한국학의 근대성 고찰

Abstract

The origin of Korean studies originated from the modern attribute of the recognition and explanation of nations and ethnic units in relation to others in the world. This article attempts to understand Korean studies as a product of modernity and to examine its modernity. Here, I would like to think about the modernity of Korean Studies from three perspectives. The first is the linkage of making East Asian modern cultural identity. Second is the universality of the birth of National Studies in the world’s modern academic history. Third is colonialism and ideological and practical concerns about it. Since the 19th century, East Asia has been battered by a Western-led world system. Korea, like other East Asian countries, tried to create a nation-state and a modern subject who did not give up its Asian identity while accepting Western modernization as the trend. At this time, the three East Asian countries shared the translation of ‘國 粹’ and showed the intellectual linkage that creates the cultural identity of modern nations and peoples. Modern Korean Studies was born with the practical and ideological characteristics of Korean modern history in connection with such common historical and East Asian commonalities. Understanding the formation of modern Korean studies as the linkage of East Asia will be the starting point for establishing the status of modern Korean studies as a world historical and East Asian frame. Since 1910, Korea has become a colony of Japan, becoming part of the Japanese Imperial Area and undergoing globalization under colonial coercion and regulation. Colonial and anti-colonial Korean studies have been in competition. Several signifier are used in a single signifiant, and signifiant related to ‘Chosun Studies’ and ‘Korean tradition’ are used for various signifier. Considering these points, grasp of meaning needs to be subdivided and solidified. Only then will the contents and academic systemization of modern Korean academic history of Korean Studies change and develop through the colonial period. This is also related to the progress of Korean studies in restoring various modern subjects. Just as cultural diversity and identity should be applied normatively as a basis for human coexistence in the era of globalization, modern Korean studies needs to be extended to reveal the identity of various modern subjects. This is a perspective and methodology in which modern Korean studies aims at modern and opens up the possibility of overcoming modern.