The Era of Commodification, the Path for Korean Philosophy to Take

Over the past century, various philosophical ideas emerged in Korea. This article examines a century of Korean philosophy to understand our philosophical identity, the philosophical assets we inherited, and their significance. During the early 20th century, Korean philosophy was primarily characterized by religious philosophies, with various ethnic religions, such as Donghak, gaining prominence.

While these ideas were closer to religion than philosophy, they served as essential sources for contemporary Korean philosophy. The core of Donghak philosophy is known as "spiritual metaphysics," which attributes a metaphysical aspect to human consciousness. This philosophy combines Eastern and Western thought, including Buddhist philosophy, Western philosophy, Confucianism, and 'Western learning.'

Currently, mental metaphysics is influenced by the dominance of materialism and commodification, contrasting with the values of modern societies. The key task for modern Korean philosophy is to integrate modern psychological philosophy into this mental metaphysics, requiring communication and fusion with modern psychology. This integration can be achieved through a flow of existentialism, structuralism, and post-structuralism.

This flow emphasizes the reflection on the individual, leading to a comprehensive understanding of human existence. This approach can help address the challenges of contemporary society, which are dominated by materialism and commodification. The political landscape of 20th-century Korea was heavily influenced by political concerns, and this trend continues to this day.

However, political discourse in Korea often lacks a clear political philosophy. There were notable exceptions, such as socialist thinkers like Bak Chwung and Shin Nam-cheol, liberal and nationalist thinkers like Bak Jong-hong, and anarchists like Hak Gil-k. These thinkers grappled with Korea's reality, often influenced by the complex political landscape of the time.

The legacy of these political thinkers, their relationship with socialism and anarchism, and the creation of a new concept of anarchistic socialism in response to contemporary challenges remain important topics in Korean philosophy. Korean philosophy continues to evolve, blending traditional Buddhist, Confucian, and ethnic religious ideas with modern psychological philosophy and existentialism.