Organizer, Chair, and Discussant: Michael D. Shin, Cornell University
During the past twenty-five years, one of the central
debates in Korean historiography has been about “internal development” theory (naejaejok paljonnon).
To justify its takeover of Korea in 1910, Japan propounded “stagnation
theory” which held that Korea was stuck at the stage of ancient village
economy and unable to modernize on its own. “Internal development” theory
initially emerged as an effort to refute “stagnation theory.” Though “internal
development” theory gained wider acceptance during the 1970s and 1980s,
it has come under attack in recent years from a variety of fronts, especially
in relation to its conception of colonialism and its complicity with nationalism.
The objective of this panel is to reflect on the achievements and critiques
of “internal development” theory by presenting recent research on
the late 19th century and the colonial period. Chu Chinoh’s paper argues
for the difficulty of using the theory to explain the reform movements of the
Enlightenment Faction (Kaehwap’a). Lee Seung-Ryul introduces new research
to reexamine a key aspect of “internal development” theory – the
role of native merchants in capitalist development. Albert Park’s paper
examines whether the growth of Christianity in the early modern period can be
understood within the paradigm of “internal development” theory.
Park Tae-Gyun suggests focusing on the theme of Asianism as an alternative to “internal
development” theory, examining the thought of the Choson period and of
Cho So-ang. We hope that this panel will provide an opportunity to reflect
critically upon the development of Korean historiography during the democratic
period.
Chin-Oh Chu, Sangmyung University
After Korea’s opening in the 1870s, the country unexpectedly became incorporated
into the world capitalist system. This situation posed a tremendous crisis to
Korean society but, at the same time, also created new opportunities. Various
reform efforts were pursued in the late 19th century both within and outside
of the state. Proponents of “internal development” theory have contended
that Korea had developed the potential to establish a modern state on its own.
However, this paper contends that it was only when the country became incorporated
into the world capitalist system that serious efforts began to create a modern
state in Korea. My research focuses on reform movements led by the “Enlightenment
Faction” (Kaehwap’a), who supported a broader adoption of Western
technology and institutions. My paper examines two aspects of these movements.
First, it has been argued that the thought of the Enlightenment Faction can
be traced back to Silhak thought; however, I have found virtually no connection
between the two, or, if it did exist, it was not significant enough to have
an influence on reform efforts. Second, another important issue is whether
non-state movements had the ability to achieve reform. I will argue that the
state was the only group capable of accomplishing modernizing reforms because
a modern bourgeoisie had not yet emerged in Korea and because a peasant-oriented
reform from below was impossible under the conditions of the times.
Seung Ryul Lee, Yonsei University
After the overthrow of military dictatorship in the late 1980s, research
became active on topics that had been virtually forbidden, such as socialism
and contemporary history. In the process, criticism emerged of “internal
development” theory which had systematically critiqued the colonialist
historiography of Japan and its legacy in Korea. To refute the “stagnation
theory” propounded by Japan, historians focused on the late Choson period
and also reexamined colonial modernity as the historical origin of South Korea’s
postwar economic growth, seeing it as “exploitation for the sake of development”.
In particular, the latter became a heated topic of debate in South Korean historiography
from the 1980s. Research based on “internal development” theory
has generally focused on agricultural history. However, this paper will critically
examine this research by focusing instead on commercial history. My research
focuses on the role of Seoul-based merchants in modernization during the late
19th and early 20th centuries and puts commercial history in the context of
international relations in East Asia at the time. Through this research, it
is possible to uncover the unique features of Korea’s transition to modernity.
This paper also examines two of the major critiques of “internal development” theory – by
modernization theorists and by postmodern historians.
Albert L. Park, Claremont McKenna College
When its borders were forcibly opened in 1876, Korea had already begun to
undergo fundamental economic developments that created massive changes throughout
society. According to present-day Korean scholars who study internal development
theory, these developments reshaped traditional social relations and produced
new practices and ways of thinking that challenged the Neo-Confucian order.
When Protestant Christianity first entered Korea in the late nineteenth century,
it attracted a large following amongst groups of people who were affected by
the changes erupting in Korea prior to its connection to the global market.
This paper examines the relationship between internal economic and social developments
in Korea before 1876 and the rise of Protestant Christianity. Specifically,
it looks at how the rise of a market economy paved the way for Protestant churches
to actively draw members of certain classes in Korean society to Christianity.
The purpose behind studying this relationship is to further understand how material
and ideological changes affect the way in which religion emerges and develops
in society and how internal development theory could shed further light on the
rise of Protestant Christianity in Korea.
Tae Gyun Park, Harvard University
"Internal development” theory played a critical role in overcoming
and criticizing Japanese colonial historiography; however, it mainly paid attention
to changes in productive relations during the late Choson period. To illuminate
some weaknesses of “internal development” theory, this paper focuses
on the Asiatic-oriented thought of intellectuals that was also shared by the
common people. One Asiatic element in Korean thought was the notion that a strong
state and leader are necessary to overcome social crisis. It was an idea that
was derived from ancient Han-Tang Confucianism rather than from Neo-Confucianism.
The first part of this paper traces the development of this idea during the Choson
period in the thought of Chong To-jon and the Silhak school, as well as in popular
tales. This idea has elements that are very Asiatic and very different from Western
ideas on modernization and democracy. The second part of this paper examines
the reemergence of this idea during the modern period. The Korean people’s
attitudes toward the Korean Provisional Government are one example of this idea,
and this paper will also examine the ideas of Cho So-ang (1887-1958) and his
studies on Korean history. This Asiatic idea was shared by other political groups
regardless of political affiliation and also has an influence on Korea's first
constitution. “Internal development” theory could not overcome the
problem of westernized modernization theory as it did not pay attention to the
Asiatic idea whose influence can be seen in the Park Chong Hee era as well as
in “Kim Il Sung syndrome”.
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