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5. Mark Peterson

I’ve been thinking about the Korean phrase “Chal salgiwihayeo” which can be basically translated as 'in order to live well.' I used to hear that phrase back when I first came to Korea as an aspirational statement, a hope, a goal. And indeed, Koreans that I used to know, sacrificed, saved, worked and studied for the coming days in the hopes they could 'live well.'

2023-11-19 16:35

This last week I spoke at a forum on “K-Confucianism” at a newly founded center called the Institute for Korean Confucian Culture in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province. There were several important issues that I discovered at the conference.

2023-11-05 16:35

Will Korea see female heads of families?

If Koreans are going in the direction I think they are going, they may find themselves recognizing the family head and the lineage association head, the jongson, in the person of a woman. This idea may seem so heretical that I’ll be kicked out of the country, but I think it’s going that way.

2023-10-24 16:35

The life and death of Confucianism in Korea

On a recent trip to Korea, I was afforded one of the great honors of my life when I was asked to visit with the head of the only nationwide Confucian organization to discuss my views on how to “save” Confucianism.

2023-10-10 16:35

On names in Korea

Last time I wrote about the surprising news report that one Korean company was requiring all employees to use English names in office communications. I’ve been thinking about that a little more.

2023-09-24 16:35

Using Western-style names

Now I've seen everything! Korean Bigtech company Kakao has decided to implement a policy of using first names in office communications - but not their real first names. They have all been directed to take on Western-style first names.

2023-09-12 16:35

'Barbie' and Korean patriarchy

One of my editors at the Korea Times suggested I examine the recent summer hit, Barbie, and perhaps contrast it with Korean patriarchy.

2023-08-27 15:58

'Phony' history

Once again, Korea is caught up in a battle over history - not an argument with China or Japan - we've seen those arguments - but a battle between Korea's own historians.

2023-08-21 16:35

What's left of Korean culture?

With the loss of so-called “Korean age” that I've written about lately, I've started thinking about what else we've lost, and what we still have. Are some of these remaining cultural items on their way out, too? Are they still worth keeping? Or should some of them be next to throw out the window?

2023-08-08 16:35

More on Korea's dual age system demise

I've been thinking more about the “Korean age,” “international age” issue. “Mannai” means “international age” in Korean. Another way to look at the two is to say “solar age” and “lunar age” or, more properly, one's age by the solar calendar and one's age by the lunar calendar. But I've been looking into the issue a little more, and I've found a couple of insights I'd like to share.

2023-07-17 16:35

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