호서사학회 전근대 한국사 연구 40년의 동향과 과제

Abstract

This study reviewed research trends in papers on pre-modern Korean history published in the journal of Ho-suh Historical Association over 40 years. The number of papers published in the journal amounted to total 509, of which 251 covered Korean history and 157 covered pre-modern Korean history. Of the 157 papers, 22.3%, 21.7%, and 54.1% covered ancient times, Goryeo, and Joseon, respectively. Those numbers are similar to the results of the academia with the papers on ancient times lagging behind the average a little bit. In terms of area, social history recorded the highest proportion, which is distant from the general trend in the academia. Total 102 researchers published their papers in the journal, accounting for approximately 20% of all researchers in the field of pre-modern Korean history. The pre-modern Korean history was divided into five sections. According to the classification, 16.7~30.4%, 4.3~33.3%, and 45.0~65.2% covered ancient times, Goryeo, and Joseon, respectively. In the early days of the journal, researchers from the Ho-suh region usually published their papers. Entering the middle 1980s, however, the scope of researchers expanded to include young researchers. While there were many studies that examined small topics in-depth, it is hard to find aspiring ones that took a broad perspective. Forty seven papers covered the Ho-suh region, accounting for 29.9% of total 157 papers on pre-modern Korean history and making a rapid increase in Period 5. The main areas of research included noble families, Confucian scholars, and seowons[書院] in the field of social history of Joseon. There were three papers on translation and annotation, one on introduction of materials, and nine on book reviews. Since there is no set principle on the selection of books for book reviews, the Ho-suh Historical Association needs to exercise its planning skills on the subject. The journal of Ho-suh Historical Association should place its top priority on claiming its representative role in the research of the Ho-suh region and accordingly consider the idea of publishing the achievements and tasks of Ho-suh research regularly every two or three years. The association also needs to carry out joint projects on the Ho-suh region. It is urgent for the association to make efforts to grow close to the people of the Ho-suh region.