What was the dominant consciousness that shaped 20th-century Korea? What values and desires did we consider most important and pursue most fiercely during that time? Sociologist Kim Hong-jung, who has sharply examined the collective psychology of Korean society, identifies “survivalism” as the key driving force that allowed us to finally endure the trials of war, dictatorship, democratization, and rapid economic development.

The signature ideology of modern Korea is not “being” or even “existence,” but “survival.” Survival is the fundamental issue, the obsession, and the ideology that defined the lives of modern Koreans. It is the root idea that embraces both the achievements and contradictions, the light and shadows, the possibilities and despair of Korean society. It is a question that is sorrowful, cunning, and brutal all at once. In short, our modern era was shaped around the question: “What does it mean to survive?”

This book directly confronts that question. It is a rigorous self-reflection on modern Korea, a meditation on the identity of Korean sociology, and at the same time, an experimental inquiry into the values and desires of a new Korean society in the 21st century. Understanding the time we have lived through—and the time we are yet to live—through the lens of survival offers a way to trace the origins of the values and desires that drive 21st-century Korean society. It can also serve as a starting point for contemplating and assessing where we are heading, and where we want to go.

Presenter: Hong-Jung Kim (Dept. of Sociology)
Discussants: Jeong-hwan Cheon (Dept. of Korean Literature, Sungkyunkwan University), Yoon Heo (Dept. of Korean Literature, Ewha Womans University)
Moderator: Jiyoung Seo (Center for Hallyu Studies, SNUAC)