Caring related to Health in Korea: Ethnography centered Wichon-ri, Kangwon-do

Hwang, Hye Yeon

Abstract

The propose of the study is to try to support the practice of caring suitable for our cultural emotion by cognating the meaning of caring related to health which is melted in korean culture. Concrete purposes were as followings; to first, confirm the caring of civilian in Kangwon-do, to secondly search the caring in the traditional culture idea, and to thirdly present the conceptual frame about the caring. The methodology of this research is the ethnography to use the depth interview and the participative observation. The geographical area of this research was in Wichon-ri, Songsan- myon, Kangnung-shi, Kangwon-do. Study participants were, 6men and 18women, totally 24 persons. Their average age was 72.6 years old. The period of data collection was from January, 1998 to April, 1999, which original data became saturation. Data collection was done after accept allowance of the participants, their stories were recorded in cassettee, by the way of the Spradley analysis was applied and adjusted. The results which was analyized as domain, category and property were as following; First, the category was the life serving other persons, which is the for mind, the benefiting one, the comprehensive one, the respective one, on soon. Second, the category was the controling life, and its property was the moderate mind, that is, vegetables were tried to be fed moderately, pleasantly and comfortable. Thirdly, the category was the eagerness life, and the properties were diligent mind, and mind which accomplished the complete resposibility. Fourth, the category was a happy life, and the properties were positive mind, satisfying one, thankful one, one of their ancestors benefit, and supplicatory one. Fifth, the category was the accepting life, and the properties were the submissive mind, resign one. Sixth, the category was the joint life all together and the properties were the harmonized mind, and the mutual helping one. Seventh, the category was the ruling life, and the properties were the pure mind, the ones which controls the body, the mind, the nature; which could surely confirmed the source of the life that lived with the nature, the native idea of our people. Eighth, the category was the retaining life, and the properties were the inherits the native custom, and the one that keep public morals. According to the result of examining the caring in ethnography, the general caring was performed the conceptual frame about the caring which is related to health was found in the principle of consideration, harmony, compliance, and transcendence.