2024 m. gegužės 9 d. 11.00–12.30 val. podoktorantūros stažuotojos dr. Hyunhee Lee vieša paskaita „Changing Meanings of Love and Marriage in South Korea“. Renginys vyks VU Azijos ir transkultūrinių studijų instituto J. Kovalevskio auditorijoje.
About the lecture
Contemporary discourse underscores a demographic shift in South Korea, notably highlighting that 56 % of individuals in their early 30s are unmarried. This demographic phenomenon foreshadows a potential crisis, predicting a 50 % reduction in the youth population over the next three decades. In response to this socio-cultural transformation, this study, which is highly relevant to current social issues, explores the evolving perceptions surrounding love and marriage in South Korea. This research addresses these questions: How do social expectations and cultural norms evolve over time, and how do they influence the practices of love and marriage in South Korea? How have individuals experienced the processes of love and marriage, navigating between traditional and modern approaches? In different eras, how do gender roles and expectations manifest in dating and marriage, and how do they impact individual experiences?
Through seven months of fieldwork in South Korea, this study aims to explore the stories and viewpoints that make up the complicated web of relationships and family dynamics, with a particular emphasis on diverse age cohorts spanning from individuals in their 20s to those in their 70s. By closely analyzing these narratives, it investigates the evolving perceptions of love and marriage within the socio-cultural context of South Korea.
This comprehensive study on love and marriage in South Korea is anticipated to offer profound insights into the dynamics influencing the fundamental aspects of life. The objective of this study is to enhance our understanding of the current landscape of love and marriage in South Korea by conducting a comprehensive analysis of evolving personal narratives, causal factors for change, and related phenomena through anthropological research. In addition, this research seeks to explore the potential implications of the transformed landscape of love and marriage in Korea on a broader social structure, including family dynamics and the overall functioning of Korean society.
This public lecture is a part of the H. Lee’s postdoctoral project “Transformations in Love, Marriage and Gender Relations in Contemporary South Korea: An Anthropological Perspective”.