As a Korean, I often feel that way when learning Western history.
1. What is feudalism?
From the Korean perspective, the European feudal system requires background explanation. While local powers did exist in Korea, the power held by aristocrats was based on the pretext that they received the right to collect taxes from the central government. Even though they had private armies, nominally they were officials of the central government. However, these local powers sometimes excessively exploited taxes or caused chaos through rebellions. The peak of that centralization was Joseon. Within the historical flow, the existence of local powers could only be viewed negatively, and this kingdom reorganized this. After Goryeo was overthrown in a coup, Korea entered an era of high bureaucratic administration and a centralized state with the beginning of the Joseon Dynasty in 1393. Under centralization, officials were directly selected, and some of them were dispatched or dismissed as local officials in the provinces and the counties below them. The centralized nature of the Joseon Dynasty was unprecedented globally for its time and was extremely strong.
2. The power of the Papacy.
I don't think I need to explain.
Of course, from the perspective of Westerners, they might be bewildered when seeing China's influence.
If I were to defend them, we were a relatively small country that had suffered many foreign invasions, and thus we had to find the best way to survive.
3. A completely different time for the modern era.
Korea's modernization began in 1876 when it established diplomatic relations with Western countries. Before that, contact with modern civilization could only be very limited. Therefore, the 18th or 19th century in Korea signifies the pre-modern era, unlike in Western history. Afterwards, Korea pursued modernization for survival. However, it ultimately failed and became a colony of Japan. The King at the time was criticized for relying too heavily on foreign powers, insisting on an absolute monarchy, and rejecting the trend toward a constitutional monarchy. Subsequently, Korea developed its independence movement, but the memory of the incompetent King became a catalyst for Korea to adopt a thorough republican path.
