Return to search

A reflection upon the loneliness of Korean elderly in family support : a Christian-Pastorial perspective

This study examines the situation for generational conflict in terms of co-residence between the aging parents and their adult children in Korea. It investigates the history and problems of the intergenerational bond in Korean society and the Korean Church based on a hierarchical relationship. The study proposes a Christian approach about the intimate intergenerational relationship. In addition, it suggests the Church Round Table as a method for resolving the conflict. To develop this study, two kinds of methods, the first advocated by D Browning (1991) and the second by Rubin and Rubin (1995), are adopted. In traditional Korean society, the duty of family members to care for the elderly is a concept known as filial piety. It has been commonly assumed that elderly people are expected to depend on their children in their old age. However, during the past decades, Korea has experienced dramatic social restructuring. This rapid modernisation and industrialisation in Korea has deprived the elderly of many important family and social roles. Whereas the elderly, who had hardly prepared for their own well being, expect to live together under their children’s care, the adult children do not want to give full support to their parents, resulting in intergenerational conflict for family support. To create an intergenerational relationship with open dialogue, communicability is needed to resolve the conflict between the aging parents and the adult children, namely the communicability of the Church Round Table, as adapted from the story of King Arthur’s Round Table. The Church Round Table has three key issues: kenosis, equality, and reconciliation within all three participates: the aging parent, the adult child, and a pastor. In rule-governed interpersonal interaction by three issues, this thesis has developed by proposing the Church Round Table as place to resolve intergenerational conflict between them. To accomplish the claims, theoretical background and practical strategies are addressed in this study. / Thesis (PhD (Practical Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:up/oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/25735
Date22 June 2007
CreatorsRoh, Wonsuk James
ContributorsProf J C Müller, biblicalroh@hotmail.net
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
Rights© 2007, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.

Page generated in 0.0123 seconds