkable
deternlination, they becan~eaware of the idernal weaknesses of their country and the
! need to strengthen it.
I
11.4.2 The Kanghwa Treaty
When the western powers found it difficult to establish direct relations with Korea
due to Chinese suzerainty over her, they e~icouragcdJapan to break the centuries old
isolation of Korea. By that time, Japan had become a mighty power of Asia. She
and trade in 1876 which is k11ow11as
forced Korea. to sign a treaty of frie~~dship
Ka~ighwaTreaty. Taking advantage of the Japanese success, a l ~ ~ ~allo s the
t inlperialist
powers of the West conipelled Korea to sign the sinlilar treaties and open her ports
for international trade. This was the beginning of the enslavenient of Korea by
i~nperialistpowers. Thus the Kanghwa Treaty struck a severe blow to the power and Content Digitized by eGyanKosh, IGNOU
prestige of the ruling hierarchy of Korea.
Government and ~ o l i t i c sin 11.4.3 The Tonghak Rebellion
East and South-East Asia

As pointed out above the condition of the common people of Korea had beco~ne
extremely nuserable under the oligarchic rule of the Yi dynasty. The most wretched
among them were the farmers. The foreign intervention and exploitation after the
Kanghwa Treaty added to the woes of the Korean masses. Yet the government of
Korea reniairied callous to the increasing hardship of its people. Consequently, a
deepseated resent~l~ent against the corrupt and oppressive order arose and exploded in
the f o m ~of a peasant's revolt in 1894 which is known as the Tanghak Rebellion. The
ideological base to this revolt was provided by a new socio-religious thought 'Ch'
ondogyo' ~ i i e a ~ nthe
g religion of the heavenly way and coiiuilonly known as
'Tonghak' or 'Eastern Learning'. It was propounded by an impoverished Yangban
scholar Choe Che-u who called upon his countrymen to sweep away the traditional
Korean society in its entirety and to create a new era of freedom and equality.
Though the rebellion was crushed by the Korean governinent with the help of the
Chinese and Japanese troops, its message had a volutio~laryeffect on the Korean
society. It broke down the barriers between Yangban and the common people and
struck a severe blow to the feudal system of goveinment. It paved the way for the
evolution of an egalitarian society in Korea.

11.4.4 The Annexation of Korea by Japan

Japan was not satisfied with the partial control of Korean economy provided by the
Kanghwa Treaty. It was anxious to establish l~lonopolisticand absolute control over
the Korean peni~lsulaso as to use it as a stepping-stone for further expansion on the
Asian coatinent. It eliniinated China and Russia from the Korean scene by defeating
them in the sino-Japanese War of 1894 and the Russo-Japanese War of 1904. Britain
and the United States of America favoured the Japanese policy in Korea as a
countenlleasure to the Russian ambitions in the Far East. Taking advantage of the
favourable international situation as well as the weakness of the Korean government;
Japan annexed Korea in 1910. This was the end of the Yi dynasty reign and the
Chinese suzerainty over Korea. It brought the Korean people into direct confrontation
with the modern forces of imperialism, capitalisnl and militarism resulting in a new
deter~ninationin them to meet the challenges of the modern age.
All these incidents and upheavals changed the way of thinking of the Korean people
and made theill eager to rebuild their nation by adopting new ideas and institutions.
This set the pace for the modernising process in Korea.

11.5 EVOLUTION OFTHE MODERNISING PROCESS IN

KOREA

In this last section of the unit, you will study soine of the progtessive movements of ,
Korea which paved the way for the transformation of the country into a riiodern
nation. It will help you to understand how the modernising process emerged in Korea.

11.5.1 The Reform Movement of the Progressive Party

When Korea was colnpelled to sign the Kangliwa Treaty in 1876, sollle Korean
iiltellecturls were greatly impressed and inspired by the technological, economic and
~ililitaryadvaiice~~ieiitof Japan. Led by a pioneer reformer of Korea, Kiln Ok-kyun,
they decided to traiisfor~liKorea on the Japanese lines and launched a new
programme of niodenlisation under the banner of a 'Progressive Party'. They
advocated for the independence of Korea from the Chinese suzerainty and closer
association with Japan. They proposed abolitioil of the inequality of land-holding,
improvement'of agricultural technology, development of natural resources,
co~lstructio~l of better roads, industrial and commercial advanceiiient and reform of the
govern~lientalstructure. They advised the king to establish new educational ..
institutions, hospitals and other public utility services such as streetlights and post
otxces. The king accepted soine of the proposals he also became interested in the
modernisation of the country by thtt time. But the conservative faction of the
govenunent became suspicious of the motives of the Progressives and opposed their Evolution of Modem Korea
proposals. Kim Ok-kyun and his associates attempted to usurp the government power
by assassinating some of the conservative ministers on the occasion of the inaugural
ceremony of the first Post office of Korea. Such kind of rashness on the part of the
Progressives and the occasion chosen by then for coup d'etat caused a serious set-
back to the modernisation movement. Yet this movement set in motion an irreversible
process of modernisation in Korea.

11.5.2 The Enlightenment Movement of the Independence Club

Another step in the progressive direction was taken when a new public organisation
named 'Independence club' was formed by the educated elite of Korea. The main
purpose of this organisation formed in 1896, was to work for the social and political
awakening of the Korean people. The members of the Club took a keen interest in
the promotion of public education and helped in the establishnlent of commerce,
medical and military colleges as well as the training workshops of foreign languages,
carpentary, paper manufacturing, silk weaving and iron, glass, leather and electrical
works. They advocated for the education of women, tree love marriage and
remarriage of widows, and raised their voice against superstition, cruelty and
exploitation. The Club strove for opening up the new avenues of livelihood and
raising the standard of living of the conlmon masses. It pleaded for the equality of
opportunity and the grant of equal civil rights to all citizens. It asserted that all
citizens should be entitled to fair and open trial and there should be codification of
civil and criminal law. The Club asked for the abolition of cruel punishments such as
lynching and deforming the body. It pleaded for the protection of wolnen and
children from inhuman treatment and highlighted the need for providing relief to the
farmers and other oppressed sections of the populace.
In political sphere, the club denounced subservience to China and inculcated the
de~nocraticideals in the people. It suggested a parliamentary fonn of government
co~nbiningthe nornls of monarchy and democracy for the constitutional develop~nent
of Korea. The Club provided the political education to the people through the means
of public debates, street meeting and mass demonstrations. But the activities of the
Club were confined ~nostlyto urban centres and its leaders did not try to expand their
movement to the rural areas. Yet the elllighten~nentcampaign launched by the Club
broadened the outlook of the Korean people. It caused a change of attitude of the
upper classes towards down trodden masses and brought the Korean society out of the
age-old darkness, ignorance and superstition.

11.53 The Development of the Modern Economic Infrastructure in

Korea
After the annexation of Korea, the Japanese goverlllnent aimed at exploiting to the
nlaxinlu~nthe natural-and agricultural resources of its colony. For this purpose, it
established a strong and efficient administration in Korea and strove to modemise and
industrialise the country. Corlsequently, there was considerable advancement in the
spheres of transportation, communication, industrial undertakings, irrigation facilities,
harbour improvement and agricultural development. An infrastructure of roads,
railways, ports, hydro-electric power, etc. was created and the facilities for puhlic
health and sanitation were improved. A land survey was carried out on scientific
lines. Although these measures, which were carried out in an unjust manner with
inlperialist designs, hightened the plight and lnisery of the Korean people, they laid
down a basic infrgstructure which became the foundation of the lnodern econolllic
developlnent of Korea. These measures caused a structural change in the tnditiorlal
Korean economy and agriculture and brought tre~nendoussocial nlohilisation. They
also co~ltributedto the growth of nuddle class consisting of merchants, industrialists,
professionals, etc. and created a new class of i~~dustrial labourers in Korea.

11.5.4 The Growth of Modern Education

The Japanese administration also strove to build up a nod ern educatiollal systelll in Content Digitized by eGyanKosh, IGNOU
Korea with a view to making Korean people the loyal and efficient sul>jectsof the
Japanese empire. A small beginning had already been made in this sphere before the
Government and Politics in arrival of the Japanese in Korea. By the time of annexation, there were 94 public
E a ~ and
t South-East Asia
schools in Korea with an ellroll~llentof approxi~llately12,000 students. But within the
twenty five years of the Japanese rule, the number of education institutions, both
governnle~ltand private rose to 3,771 with an enrollnlent of 867,562 students. The
curriculunl was diversified to new areas of technical, scientific, industrial, conlnlercial
and agricultural training besides those of arts and languages. However, there was
racial discrinlination against the Korean students in the Japanese educational system.
Yet the Koreans made the best use of whatever educational opportunities were
available to them under the Japanese administration.

11.5.5 The Social and Political Transformation during the

Independence Struggle of Korea
Ultimately, the Korean people launched a vigorous struggle for freedom from the
Japanese rule. This struggle brought uprecedented social cohesion breaking all kindh
of barriers between the various segnle11ts of the Korean society. The youths, conlnlon
and middle classes and industrial workers came in the forefront of the national
struggle. It facilitated the spread of democratic, nationalistic and revolutionary ideas
in the masses. Through their fight for freedom, the Korean people rejected the
monarchic foml of government and the feudal system of the society for ever.
Thus, all the upheavals and develop~nentsdescribed above led Korea to an
irreversible course of progress and nlodernisation through various trials and errors.
Now in the next unit, you will be able to understand the patterns of political and
econo~nicdevelopment of the modern Korea.
Cbeck Your Progress 2
Note : i) Use the space given below for your answer.
ii) Check your answer with the answer given at the end of the unit.

1) Mention the two main trends of the Inodemising process in Korea.

2) What was the nlessage of the Tonghak Rebellion?

(Read the following exercise carefully and Illark the correct answer.)

3) Which of the following would you regard as true statements?

a) Korea was an~~exed
by Japan in the end of the nineteenth century.
b) Korea was annexed by Japan in the beginning of the twentieth century.
c) Korean King suspected the motives of the leaders of the Progressive Party.
d) The conservative faction of the Korean government opposed the modernisaiion
proposals of the Progressive Party.
e) The Independence Club favoured a parlianlentary for111of government in Korea.
f) The Independence Club suggested a republican form of denlocracy in Korea.

g) During their independence struggle, the Korean people decided to restore the
Korean Monarchy.
h) The struggle for freedom from the Japanese rule weakened the feudal syste111of
the Korean society.

11.6 LET US SUM UP

In this unit you have been introduced to a unique civilizatio~land told about its
 c florts at modernization. In ancient time, an accomplished and prospe_rous kingdom Evolution of Modern Korea
was established in the Korean peninsula. But during the Yi dynasty reign, its
government became autocratic and the society was divided into upper and lower
classes resulting in the intolerable exploitation and oppression of the common masses.
People's resentment against the oppressive regime set in motion two kinds of trends
there : (i) the downfall of the decayed nlonarchy and the feudal system, and (ii) the
progressive transfonnation of the Korean society. The outcollie of both was the
evolution of an irreversible process of nlodernisation in Korea from the beginning of
k
the last quarter of the nineteenth century.

11.7 KEY WORDS

t Autocracy : A govem~nentby a ruler who has unlimited power without any
constitutional restraint.
Capitalism : The'econo~nicsystem in which the nleakof production are owned and
controlled by a few.
Confucianism/Neo-Confbcianism : Moral teaching of a Chinese Philosopher
confucius. The later and revised form is known as neo-Confucianism.
Egalitarian : A society providing equal rights and oppoltunities to all.
Feuadalism : The system of land-holding by land-lords, barons and nobles who also
enjoy political power. The principal means of production, the land, is in monopoly
ownership ~f the ruling class of the feudal lords, while the emnomy is run by the small
producers, the peasants, using their own implements.
Gun-boat Diplon~acy : A ~llethodby which the western powers forced the East Asian
nations to sign treaties during the nineteenth century with the help of their war-ships.
Hierarcl~y : Organisation and distribution of authority on the basis of higher and lower
ranks.
Imperialism : The policy of extending a country's rule and influence on the countries
for the purpose of exploiti~igthem.
Kingdom : A state ruled by a king or ~llonarch.
Monarchy : A systc~llof govern~nentin which a king rules over a country.
Modernization : Adaptation to the new ideas and advanced technology.
Oligarchy : A corrupt fonu of government by a few persons.
Pe~linsula : An area of land surrounded by sea fro111 three sides and connected to the
nlai~dandon one side.
Social Stratification : The division of a society into upper and lower classes.
Suzerainty : The protection of a great power over a srnall state.
T y r o ~ ~ n y : Autocratic, unjust or cruel rule.
Yanghan : The aristocratic class of medieval Korea.
Yi Dynasty : A ruling fanlily of Korea known as Yi or Choson.

11.8 SOME USEFUL BOOKS

A.C. Nahm, Korea :1988 :Tradition and Transformntion, Hollym, Seoul.

'1
AJ. Grajdanzev :1944 :Modern Korea :John Day, New York.
B.S. Agrawa I :1992 :A Study of tlie Korean National Movement : Loyal Book Depot,
'%wa lio'r.
Chong-sik Lee, : 1965.: The Politics of Korean Natwnalkm : University of California Content Digitized by eGyanKosh, IGNOU
Press, Berkeky.
13
 Government and Politics in F.A. Mcke~lzie: 1920 :Korea ' sFiglrl for Freedon : Revell, New York.
, East and South-East Asia
. %I H.S. Harold : 1970 :Korea :A Political Hislory in Modern Times : Longfellow,
New York.
R.R. Krish~iarl: 1991 :Indo-Korean Relations : Yonsei University, Seoul.

11.9 ANSWERS TO CHECK YOUR PROGRESS

EXERCISES

Check Your Progress 1

Your answers may cover the following points :
1) A hereditary king ruled over the country with the help of an advisory Council.
There were six Ministries and a Secretariat to perform executive and administrative
functions. The country was divided into ad~llinistrativeunits. The officials were
recruited through a national civil exanunation.
2) (any two points of the followi~lg)
The adoption of neo-(=onfucianism resulting in a rigid social stratification.
Acceptance of the Chinese suzerainty over Korea which ulldernuned the Korean
sovereignty. The adoption of the policy of isolation which obstructed the flow of new
ideas into the Korean society.
3) (i) c (ii) d.
Check Your Progress 2
1) i) Breakingaway from the past and throwing away the Chinese influence.
ii) Refonn and renovation of the existing political, sqcial and econonlic
institutions.
2) To sweep away the traditional Korean Society and to create a new era of freed0111and
equality.