Seo, Jae-Pil’s contribution to the evolution of Korea’s modern physical education and sports culture

Abstract

Seo, Jae-Pil, the first Korean US citizen, played a significant role in spreading modern physical education and sports culture during the Enlightenment period in Korea. This study aims to investigate his impact on the advances of modern physical education and sports in Korea by analyzing his activities and ideas pertaining to physical education and sports based on The Independent, Korea’s first modern private newspaper. His physical education and sports activities served as a cultural bridge for Koreans to voluntarily and independently accept modern physical education and sports culture. This result is different from the previous research which interpreted Korea’s history of modern physical education and sports from the perspective of cultural imperialism. In other words, this study intends to examine and interpret the introduction of modern sports and sports culture in Korea with multiple lenses, taking into account the recipients's autonomous awareness and the context of the situation.