"Korean Reaction to Matteo Ricci and Christianity: A Case of Defensive Fundamentalism?"

This article introduces for the first time the concept of "Defensive Fundamentalism" in Korea's history. According to the author, some reactions to foreign cultural models were performed in Korea, more than in China, in a harsher way, it due to the will, by Koreans, to distinguish themselves from the Chinese. This was the way to save and preserve a cultural identity endagered by the subordinate relationship with China. In this paper the autor focuses on Korea reaction to Ricci and Christianity, be he goea as far as stating that such "Defensive Fundamentalism" is traceable in other cultural phenomena of Korean history, until the idea of Socialism in today North Korea.