Kim has survived that latest cartel onslaught in good shape. The program remains popular and many people suspect that Kim's critics are simply jealous of his success. The media has hyped the controversy, but it has not taken sides. Recurring scandals and public concern over the quality of education have deprived the cartel of the moral high ground that it needs to sway public opinion. Standing up to the cartel successfully is Kim Yong-ok's greatest accomplishment, but he has also helped to stimulate an interest in East Asia philosophy among people who would not normally take much interest in the topic.
Ancient texts are always in a state of interpretation and reinterpretation.
The conventional interpretation is a patchwork of interpretations past and present. The damaged caused by any errors in his interpretation is miniscule compared to the benefits of popularizing East Asian philosophy among people who would otherwise not have taken an interest in the subject. The writer is an associate professor at Kagoshima University in Japan. Copyright 2000 Digital Korea Herald. All rights reserved.