한국 근대 Ⅱ] ‘식민지 사회’를 설명하기 위한 다양한 노력: 2020~2021년 일제 식민지시기(1910~1945) 연구의 현황과 전망

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to examine the overall research trends from 2020 to 2021 concerning the Japanese colonial period (1910-1945), and to offer certain perspectives. First, papers examining the characteristics of colonial policy have been published steadily, in the continuity of previous research trends. Second, in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Bongodong and Cheongsan-ri, and the 80th anniversary of the creation of the Korean Liberation Army, some papers reviewed the historiography of these events, and others revealed new aspects. Third, it is remarkable that the scope of research on socialism during the colonial period has been expanded. Fourth, a number of papers have sought to analyze colonial society, and more particularly, to ask the meaning of “development” in the context of colonial period – probably in connection with the question of “colonial modernity” and “colonial publicity”. In general, the expansion of research scope to new topics and the improvement in the level of research on old topics derive from the systematic digitization of historical materials and their opening to the public. Joint research could be useful in providing opportunities to check various aspects of a specific topic.