Tonghak: A Progressive Ideological Heritage Indigenous to the Chosŏn Nation

Abstract

Tonghak thought and its legacy, since the very beginning of the DPRK regime, were part of its political and ideological structure and a frequently discussed part of North Korean historical discourse. Evaluations of the Tonghak movement, the Kabo Peasant War, Ch’oe Cheu, or the anti-Japanese struggle of Ch’ŏndogyo members variegated through seven decades of the regime to a certain degree, but in spite of partial criticism always remained positive. This attitude was further strengthened in the last two decades when Tonghak gained an even more prominent position in the historical narrative and became a highlighted chapter in the history of the anti-feudal and anti-imperialist struggle of the Korean people.1 These changes in interpretation of Tonghak are especially