Korean University Student Culture And Daily Life

College students are a distinct group who spend their daily lives in a special place known as the "University".However,because they are still situated within a specific sociocultural environment,their lives are always closely linked with the country’s politics,society,and economic conditions.This study discusses and explores the emergence and development of Korean college students as a sociocultural subject amid significant societal changes in the country in modern times.They grew into the core group that led to social change in the1980 s.The primary research scope is from the 1960 s to the 1980 s,a time when the post-war Korean higher education system began to establish its foundation and the college student group officially formed and developed.The formation and development of Korean college students from the 1960 s to the1980 s are closely intertwined with the distinctive political and social environments of South Korea at the time.Thus,it is pivotal for this study to map out the political,social,and economic transformations of the respective periods.Using the lens of historical sociology,the study captures these historical changes and directly ties them to the experiences and development of college students.By combining the political,social,and cultural dynamics in South Korea during that period,a narrative research method was adopted in the study.The primary objective of this study is to delve into the daily activities and psychology of Korean college students of the era,as reflected in contemporary sources such as newspapers,magazines,novels,and other print media.The main content,excluding the introduction,consists of three chapters:Chapter One primarily examines the evolving social roles of universities and the diverse positions that college students occupied,particularly in the context of the political and social changes in South Korea around the 1960 s,a time that witnessed a significant rise in both the number of universities and their student enrollments.Through a close investigation of the daily lives and psychological changes experienced by Korean college students at the time,this chapter highlights the primary factors and context behind the transformation of previously passive students into an active societal group.Chapter Two delves into the unique student culture that emerged among Korean college students in the 1970 s.Interacting with the distinctive political,social,and economic landscapes at the time,these students set themselves apart from previous generations.Their unique preferences and distinct modes of action paved the way for self-realization.Chapter Three mainly analyzes the pivotal role of Korean college students during the 1980 s,particularly highlighting the heightened tensions with the ruling class that arose from the emergence of a new military faction.In a society that became increasingly oppressive,these students reshaped their resistance strategies,seeking to establish their own space.In addition,their collaboration with popular forces dedicated to consciousness-raising activities among workers,farmers,and the urban poor cemented their position as central figures in the decade’s societal changes.The research indicates that from the 1960 s to the 1980 s,there existed a significant disparity between the structure and directions of Korean university education and the aspirations of contemporary Korean college students.After the war,national reconstruction emerged as South Korea’s top priority,to this end,South Korea reshaped universities into institutions primarily designed to cultivate the human resources needed for economic development.This led to limitations in university education systems and content,prompting South Korean college students to seek alternative,creative spaces to fulfill their intellectual pursuits.Their main representative areas of creativity were traditional folk culture and print media.Korean college students’ pursuit of traditional folk was not just an effort to diverge from the blind admiration for Western youth culture but also served as a medium of resistance against the authoritarian regime.The rise of various print media through the eras provided a practical platform for contemporary Korean college students to form a consensus.Through the magazines like the "Ideological Circles",young writers’ novels,university news,club newsletters,mimeographed documents,and big-character posters,South Korean college students were able to understand the realities controlled under the oppressive reform system,adhere to the sense of criticism,and form shared viewpoints.This offers invaluable insights into the evolving consciousness of contemporary Korean college students during this period and their lively experiences within their cultural milieu.Starting from the 1960 s,amidst South Korea’s distinctive political and social environments which lasted for about 20-30 years,the daily lives and experiences of Korean college students extended beyond university confines,spreading through diverse societal spaces.The continuous problem awareness in these diverse societal spaces ensured the practical activities of these students were firmly rooted in their daily experiences.Through this process,Korean college students established a distinctive sociocultural identity.