Memory Construction and the Politics of Time in Neoliberal South Korea

In Neoliberal South Korea, the shift from minjung to simin reconstructed people as Homo economicus, rights-bearing, and rights-claiming individuals, erasing the critical ethos of previous emancipatory movements.

Format: Hardback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 08 November 2022
Publisher: Duke University Press

In the realm of memory construction and historical writing, Namhee Lee delves into the intricate dynamics of post-1987 South Korea. The sweeping neoliberal reconstruction that reshaped society on every level, from politics to culture, from collective to individual, brought about a significant shift in public discourse. The term "minjung" (people) gave way to "simin" (citizen), and the boundaries between political and cultural realms blurred. This transformation reconceived individuals as Homo economicus, rights-bearing and rights-claiming entities, even within social movements. Lee contextualizes this shift within the broader historical context of South Korea's transition to democracy, the end of the Cold War, and neoliberal reconstruction, which was often seen as synonymous with democratization. Through a comprehensive examination of memoirs, biographies, novels, and revisionist conservative historical scholarship, Lee uncovers how the prevailing discourse of a "complete break with the past" erases the critical ethos that formed the foundation of previous emancipatory movements in South Korean democracy. This exploration sheds light on the complex ways in which memory, history, and power interact, shaping the narrative of a nation in transition.

Weight: 472g
Dimension: 160 x 239 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478016342