Korea in Ten Words: (7) Minsim

In Korea, the people’s opinion is often described as the voice of heaven: the heart of the nation. Even under the rigid hierarchy of the Joseon Dynasty, "minsim," the collective will or sentiment of the people, was seen as a vital element of governance. Though the monarchy was absolute in theory, kings were still advised by Confucian scholars and civil officials who cited minsim to sway royal decisions. If the hearts of the people turned cold, it was believed that the ruler had lost the Mandate of Heaven (cheonmyeong). Effective Korean politics can therefore only be achieved by properly understanding what the people think and acknowledging what they hold in their hearts. It was this understanding that brought the Confucian philosopher Yulgok to say that minsim is the will of heaven. In Confucian tradition, rulers were expected to rule with virtue. We see early traces of this in the Donghak Peasant Movement of 1894, which arose from deep dissatisfaction with corrupt officials and growing foreign intrusion. That rebellion, while ultimately suppressed, has since been interpreted as a rWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times