Newsletter

On June 30, 2021, I attended my retirement ceremony in the conference room of NAHF. I move on to a new world. I’ve written down my work at NAHF, academic activities, and some of my thoughts.

At the excavation site of Kraskino(Kraskino, Maritime Province, Russia, Aug, 15, 2006.)

(From left) Kim Eun-kook·Lim Sang-seon of NAHF, E.V.Shavkunov·N.V. 

Leshchenko of Russia, Russian student excavation team, Yun Jae-un of NAHF

<From ‘Koguryo Research Foundation’ To ‘Northeast Asian History Foundation’>

I remember the hot summer of 2006 when NAHF was launched. I was the head of the Balhae History Research Team at Koguryo Research Foundation. At that time, I sent the necessary items for the excavation of Balhae Castle and left for Russia from Incheon International Airport. In August, when excavation work continued in Kraskino, Russia, the Koguryo Research Foundation was dismantled and the Northeast Asian History Foundation was established.

On August 28, 2006, I went to work at the Imkwang Building at Migeun-dong, Seodaemun-gu. By then, the media's attention was focused on the Northeast Borderland History and the Chain of Events Research Project. It was a time of historical war. 『The History of Balhae Kingdom(渤海國史)』 is a book published in China as a result of the Northeast Borderland History and the Chain of Events Research Project. My interview about China's distortion of Balhae history related to this book was broadcast on KBS TV at 9 pm on September 5. On September 6, I reported an overview of 'the Northeast Borderland History and the Chain of Events Research Project' at the Blue House. And on September 8, I attended the National Assembly Special Committee on the Protection of Sovereignty over Dokdo and the Distortion of History in Northeast Asia. On September 28, at 10:30 pm, a signboard was placed at the entrance of the Imkwang Building and the opening ceremony was held on the 11th floor. President Roh Moo-hyun attended the opening ceremony.

East Asian History Textbook (amendment 2015)

Source: Bisang Education, Mirae N, Geumsung Publishing Company, Cheonjae Education

1. Key projects of NAHF: Affairs related to textbooks;

I think the most important project of NAHF is 'textbooks'. Korea raises the issue related to 'distortion of history' with the contents related to Korea in history textbooks of China and Japan. In this regard, it is meaningful that NAHF has developed the curriculum of <East Asian History>. In December 2006, I participated in the development of the curriculum of East Asian History for high school students at the request of the Ministry of Education. So I was able to explain and reflect NAHF's position on the history issues of Korea-China, Korea-Japan in the process of discussing by experts in each field.

Participants in International Conferences on the History of Goguryeo and Balhae(Vladivostok, Russia, Nov. 29, 2011.)

- From the left of the bottom row : Park Chan-gyu(China), Ji Hwa-san(North), A. L. Yivliyev(Russia), Lim Sang-seon(Korea), Kojima(Japan), Joo Guk-chim(China)    

- second row : Lim Ho-sung(North), Lee Dong-hwi(China), Kim Tae-soon(China), Gelman(Russia), Kim Jung-hee(Korea), Kwon Seung-an(North), Leshchenko(Russia), Jung Young-jin(China), Kim Eun-kook(Korea)    

- third row : Go Kwang-eui(Korea), Li Chang-jin(North), Russian scholar, Furuda (Japan), Kim Choon-jong(North), Russian scholar, Nikitin(Russia), Lee Hyo-hyung (Korea), Shavkunov(Russia), North Korean participant, Russian participant, North Korean participant, Jung Kyung-il(China)

2. International Conferences on the History of Goguryeo and Balhae, in which South Korea·North Korea, China·Japan·Russia participated

On November 28 and 29, 2011, an international conference was held in Vladivostok, Russia under the theme of Searching for the Study of History of Goguryeo and Balhae. As a team leader, I oversee this meeting and spoke as a representative of Korea at the opening ceremony. And I published a paper titled, <Relocation of the capital of Balhae, and capital city - Focusing on the Relationship between Zhangzhou(顯州) and Zhongjing(中京)>. Dr. Kim Jung-yeol was in charge of practical business affairs, and Dr. Ko Kwang-eui was in charge of North Korea and Chinese academia. I remember what Kojima Yoshitaka(小嶋芳孝) of Japan said: "This large scale of international conferences on Balhae history can not be held except Korea(NAHF)."

Goguryeo Ambassadors in the Afrasiab murals(Afrasiab, Uzbekistan, November 27~28, 2012)

The two on the right side of the mural are foreign ambassadors who meet the king of Samarkand in the middle of the 7th century. 

They put the feathered decorations of birds in their heads, which make them presumed to be Goguryeo ambassadors.

3. A study on the Afrasiab murals with the 'Goguryeo Ambassadors' painted on that

There was media reports that murals related to the Goguryeo Ambassadors in Afrosiab, Uzbekistan, were being damaged(Joongangilbo, Nov. 3, 2012). So from November 26 to December 1, 2012, I visited the area with Dr. Ko Kwang-eui. NAHF restored the painting of the mural to 3D at the request of the Uzbek government. and supported the explanation of the exhibition to be provided in multilingual terms. After that, the Korean president and other key figures visiting Uzbekistan will stop by and confirm the existence and role of NAHF. To meet Korea's status as an advanced country, NAHF should play an active role in international fields such as conservation projects for the Afrasiab murals.

4. Establishment of Northeast Asia and Dokdo Education Training Institute

In 2014, I was in charge of head of steering group, which promotes the establishment of Northeast Asia and Dokdo Education Training Institute. The training institute was accredited by the Ministry of Education in July 2013. My mission was to include this training institute in the organization of NAHF and secure the budget. We drew up 20 to 3 billion budget proposal and made plans for operation. And we visited the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Economy and Finance, but the steering group was disbanded in January of the following year. Eventually, training institute, which was a pending issue for the NAHF, became an independent department with the approval of the Ministry of Education when I was the director of planning and research team in 2016.

5. A Study on the History of Balhae and History Education

I worked at NAHF for 15 years and studied the history of Balhae and history education. I have made 19 presentations at academic conferences, and have published 40 papers, 13 books written alone and jointly, 1 translation paper, and 3 translation books.

6. Planning of International Conferences

In November 2007, an international academic workshop was planned and conducted under the theme of 'Description and Features of the Neighboring Countries' in East Asian history textbooks. Scholars from seven countries including China, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, Vietnam, Mongolia and Korea participated. We were helped by a domestic major who studied in those countries, so we were able to select prominent presenters from each country, translate their writings, and conduct meetings. The results were published 『Perception of the Neighboring States in East Asian History Textbooks(2008)』.

7. Direction of Research

As the Koguryo Research Foundation was changed to the Northeast Asian History Foundation, there were changes in the thinking about the history of Balhae and the projects. We had to devise research and projects that could be shared by Chinese and Japanese academics, not just by the Korean perspective. The direction was to establish the right status of Balhae's history in Northeast Asia. This may seem simple, but other studies or projects that NAHF has to keep in mind.

8. Papers published

<The awareness of Balhae's history in history textbooks in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong> is a comparison and review of the contents described in history textbooks of three countries. This paper is included in the book 『Comparison of Chinese and Taiwan and Hong Kong History Textbooks』(2008) published by NAHF.

<The study on the succession of the ethnic group in the northern region - centered on Mohe, Jurchen, and Manchuria>(2014) is a review of the relationship between each ethnic group. Chinese academics argue that Mohe – Balhae – Jin(Jurchen) - Qing(Manchurian) is ethnically linked. I pointed out in my paper that there is not enough argument to support China's claim.

After visiting Mongolia and completing the study(2013.7.8~9.8), I published a paper on Balhae people based on <The History of Liao(遼史)>.; ‘A review of the forced migration of Balhae people to mainland Georan and their residence(2013)’, ‘<Jehalsa(提轄司) in Liao Dynasty and military organization of Donggyeong(東京)>(2014)’, ‘Ordo(斡魯朶), state(州), county(縣) of the geography section of 『The History of Liao Dynasty』(2014)’, etc.

9. Books

In 2018 and 2019 I planned three studies, wrote and published papers. <The operation of the Kitan state and Balhae people> are reviewing the Kitan state established after the fall of Balhae. <The study of Yu Deuk-gong's perception of Balhae history examined through 『Study of Balhae Kingdom(渤海考)』> is a review of the preface and text of 『Study of Balhae Kingdom』. <The Inheritance of Korean Ancient History in the Writings of Ahn Huak> is an analysis of 『The History of Civilization in Joseon(朝鮮文明史)』. Ahn was active in various fields during the Japanese colonial rule.

『Yu Deuk-gong, a diplomat in Joseon who specializes in history』 will be published by NAHF in September. NAHF sought to highlight the role Yoo Deuk-gong played as a member of the yeonhaengsa in 1790, which is similar to diplomats who are experts in today's history and international affairs. This book also examined how Joseon understood the active circumstances of the Qing Dynasty and how it understood the international relations around Joseon in the late 18th century.

Korean Traditional Folding Screen ‘ChaekGaDo(傳李亨祿筆冊架圖)’

ⓒNational Museum of Korea

<What if I go back to the time of the new researcher?>

With my retirement, I thought about some things I wanted to do if I became a new researcher at NAHF again.

1. Historical Data and Theories

The basis of history is historical data and interpretation. China has historical data, and Japan is strong in interpretation. Korea lacks historical data and theories. Yoo Deuk-gong contributed to re-establishing the history of Balhae. I also try to interpret historical data related to Korea-China, Korea-Japan from the standpoint of Korea. And based on that, I want to overcome the distortion of history by establishing Northeast Asian history theory. The theory will interpret Northeast Asian history including Korea, China, Japan, and Mongolia as a relationship of mutual respect and coexistence, not a dominant relationship.

2. Understanding the Site

NAHF's projects are linked to each other, requiring a comprehensive understanding. China-related fields should understand Japan and Dokdo, and Japanese-related fields should understand China and Dokdo, and the Dokdo-related fields should understand China and Japan. I would like to visit the distorted history site in China and Japan and Dokdo, so I would like to find a realistic solution to the historical issues in Northeast Asia.

3. Level of Research

Experts try to be the best in their field. I would like to have the ability to be recognized not only in Korea but also in the academic circles of Northeast Asia and the world in history and education field. Only then does NAHF function properly, the state lives and peace comes to Northeast Asia. In order for the researchers to perform their roles well, there should be a free and wide range of research and external activities.

4. The Future of NAHF

The situation in Northeast Asia is not clear. Historical issues are a priority to be solved in order to move toward peace in North Asia. We should move away from the perspective of the history of ‘a country’(e.g., Korean history, Chinese history, Japanese history). I want to approach and analyze history and international relations in a big framework of 'Northeast Asia'. Only NAHF can solve the problem.

In this way, NAHF can live up to the public's expectation to address the historical issues of Northeast Asia. Furthermore, we will become the leading think tank that contributes to the peace of the world. I will always support NAHF, as I did when I was in NAHF.