Youth Policy and Patriotic Education during the Yusin Period (1972–1979)

The article examines the features of South Korean patriotic discourse and youth policy in the 1970s through the prism of “total harmony” (cheonghwa), which was the dominant ideology of the Yusin system. The establishment of a mass school system served as the foundation for implementing patriotic education during this period, enabling the standardization of educational materials that emphasized the primacy of the nation over the individual. This system also facilitated the dissemination of patriotic practices and values associated with the defense of the Fatherland. During this period, youth policy aimed to construct a new image of young people by, on the one hand, mitigating class and status differences within this demographic, and on the other hand, addressing intensified generational, socio-economic, and political conflicts in 1970s South Korean society through the promotion of universal category of filial piety. The New Village Movement, integrated into the education system and disseminated nationwide, served as the practical embodiment of the values of “total harmony”. With a well-developed infrastructure for promoting spiritual education and “practical” patriotism, the movement also dominated volunteer activities. Through Saemaeul education, the ideology of the Yusin period emphasized themes of equality and egalitarianism, presenting young people with role models such as loyal students and volunteers contributing to the country's modernization.