CANKO SOCIETY FOR AI AND SOCIAL VALUE

Abstract

In the late 19th century, Joseon society faced internal disintegration and external threats, providing fertile ground for the emergence of new belief systems. Donghak (Eastern Learning) arose as a syncretic religious movement grounded in the concept of Si-Cheon-Ju (serving the Lord of Heaven), which emphasized spiritual equality and inner moral reform. This movement rapidly gained popularity among the rural population, particularly in the Jeolla Province. However, the roots of religious thought in this region had already been shaped by the earlier introduction of Roman Catholicism (Catholicism), which had spread since the late 18th century. Catholicism’s emphasis on the universal salvation of souls and equality before God contributed to the ideological soil from which Donghak would later grow—sometimes as an imitation, sometimes as a reaction. This study aims to critically examine the religious essence of Donghak and the subsequent transformation of the Donghak Peasant Movement into a political struggle. While the movement has often been characterized in modern historiography as a righteous anti-feudal and anti-imperialist revolution, this research questions whether the uprising was genuinely a grassroots political awakening or rather a mobilization orchestrated by religious leadership under charismatic authority. The study also explores the organizational structure, doctrine, and ritual practices of Donghak in relation to Catholicism, revealing both theological parallels and sociocultural divergences. In the contemporary era, the Donghak Peasant Movement has been ideologically repurposed by progressive and leftist factions as a symbol of popular resistance and national liberation. It is frequently referenced in political rhetoric, education, and media as a foundational moment of Korean democratic consciousness. This process of historical re-framing reveals how past religious movements are strategically repackaged to serve modern political agendas. By analyzing this transformation, the study offers a critique of how historical interpretation can be ideologically engineered to support current political narratives. Ultimately, this research seeks to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of Donghak not merely as a political rebellion but as a complex religious movement situated within the broader religious and ideological landscape of 19th-century Korea. Through comparison with Catholicism and scrutiny of its later politicization, this study highlights the delicate tension between historical memory, religious identity, and contemporary ideological appropriation.

Authors

• AI (First Author), Machine – ai.social.value@gmail.com