Microsoft Word Thesis Guly Salikhova doc

---

1
A Comparative Study of Traditional Families
in Korea and Uzbekistan 
 
by
Gulnoza Salikhova 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THESIS 
Submitted to 
KDI School of Public Policy and Management 
in partial fulfillment of the requirements 
for the degree of 
MASTER OF PUBLIC POLICY 
2005 

---

2
A Comparative Study of Traditional Families
in Korea and Uzbekistan 
 
by
Gulnoza Salikhova 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THESIS 
Submitted to 
KDI School of Public Policy and Management 
in partial fulfillment of the requirements 
for the degree of 
MASTER OF PUBLIC POLICY 
2005 
 
Professor Kyong-Dong Kim

---

i
ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS
‘A Comparative Study of Traditional Families in Korea and Uzbekistan’ 
by
Gulnoza Salikhova
Uzbekistan, which became independent in 1991, is a young state with claims to an 
ancient past. Republic of Korea, that has been established in 1948, also counts thousands 
year of history with unique culture and traditions.
Unlike Korea which is one of the most ethnically and linguistically homogenous 
in the world and has a population of 48.4 million
1
and a small minority of Chinese, 
Uzbekistan has a population of 25.9 million
2
, seventy-one percent of which are Uzbek, 8 
percent Russian, 5 percent Tajik, 4 percent Kazak, 2.5 percent Tartars and 8.5 percent 
other ethnic groups.
Moreover, Korea is an aging society with over 8 percent of population above 65 
years old
3
, whereas in Uzbekistan 50 percent, with the high growth rate of population, is 
under the age of 16 and only 4.8 percent of retirement age for men and women 65 and 60 
respectively.
Though Korea was one of the poorest countries over the past 30 years, its 
economic development has been spectacular. Half of the population in Korea actively 
practices religion. Among this group, 49% Christianity and 47% Buddhism 47% 
comprise Korea’s two dominant religions. Though only 3% identified themselves as 
Confucianists, Korean society remains highly imbued with Confucian values and beliefs. 
The remaining 1% of the population practices Shamanism (traditional spirit worship) and 
Chondogyo, ("Heavenly Way") a traditional religion. 
Uzbekistan had been one of the poorest republics of the Soviet Union; much of its 
population was engaged in cotton farming in small rural communities. The population 
1
Refer to Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, April 2005 
2
Refer to Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, February 2005 
3
Refer to Source: U.S. Library of Congress

---

ii
continues to be heavily rural and dependent on farming for its livelihood. The nation is 
88% Sunni Muslims and 9% Eastern Orthodox and 3% of other religions. Uzbek is the 
official state language; however, Russian is the de facto language for interethnic 
communication, including much day-to-day government and business use. 
Both countries’ exclusive historical, cultural, socio-economic characteristics 
provide greatly appealing background for present research topic.
This thesis focuses on 
traditional and 'modern' families, social changes, economic 
development, influence of culture and religion on family aspects and its life concepts in 
two distinct Asian countries, Korea and Uzbekistan. 
Although in this analysis 
concentration is based on specific family interactions, the primary reference point will be 
given to the social and economic transformations in both cultures along with attempts of 
maintaining family values and traditions. 
Furthermore, from the standpoint of 
Confucianism and Islamic conceptions I will consider two somehow similar but