Evolving Concept of Law in Korea: A Historical and Comparative Perspective

Abstract

This paper tries to analyse the evolving concept of law in Korea from a historical and comparative perspective. As the law is definitely a historical product as well as an integral part of social institutions, legal concepts naturally reflect the social needs at any given time. Like in the West, the law in Korea has been defined in connection with its functions in each period. In the traditional era, the law's main role was to maintain social order and to secure a more noble life for citizens. In modern times, its purpose is oriented towards the coordination of social conflicts and the protection of individual rights. In this article, the author discusses these changing legal concepts of Korea moving forward. This paper divides into four main parts. The first part will review the origins of legal concepts in Korea. The second part will look into the formation of legal concepts in ancient Korea. The third part will examine the transformation of legal concepts in medieval Korea. The last part will analyse the modernisation of legal concepts in Korea.