Lecture
LUCIP Colloquium "Humans as Heaven: Innaecheon 人乃天, and the Resilient Spirit of Korean Democracy and the Korean Wave"
- Date
- Thursday 10 July 2025
- Time
- Location
-
Lipsius
Cleveringaplaats 1
2311 BD Leiden - Room
- 1.23
The Leiden University Center of Intercultural Philosophy is hosting a talk of Prof. dr. Jea Sophia Oh, Professor of Philosophy at West Chester University of Pennsylvania, specializing in Asian and comparative philosophy, environmental ethics, religion and ecology, and feminist and postcolonial theory. Her first monograph, A Postcolonial Theology of Life: Planetarity East and West (2011), makes a pioneering contribution to Korean ecofeminist theology and comparative philosophy by examining the intersections of Alfred North Whitehead’s process thought and Donghak (東學, Eastern Learning), a Korean indigenous philosophy. Professor Oh currently serves as Vice President of the Society for Asian and Comparative Philosophy (SACP). She is Chair of the International Society for Chinese Philosophy (ISCP) at the Eastern Division of the American Philosophical Association (APA) and Director of the Society for the Study of Process Philosophy (SSPP) at the APA.
Abstract
This study asserts that democracy is not solely a Western construct rooted in Greek philosophy but also encompasses democratic elements in Korean Donghak Philosophy and its movements. Central to this exploration is the Donghak Movement, which embodies the philosophy of Innaechun 人乃天—‘human beings are heaven’. This philosophy highlights resilience and collective resistance against oppression, evident in significant historical movements like the March 1st Movement, the Gwangju Uprising, and the Candlelight Movement, which challenge anti-democratic structures. Korean philosophy and democracy are pivotal to the Korean Wave, influencing its future and manifesting in K-pop and K-food, such as BTS’ music and bibimbap, which contribute to a global cultural phenomenon. This transcends hypernationalism, promoting a philosophy of healing and love that connects humanity with hope. By examining Innaechun dynamics and its implications for ecocracy—a system that advocates for all living beings—this paper illustrates how Korean philosophy fosters empathy and interconnectedness in contemporary cultural expressions and social movements.