WEBZINE NORTHEAST ASIAN HISTORY FOUNDATION

Goryeo's Foreign Policy Analyzed through Wars against the Khitans The Khitans emerged as a new powerhouse in Northeast Asia during the chaotic, final period of the Tang Dynasty. Yelu Abaoji founded Khitan in 916, calling himself the emperor, and in 926 he overthrew Balhae. His immediate successor, Taizong Yelu Deguang, brought the later Tang Dynasty to the ground in 928, allowing Governor Shi Jingtang to establish the Later Jin. Khitan occupied the 16 states, thus allowing them to emerge as a powerful authority in the northern region. The relationship between Goryeo and Khitan dates back to the year 922 (the 5th year of Taejo). Goryeo had been hostile towards Khitan because Balhae, its brother country, was overthrown by the Khitan. Thus, in the year 942 (the 25th year of Taejo), when the Khitan envoys visited Goryeo with 50 camels, King Taejo exiled the 30 envoys and starved the camels to death under the Manbu Bridge. The Khitans had sent camels as a gift to promote goodwill and friendship between themselves and Goryeo. The gift had really been sent with the intention to remove the threat that Goryeo posed, as a war between the Khitans and the Later Jin was on the horizon. Eventually, the Later Jin was brought down by Khitan in the year 946. King Taejo had intended to recapture Goguryeo’s older land after unifying the Later Three Kingdoms, however his dream was shattered because the Khitans had invaded Balhae first. Thus, King Taejo's target for attack shifted from Balhae to Khitan. King Taejo tried to take Balhae by forming a connection with Goguryeo. However, the Khitans took no retaliatory measures against King Taejo’s anti-Khitan actions because of its looming battle against the Later Jin. Since its foundation, Goryeo continued its northward policy, reaching the Yalu River basin in the period of King Seongjeong. At the time, the Khitans built castles in Wigu, Jinhwa and Naewon (presumed to be Geumdongdo near Yalu River) along the Yalu River to ward off Goryeo’s further advances. As Goryeo and Khitan met head-on in the Yalu River basin, war clouds began to gather.

Lee Jeong-shin(Emeritus Professor of History at Hannam University )

Gang Gam-chan, the Hero of the Battle of Gwiju Gang Gam-chan, who was called Gang Eun-cheon during his childhood, was born in 948 (the 3rd year of Jeongjong) to father, Gang Gung-jin. Gang Gung-jin was called “Samhanbyeoksanggongsin” to recognize all of the help he gave to the King Taejo of Goryeo (Taejo Wang Geon). He lived in Geumju, as his ancestor Gang Yeo-cheon had settled there after emigrating from Silla (Geumji is the present Bongcheon-dong, Gwanak-gu, and some areas in Geumchon-gu including Siheung-gun near Mount Gwanak). "Bohanjib," compiled by Choi Ja, a civil servant in the late Goryeo Dynasty, recounts the legend of Gang Gam-chan. According to "Bohanjib," while entering Siheung-gun, an envoy saw a big star fall down on a home and so they sent a man to go find it. He was surprised to find out that a woman in that house had happened to give birth to a baby boy at that same moment. The envoy was curious so they took in the baby to raise him, naming him Gang Gam-chan. Additionally, there is a record that states that an envoy from Song also came to pay homage to Gang Gam-chan. During their visit to Goryeo, they bowed unwittingly saying, "I have not seen Mungokseong (Megrez) in a long time. I am grateful to see it here." Mungokseong is the fourth star of the Big Dipper and is known to be in charge of learning. The legend that says that Gang Gam-chan passed the civil service exam for the first time in 983, the second year of Seongjong (960-997) and demonstrated an aptitude for studying. The place where the star [that had “announced” the birth of Gang Gam-chan] fell down is Nakseongdae, located in the present Bongcheon-dong. Nakseongdae is now known as the birthplace of Gang Gam-chan. However, "Yeojidoseo" says that Nakseongdae is the location where Gang Gam-chan's umbilical cord was buried.

Heo In-wook(Professor of History at Hannam University)

Shedding a New Light on Goryeo's Diplomatic Efforts that Enhanced its International Standing The (Northeast Asian History) Foundation recently published "Korea’s Foreign Affairs and Diplomatic History" as a series. This series divides the era into Goryeo, Joseon and modern times in order to analyze Korea's foreign affairs and diplomatic history from ancient times up until the South-North division of Korea. The "Goryeo Installment" describes Goryeo's foreign affairs and diplomacy realistically and vividly in such chaotic and transformative times of East Asia. In particular, the Battle of Gwiju, which concluded in a magnificent victory over the Khitans, is described as a brilliant achievement through which Goryeo was able to raise its international standing after a long struggle. Now, let's meet Korea University's professor Lee Jin-han, the principle editor of the book "Korea's Foreign Affairs and Diplomacy - Goryeo Installment," to examine its academic significance and listen to his suggestions to promote the studies of Korean diplomatic history.

Lee, Jeong-il(Research fellow, NAHF Institute on Pre-modern Korean History)

Traces of Joseon Missions Left in Japan's Yamaguchi Prefecture Records of Joseon (Korean) missions in Japan, which had been requested jointly by private organizations from Korea and Japan, were added to the UNESCO Memory of the World Register in October 2017. The objective of adding the documented heritages to the Memory of the World Register began in 2015 when the Busan Cultural Foundation proposed to the Japanese Foundation of the Council of Contract to add records of Korean missions to the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. After years of efforts, the two countries jointly applied for the registration of records related to Joseon missions. Finally, the registration was decided at the 13th advisory meeting of the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. A total of 333 articles from 111 documents were registered and records related to Korean missions make up 124 articles from 63 documents while those related to Japan make up 209 articles from 48 documents. Records related to Korean missions are intellectual heritage that recorded and portrayed 200 years of peaceful exchanges between Korea and Japan after the 1592 Japanese Invasion of Korea based on their respective historical experiences. The registration will serve as an occasion to boost universal human values such as peaceful coexistence and respect for other cultures.

Yoon Yu-sook(Research Fellow at Korea Institute of Ancient and Medieval History, Northeast Asian History Foundation)

Traces of An Yong-bok Found in Tsushima, Japan Choosing to Walk in Tsushima Tsushima Island is the Japanese territory that is closest to Korea. The shortest distance between the two countries, 49.5 kilometers, is between Busan and Kamitsushima, the northernmost area of Tsushima. If the weather is clear, it is possible to see Busan from Kamitsushima and Kamitsushima from Busan. Due to the geographical proximity, many historical Korean events took place in Tsushima. For example, Balhae dispatched envoys to Japan [34 times], the Goryeo-Mongol allied forces invaded Japan, Japanese pirates attacked during the Goryeo and Joseon Dynasties, Joseon took missions to Japan and the Korean Princess Deokhye was married in Japan. All of these important political and diplomatic events involving the Korean Peninsula took place in or around Tsushima. Even to this day, remnants from these events remain in Tsushima.

Jeong Yeong-mi( Research Fellow at the Dokdo Research Institute, Northeast Asian History Foundation )

동해 표기 명칭의 효율적 전파를 위한 지침서 <해외 언론의 ‘동해’ 인식>

Guidelines for the Effective Propagation of Names in the East Sea <Recognition of the 'East Sea'in Foreign Media> Today, Korea and Japan are engaged in a fierce diplomatic war over the international appellation of the East Sea. The Korean government has been making efforts to promote the worldwide propagation of the name "East Sea" since both South and North Korea joined the United Nations in 1991. Although there have been countless difficulties and obstructions caused by the Japanese government who claims the appellation, "Sea of Japan," many countries around the world have come to understand Korea's position though efforts of the Korean government and the private sector.

Yi, Saangkyun(Research Follow at the Dokdo Research Institute, Northeast Asian History Foundation)

2018 전국 중·고등학생 독도체험 발표대회 참가기 찬란했던 우리의 100일

Our Splendid 100 Days Last May, at the end of spring and the beginning of early summer, five students and one teacher gathered to voluntarily form a club called "Donghaerang, Dokdorang, Urirang." The words "start" and "beginning" are always accompanied by anxiety and worry. We started our club activities because of one concern: what efforts should we, ordinary people, make to inform the world about Dokdo, the land of the Republic of Korea? In retrospect, we were successful in achieving great results because we were together, united. We spent the unusually sweltering summer of 2018 together. Amid the deafening sound from the buzzing cicadas and in the searing heat, we went about Seoul carrying our homemade picket signs conducting publicity campaigns in order to spread awareness about Dokdo. We were tired, exhausted and thirsty, going long distances by subway and walking short distances by foot. But the encouragement we received from the public gave us the energy we needed to wrap up our publicity campaigns in Seoul with vigor. Afterwards, we painted Dokdo murals for as long as 9 hours, from early morning until night, and even on the weekends. The murals, which we painted while listening to fun and exciting music, came out wonderfully and we would end the days covered in paint. In addition, we decorated the stairway at the main entrance of our school with "Dokdo stair sashes," on which the history of Dokdo and our names were written. We stood back and watched as our sashes glittered in the blueness of the Dokdo murals and we felt a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Lee Jae-hwan(teacher at the Yeongseon Middle School in Gochang-gun, Jeollabuk-do)

The Foundation's News On January 2, 2019, the Foundation hosted a ceremony to kick off the new year with executives, including President Kim Dohyung. In his New Year's address, Mr. Kim expressed hope that the Foundation would be passionate and proactive in terms of both research and administration in the coming year, citing the Chinese idiom, "Geungoyeopmu," meaning, "Strong roots that support a tree with thick leaves." Following this metaphor, he wished that every effort made by the Foundation would result in thick leaves, flowers and fruits.

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