Reflection on East Asian Cultural Legacy in Its Function on Creativity and Imagination with Focus on Korean Culture

Kwak Byong-Sun 
(Korean Educational Development Institute, Korea)

Abstract: Even in their higher ranks of international comparative student achievement tests like PISA and TIMMS in East Asian countries, the educators in the region commonly agree that the creative minds are raised mostly in Western countries where the tests scores are relatively not high. Strong in tests but weak in creativity is self-lamentable phenomena in the region inherited East Asian cultural legacy. It is undeniable fact that until the 20th century the world has been led by western civilization through the continuous transformation such as Reformation, enlightenment movement, scientific revolution, French revolution, industrialization, etc while the rest of the world had lagged behind. Creativity and imagination need cultural context or climate which allows any challengers in society to go beyond boundaries. In this connection, it can be a very meaningful project to analyze some salient traits of the Eastern Asian culture which has functioned to shape the consciousness of people in the region. This paper will review East Asian cultural traits in its impact on education and draw some suggestions for formulating relevant cultural context toward creativity and imagination.

Key words: creativity, imagination, Confucian doctrine, state-run high stake examination, free-being