This essay critiques the ambiguous term “sentimental rule state” and examines historical examples from the Joseon Dynasty to discuss punitive and retaliatory governance in Korea.
Contrasting Japan’s completion of modernity with Korea’s alleged regression, it analyzes divergent national trajectories in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

2019-01-23
From the latter half of the 20th century, when modernity was approaching its end, Japan moved toward completing modernity, while Korea failed to do so and regressed, and upon entering the 21st century the contrast between the two nations became starkly visible.
A chapter published on March 8, 2017 under the title “What Is a ‘Sentimental Rule State’?” is now ranked fourth in searches on Ameba.
The following continues from the previous chapter.
All scholarship can be described as an endeavor to endure the groundlessness on this side while approaching the grounds on the other side.
There is no universality on this side alone, nor any ultimate foundation.
One may grasp matters instantly through intuition and transcendent reasoning, yet in this case I chose to collect historical examples and gradually approach the evidence.
In the Joseon Dynasty, there existed the practice of “indiscriminate imprisonment,” whereby those who resisted were immediately thrown into prison, and “indiscriminate amnesty,” whereby once the example had been made, large numbers were pardoned.
For detailed explanation, please refer to my article “The Great Penal Reforms and Human Rights Improvements by Modern Japan — What Can Be Seen from Korean History” (Bessatsu Seiron, No. 23, 2015).
It is also available online on iRONNA.
The conclusion is quite simple.
“Korean punishment is retaliatory and exemplary.”
The vague term “sentimental rule state” has spread, but what exactly does “sentimental rule” mean?
Because Japanese media use such mocking yet ambiguous expressions, they fail to mature.
Since Korea knows only punitive measures of retaliation and example-setting, it applies laws retroactively for revenge and attempts to punish freedom of speech and the press as “writing crimes,” thus perpetuating the self-righteousness of those in power.
Park Geun-hye demonstrated all of this in practice.
Thus, it is possible to describe the trajectory in this way.
From the latter half of the 20th century, when modernity was nearing its end, Japan moved toward completing modernity, while Korea failed and regressed, and in the 21st century the contrast between the two nations became unmistakable.
To be continued.