가전제품, 소비혁명, 그리고 한국의 대량소비사회 형성

Abstract

The fruit of the industrial revolution dreamed of by the Park Chung-hee administration in the 1960s and 1970s was a mass consumption society, the last stage of economic growth suggested by Walt Rostow. Above all, the formation of a mass consumption society could be confirmed through the rapid spread of durable consumer goods in middle class households. However, Park Jung-hee carried on a strong consumption suppression policy as a means to achieve the goal of industrialization from beginning to end. Thanks to this, despite the rapid increase in national income in the late 1970s, the pace of consumption growth could not keep up. And until the late 1970s, the ‘Sikmo’ who were working in families above the middle class made the justification for existence of home appliances unnecessary. In addition, the presence of ‘ondol’ and conventional kitchens in traditional houses was a great hindrance to the supply of electric appliances.<BR>However, as the 1980s began, the new military regime began to ease consumption control policies in earnest. In middle-class families, almost all of the ‘Sikmo’ disappeared, some of them were replaced by commuting housekeepers. In most cases, electric appliances were introduced into the home at a rapid pace and, rather, making housework a housewife’s responsibility only. In addition, the expansion of apartment complexes centered on large cities enabled the modernization of kitchens, which played a major role in establishing home appliances. Furthermore, as income increased rapidly due to the economic boom that emerged as a “three-low phenomenon”, the middle class who tried to confirm their social identity through the purchase of durable consumer goods such as refrigerators and washing machines also increased rapidly. As a result, by the time the 1988 Olympics was held, South Korean society was entering the mass consumption society.