"The Ethical Evaluation on the Korea Traditional Wedding ceremony


 
 There are two aspects in a Korean traditional wedding ceremony composed 
of an outside formation and an inside essence in etiquette(Lae). The real
etiquette must harmonius between the two aspects. In the Korean tradition,
there are four outside etiquettes -1)Kwan Lae; a coming of age ceremony,
2)Hon Lae; a wedding ceremony, 3)Sang Lae; mourning decorum, 4)Jae Lae;
a memorial service. The wedding ceremony is regarded as an important start
to human life.
 
 The Korean traditional wedding ceremony necessarily needs a matchmaker 
who introduces the people to each other. The final decision is made by the 
parents.
 The first Wedding ceremony named 'Chinyoung' is celebrated in the 
bride's  house. 'Chinyoung' is divided into three parts. The first part 
(Jeanan Lae) is when the bridegroom enters the bride's house holding a
wooden wild goose that symbolizes living 100 years through fidelity.
 The second part (KyobaeLae)is when the bride and bridegroom exchange 
formal bows,first the bride bows deeply to his bridegroom twice then 
bridegroom responds to his bride with one bow. This unequal bow means (or 
symbolizes) a patriarchal culture.
 The third part (HabkunLae) is when the new couple drink wine with half 
gourd linked with a colored thread. This part means praying for conjugal 
harmony between husband and wife.

 The second wedding ceremony named 'Paeback' cerebrates the return back 
to the bridegroom's house. The new bride makes a deep bow  and offers her 
gifts to her parents-in-law.
 
 When considering the ethical parts in a traditional Korean wedding 
process, the following meanings are:
 1. This is a fatalism. Marriage is not individual concern but the 
family's concern. It means obedience to the parent's wishes.
 2. This is a authoritarianism based on subjection of woman. The feudal 
order of the relation between sovereign and subject apply to husband and 
wife.
 3. It is better regarded as filial piety for parents than the love of 
the couple. It means that the end of marriage is the gaining of descendents
for future generations.
 4. The moral and home management established by a powerful husband and 
a chaste wife. This order of small family linked to national ideology 
for "social discipline. "