The impact of neo-Confucianism on women and their representation in South Korean historical films

Abstract

The theme of my study is to review the changes in the depictions of women in the sageuk genre and to explore the possible causes of these changes. Sageuk is a term widely used for traditional Korean historical film. The genre is currently enjoying a renaissance and is a major pillar of the worldwide spread of South Korean cultural influence. It has a century-long history and has been shaped by the social changes of which it is a sensitive reflection. Social transformation could be explored in many areas, but in the case of Korea, because of its historical traditions, the modifications of women's roles and their representations in cultural reflection provide a particularly interesting field of study. For centuries, the country's history has been influenced by a neo-Confucianist system of norms, which has placed women at an exceptional disadvantage in a thoroughly patriarchal society, even by international standards. The modernisation of the 20th century brought rapid changes, but the nature of the norm means that tradition still influences social mentality, albeit to varying degrees, and is therefore an interesting area for investigation. I will discuss Korean history, then narrow down to the history of women, including feminism, the history of film and genre in the country, and of course the processes that have shaped the present.