Korean Confucianism as Philosophy?
International Workshop
September 26–28, 2025
Hildesheim University
Theme
In the search for a “Korean philosophy,” Korean Neo-Confucianism has often been regarded as the crown prince. The highly complex metaphysical debate on Li–Ki (Li–Qi), as well as the theory of emotions in the so-called Four–Seven Debate, appeared to correspond exactly to the theoretical character of a European standard.
How can this historically grown interpretive framework be rethought and expanded? How can “Korean Confucianism” transcend disciplinary boundaries — especially those of Korean Studies — and be situated within the discipline of philosophy?
The workshop featured a series of stimulating presentations and lively debates among leading experts on the significance of Joseon Confucianism for the formation and interpretation of Korean philosophy.
Organized by Sool Park and Lucian Lechler.
Program
September 26
Session 1: Korean Philosophy – Construction or Discovery?
Isabelle Sancho: Korean Confucianism as Philosophy?
Hyojin Lee: Korean Confucian Philosophy Courses at Keijō Imperial University: A Comparative Review of Takahashi Tōru and Fujitsuka Chikashi’s Curricula and Academic Genealogy
Sool Park: Discovery of Korean Philosophy in the Resistance Movement: Chang Dobin, An Hwak, Lee Inje, Jeon Byunghun
September 27
Session 2: Reading the Classics
Close-reading workshop, led by Seonhee Kim:
Dasan Jeong Yagyong: “The Comprehensive Meaning of Heart-Mind and Human Nature”, 心性總義 (Simseong-chongui) in Personal Reflections on the Classic of the Mind-Heart, 心經密驗 (Simgyeong-milheom) (1815)
Dobin Choi: Moral Agency in Dasan Jeong Yak-yong: Human Nature, Reflective Judgment, and the Ground of Subjectivity
Session 3: Interference and Polylogue
Marion Eggert (Bochum): Confucian Philosophy for Today? Observations from the Point of View of Confucian Legitimations of Dissent in Premodern Korea
Jeanhyoung Soh: The Import and Distribution of Translated Western Books in the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries, and Korean Reflections on the World and Themselves
Hyangjoon Lee (Gwangju): An Alternative Narrative for Korean Neo-Confucianism
September 28
Session 4: Confucianism as a Source for Contemporary Philosophy
Seonhee Kim: The Physicality and Sociality of Emotion: Seongho Yi Ik’s Theory of Emotions and Western Learning
David Kim (San Francisco): Reverence and Rectification in a Corrupted World: Moments and Insights from a Korean Confucian Dialectic
Dobin Choi / Sool Park: Reports from the Grundriss Project (History of Philosophy Project, Schwalbe Verlag)