The Downfall of Korean Patriarchy
“Man’s existence does not begin with a cut-off point called birth. Nor does it end with death as a terminus. A part of him has been in continuous biological existence from his very first progenitor. A part of him has been living, in existence, with every one of the intervening ancestors. Now he exists as part of that continuum. After his death, a part of him continues to exist as long as his biological descendants continue to live.” -Hahm Pyong-choo
Birthing a son is a prosperous choice for many Korean households. The eldest male’s primary role is to honor the family’s name. He is coddled during childhood with endearing affection, taking on a path entirely different than his female sibling. She is predestined to live with her future husband and his family, while the eldest male stays to look after his parents and take on their inheritance. This linear hierarchy has Confucius roots dating back as early as the 13th century. Korean society is built for the succession of a man, yet a growing trend of bachelor ghettos, declining birth rates, gender imbalance, and the 4B movement is evidently the consequence of a dominant patriarchal society.
During the Joseon period, Confucius ideology was embedded in everyday life through customs, law, and family tradition. The primary functions of noble men and women were to uphold the Kingdom through specific gender roles. Bearing a male strengthens the King’s name and his family lineage. Contrary to belief, concubines were often from upper classes to uphold beauty and virtue. Later, concubines’ status became lower so as to hinder the possibility to succeed as a Queen. The stark difference in power kept the status of men to increase, especially since they had primary access to education, land and money. Females were seen more as property as their sole duty was to bear a male and take on domestic duties. Having a son further upheld Confucius traditions and ideals. Even the Korean language maintains a sense of hierarchy whether used formally or informally.
Inevitably, South Korea became one of the fastest developed countries after Japanese colonization and the Korean War. Although leading in the beauty, music, and technology industries, modern Korean society is certainly not keeping up with gender issues, specifically equal pay and women’s rights. South Korea has one of the weakest protections for women in the workplace. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) states that as of 2021, the gender pay gap in South Korea was 31%, while the United States is at 16.9%. On other end, work conditions aren’t the best for men either as the country holds one of the longest working days in the world. Working men financially provide for their households and often work overtime to meet those demands. The increase in pressure can strain the family dynamics, particularly when success is highly demanded. College admissions and the job market is highly competitive in South Korea. Although more women go to college than men, they are still getting paid far lower and expected to take secretarial duties. They often leave the workplace after getting pregnant which is usually expected in South Korean society. Despite this societal norm, more women are choosing to advance in their careers rather than raising a family.
Through social media, many women are sharing their stories of domestic violence, discrimination, and harassment. A wave of radical feminists emerged, coining the term 4B Movement, saying no to sex, dating, children, and marriage altogether. Feminist writers are taking a stance, take for example Cho Nam-Joo’s novel, “Kim Ji-Young’s, Born 1982” which narrates sexism dealt from a young woman well into her adult life. Even though the character is fictitious, the story captivated millions of women. Kim Ji-Young became the symbol of many women struggling to meet society’s unrealistic beauty expectations. Another novel, “Flowers of Fire” by Hawon Jung accounts real interviews from several women who have been marginalized, sexually harassed, and have been victims of sexism in everyday life. These stories helped popularize the following of the #MeToo movement in South Korea.
Protests rallied from feminists and anti-feminists argue passionately and each stand firm to their viewpoints. Many men claim being the victims of reverse discrimination indicating that feminism is actually the root of unemployment. Current South Korean President, Yoon Sok Yeol has been vocal about blaming feminism for the country’s low birth rate rather than directly looking at historical references, outdated societal norms, and current policies that contribute to the rise of feminism.
Bachelor ghettos throughout South Korea’s major cities such as Seoul and Busan exist as there are more single men on the rise. Gender imbalance shows more men in the South Korean population as males were the preferred sex during the 80s and 90s. Lonely deaths are another phenomenon sweeping the nation as many middle aged single men pass away from suicide. Surely both the younger and older generation suffer from depression and financial burden due to the deeply engrained patriarchal standard.
A closer look into South Korea’s troubling society shows high suicide rates, strict gender roles, fierce job competition, overpriced housing costs, and unrealistic beauty standards. The pressure for males to provide for the family and the importance to succeed academically can impact mental health and overall quality of life. Equally, women carry pressure to marry and aid in their husband’s success rather than their individual needs. Such expectations are detrimental to Korean society and will surely have an everlasting impact on the future if not addressed collectively.
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