Special Lecture, Pusat Pangajian Ilmu

Pendidikan, USM, Penang, Malaysia,

17, September, 2013.

Dynamics of Korean Society:

A Psychological look
By
Gyuseog Han ph.D
Chonnam Nat. University,
Gwangju, S.Korea
Visiting Professor at USM
Chonnam National University,

Chonnam National University,

 Few Facts about South Korea

50 million people
99% literacy (98% highschool grad rate.)
80% Tertiary education (2004, 20%-1970)
Two presidents with no background
Republic government since 1948.

Chonnam National University,

GNP $67 (1953)

Chonnam National University,

$27800 (2006)

Chonnam National University,

Chonnam National University,

contents
Psychological profiles of Korean people
Hofstede dimensions
Comparative sense

Characteristics of Korean society

Homogeneity
Collectivistic

Understanding Korean psychology

Self
Relationships
Chonnam National University,
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Culture Profiles

http://www.geerthofstede.com/hofstede_south_korea.shtml

Geert Hofstede (2005) analyzed 93 countries.

4 dimensions
Individualism/collectivism: priority given to ind. or collective
Power distance: hierarchy, inequality of power granted or
equality
Masculine/feminine: masculine value
(competition/achievement) vs. feminine value (caring)
Uncertainty avoidance: certainty is valued and sought (high
rule seeking) vs ambiguity accepted
# Long term orientation: time perspective is long/short

PDI:
IND:
Mas:
UAI:

Kor < Mal

similarly Col
similarly femin
Kor > Mal

Chonnam National University,

 Homogenous:

Characteristics of
Korean society

97% Korean ethnics

Strong
284 family names tot: top 20
Collective
names 78% pop.
Identity
Common language/ one
unique letter system (Hangul)
High
High
invented 1443 AD
comp
confor
arabili
5000 years of history
mity
ty
One nation state since 676
AD for 1500 years (36 yrs of
High
Japan colony 1910-45)
Competition10
Chonnam National University,
No caste system

 Collectivistic society
Agricultural, Confucianism
Harmony with ingroup
others/ environments

Public self >

private self

Fit in vs. Control over

Cultivating self
View of incremental self vs.
entity self

Chonnam National University,

We-ness:
We > I

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Self-consistency & Culture

Rate yourself on each of the following items
using a scale 1(not at all) ~7(very much).
Honest 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Friendly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Dominant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Rate urself again now when u are with your

friends (professor, parents..)
Honest 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Friendly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Dominant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Self consistency in US & Korea: Suh (2002).

US data

Korean data

Why such difference in self consistency?

Is it OK to be inconsistent in US?

Theory of self-theories
by Dweck 02

Incremental self
theory:

Entity self theory:

What self theory u have influence education!

Choice of subject: like or need
Attitude toward schooling

East Asians and Westerners (Heine, )

800

700
Success
Failure

600

500

Canada

Japan

Korean Woori (We-ness)

Relationships over individualities
Nothing to hide sharing encouraged
Individuality deemphasized

cheong (, intimacy, relational attachment)

Maum based exchange

Quasi-cheong ( ) interactions
Look at me once, please!
Cheong-oriented interactions

Chusok hometown
visit

I vs. We worldview
My mother, Our mother
my wife, our wife
Incorrect grammartically?
Whose grammar?

The practice reflects cultural

worldview.

Intrinsic motivation and culture

Ivengar & Leppe(99)r: East
Asian children vs. White
Computer game icon
chosen by Experimenter,
Mother, or Self

Chung(94). Korean Primary

Children task reward to
Mom, Self, no reward.

Dynamic Korean
Society
Woori
Public
Contextual
Incremental

(we-ness)

self

Dynamics

self

Show-off
Face concern

Collective
Homogeneity
Competition
oriented society

Efficacy

Uncertainty
Avoidance
Outcome oriented
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 Terima Kasih Banyak

Banyak!
Q&A

Chonnam National University,

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