South Korea's Minjung Movement: The Culture and Politics of Dissidence

by Kenneth M. Wells (Editor)

The minjung (people's) movement stood at the forefront of the June 1987 nationwide tide that swept away the military in South Korea and opened up space for relatively democratic politics, a more responsible economy, and new directions in culture. This volume is the first in English to grapple specifically with the nature of a national development that lies at the center of the last three decades of tumult and change in South Korea.

Genres: History

256 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1995

Reviews

[Ocean G · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of essays by various authors regarding Minjung. Overall a bit too academic for me, but definitely interesting and informative.

My favorite chapters:
Confucian Tradition and Nationalist Ideology in Korea, by Chung Chai-sik
Minjung Movements and the Minjung: Organizers and Farmers in a 1980s Farmers' Movement, by Nancy Abelmann
The Iconic Power of Modernity: Reading a Cheju Shaman's Life History and Initiation Dream, by Kim Seong Nae
Contemporary Korean Literature: From Victimization to Minjung Nationalism, by Choi Hyun-moo

There is also a speech by Paik Nak-chung

Interesting to read how the Confucianists were against Democracy, since they said it was incompatible with Confucianism.
Also very interesting to read about Nonghwal

[Agnes Murr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative and interestingly written.