Abstract This paper tries to analyse the evolving concept of law in Korea from a historical and comparative perspective. As the law is definitely a historical product as well as an integral part of social institutions, legal concepts naturally reflect the social needs at any given time. Like in the West, the law in Korea has been defined in connection with its functions in each period. In the traditional era, the law’s main role was to maintain social order and to secure a more noble life for citizens. In modern times, its purpose is oriented towards the coordination of social conflicts and the protection of individual rights. In this article, the author discusses these changing legal concepts of Korea moving forward. This paper divides into four main parts. The first part will review the origins of legal concepts in Korea. The second part will look into the formation of legal concepts in ancient Korea. The third part will examine the transformation of legal concepts in medieval Korea. The last part will analyse the modernisation of legal concepts in Korea.

中文翻译：

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韩国法律概念的演变：历史和比较视角

摘要 本文试图从历史和比较的角度分析韩国法律概念的演变。法律既是历史产物，又是社会制度的组成部分，法律概念自然反映了任何时代的社会需求。与西方一样，韩国的法律是根据其在各个时期的功能来定义的。在传统时代，法律的主要作用是维护社会秩序，保障公民更高尚的生活。在近代，其目的是为了协调社会矛盾和保护个人权利。在本文中，作者讨论了韩国向前发展的这些不断变化的法律概念。本文主要分为四个部分。第一部分将回顾韩国法律概念的起源。第二部分考察古朝鲜法律观念的形成。第三部分将考察中世纪韩国法律概念的转变。最后一部分将分析韩国法律概念的现代化。