초록 열기/닫기 버튼
Colonial Korea’s marriage and family system that originated in the West produced diverse and complex practices, suggestions, and visions when it was introduced to Korea via Japan. These suggestions and visions crossed the boundaries of tradition and modernness and revealed dynamic and transitional characteristics of colonial Korean society. The young generation welcomed the import of the West’s marriage system and gender identity with open arms. Liberals recognized its significance in principle but called for caution in its direct application. The older generation tried hard to preserve the traditional sexual morality and marriage system. Tensions, contradictions, and confrontations grew as numerous opinions and claims were put forth, and intellectuals searched for new forms of marriage and family. Consequently, lively debates and discussions were carried out about the issues of temporary separation, single life, trial and companionate marriages, friendship between the sexes, and alternative family. Recommendations and ideas raised by the intellectuals were a conservative reaction to imported modernity, a modern demand against oppressed sexual morality, and a critique of and a challenge to patriarchal society. Moreover, various ideas and thoughts like patriarchy, colonialism, liberalism, modernity, feminism, nationalism, and socialism/communism competed in the discussions on alternative forms of marriage and family.
Colonial Korea’s marriage and family system that originated in the West produced diverse and complex practices, suggestions, and visions when it was introduced to Korea via Japan. These suggestions and visions crossed the boundaries of tradition and modernness and revealed dynamic and transitional characteristics of colonial Korean society. The young generation welcomed the import of the West’s marriage system and gender identity with open arms. Liberals recognized its significance in principle but called for caution in its direct application. The older generation tried hard to preserve the traditional sexual morality and marriage system. Tensions, contradictions, and confrontations grew as numerous opinions and claims were put forth, and intellectuals searched for new forms of marriage and family. Consequently, lively debates and discussions were carried out about the issues of temporary separation, single life, trial and companionate marriages, friendship between the sexes, and alternative family. Recommendations and ideas raised by the intellectuals were a conservative reaction to imported modernity, a modern demand against oppressed sexual morality, and a critique of and a challenge to patriarchal society. Moreover, various ideas and thoughts like patriarchy, colonialism, liberalism, modernity, feminism, nationalism, and socialism/communism competed in the discussions on alternative forms of marriage and family.
