The Trends and Perspective of Korean Contemporary History Studies from 2012 to 2013

Abstract

This article aimed at the analytical study on research trends of the Korean contemporary history studies from 2012 to 2013. First of all, it was outstanding that there were so many theses on the Yushin Regime. Because of 2012 was the 40th anniversary of Yushin Regime and the presidential election year, the academic world of Korean history was not free from that situation. BR First, the peculiarity of theses on Yushin Regime was that there were many research results of related discipline studies. The Yushin Regime is a latest event comparatively and thus it is not taken as one of main theme by the learned circles of Korean history. But social sciences have produced many research results on the Yushin Regime.BR Second, while there are existing research trends such as the foundation background of Yushin Regime, it is worth for paying attention to the new currents such as studies on everyday life history, cultural studies and developmentalism.BR Until a recent day, the research trends for Korean contemporary history have mainly focused on the period of liberation and Korean war. Though the research results on the period of thereafter 1960s are increasing, it is not plenty. If we give a consideration to the 40th anniversary of Yushin Regime, the research results on the 1960s and 1970s may be less. If we will try to understand Korea as a nation state, it is necessary to analyze not only the genesis of her but also the process of nation building. Especially the analysis on the industrialization process and its results in the 1960s and 1970s is essential to understand Korean society nowadays.