The change in ancestor worship culture
Korean ancestor worship comprises a set of beautiful customs. On ceremony days, all family members come from their separate home and gather together to pay respect to their deceased parents by offering food and reinforcing the bonds among the family members. Recently, however, the culture of ancestor worship ceremonies has changed greatly. The younger generations often go abroad to enjoy their long vacation instead of returning home to participate in ceremonies.
More so than ever before, trends toward individualism are appearing in Korean society. Rules regarding the rights to perform and inherit family ancestor worship ceremonies, which used to be restricted to the eldest son, have equal been relaxed, and now both men and women, regardless of birth order, have equal rights of inheritance in Korea. Moreover, it the eldest son is not available it take charge of a family's ancestor worship ceremonies, then his sibling can perform them.
As for the negative aspects of filial piety and the culture of ancestor worship ceremonies, which are based on Confucianism, they tend to place unnecessary burdent on Korean women, such as obligations tl always serve the family elders and perform a great deal of housework. It was partly for these reasons that a number of Koreans have voiced opposition to such traditional Confucian ceremonies, perhaps the most well-known of which is the book the Country Lives if Confucius Dies.