Korean Political Thought in the Past and Present

About this course

When we think about Korean Thought or Korean Philosophy, much of the focus tends to be on the distinguished figures, their writings, and their intellectual debates. Korean Political Thought, however, while not entirely overlooked, remains relatively underexplored, and perhaps, underappreciated. But, we should remember that most Korean Confucians were not merely intellectuals. They aspired to put their ideas into action, trying to realize an ideal Confucian society. In that sense, they were also politicians, either with or without government participation. As such, they are often referred to as scholar-officials. It is, therefore, crucial to understand what their political visions were, how their ideas influenced Korean society, and what we can learn from them to make our world a better place. This lecture series, featuring eight thought-provoking sessions, offers a valuable introduction to Korean Political Thought. It is designed to engage everyone, both those already familiar with Korean philosophy and those encountering it for the first time.