The Beginnings of Joseon’s ‘Enlightenment’: The Guidance of King Gojong by the ‘Enlightenment Group’ in His Early Reign, Analyzing the Ideological Foundations of the Contemporary Affairs Reformers

Author: HAN BO RAM

Page: 79-116

Ab​stract

 In modern Korean history, GaeHwa ("Enlightenment") has long been equated with “Western-style modernization.” Similarly, the GaeHwaPa (“Enlightenment Group”) has been understood as those who aimed to adopt advanced Western culture. However, the “enlightenment policies” of the Joseon government in the 1880s, following the opening of ports in 1876, were not simply directed at Western-style modernization.

This approach stands in stark contrast to the GaeHwaPa often praised for a Western-modernization orientation. In the 20th century, amid the rise of imperialism, Joseon’s traditions were frequently dismissed as naive or ineffective. However, their legacy deserves renewed recognition, as their solutions to contemporary issues were largely effective and remain relevant to the fundamental ordering of society in any era.