Abstract

I reviewed the historical efforts of constructing the Korean psychology in Korea. Taking the cultural psychological perspective(Shweder, 1990), I defined the Korean psychology as the psychological study of and for the Koreans, which should be constructed with the concepts and theories rooted in Korean social life. I elaborated why it is needed, what have been done with regard to, and how it should be pursued. Up untill 1980's, Korean psychologists were eager to importing Western psychology. Western psychology was regarded the psychology of universal theory. Because people are not keenly aware of the cultural properties of psychological theory, schism developed between psychological theory and Korean social life. Construction of Korean psychology begins with recognition of colonial status of psychological studies in Korea. Researchers should base their theory on the social life of Korean people. Suggestions were made to help build up Korean psychology. Studies of replication may benefit if conducted with cultural variables added to the original study. More attention to other Korean researcher's work is desired.