2025, Vol.82, No.4

A Study on the Historical Concept of Silhak in Pre-modern Korea

Noh, Kwan Bum | 2025, 82(4) | pp.3~36 | number of Cited : 0

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The Circulation and Spread of Global Geographical Knowledge in Enlightenment-Era Korea - From Hanseongsunbo to Saminpilji

Han, Boram | 2025, 82(4) | pp.37~76 | number of Cited : 0

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This study comparatively analyzes Hanseongsunbo (漢城旬報), a newspaper published by the Joseon government in the 1880s, and Saminpilji (士民必知), a textbook compiled by the American missionary Homer B. Hulbert in the 1890s, to examine the circulation of modern world geographical information during Joseon’s Port-Opening Period. These two works are key sources that reveal the content, level, and developmental trajectory of the world geographical information that the Joseon government sought to establish from the 1880s to the 1890s. The analysis reveals that both sources share a fundamental framework of modern geographical knowledge, including the spherical shape of the Earth, heliocentrism, and the concept of five continents. However, they exhibit distinct differences in the specifics of their delivery. Hanseongsunbo is characterized by an argumentative narrative style that presents vast amounts of new information to persuade the reader. In contrast, Saminpilji treats this knowledge as established common sense and summarizes it concisely. This suggests that the knowledge accumulated during the Hanseongsunbo period laid the foundation for its systematization and diffusion during the Saminpilji period. A fundamental difference is particularly evident in their perspectives on continents and nations. Reflecting the struggles of contemporary Asia, Hanseongsunbo strongly projects the viewpoint of a less powerful nation, expressing a sympathetic perspective on Native Americans and the colonial situation in Africa. Furthermore, it provides an in-depth treatment of a few Western powers directly tied to Joseon’s contemporary diplomatic realities, such as treaty partners and nations involved in the Sino-French War. Saminpilji, in contrast, reflects the perspective of its American author, Hulbert, by ranking the world’s nations based on the standard of “benevolent governance” and emphasizing the American principle of non-interference. It also expands its scope to cover countries worldwide, thereby adopting the format of a more systematic geography textbook. Through this comparison, this study reveals that prior to the systematic geographical information provided by Saminpilji, detailed and in-depth global information had already been circulated via Hanseongsunbo. This is significant as it demonstrates the continuous efforts of the Joseon government during the Port-Opening Period to proactively collect, process, and disseminate global information, thereby independently building a foundation for modern world knowledge.

The Reception of the Western Political Thought and Taeseosinsaramyo (The 19th Century: A History) in the Late 19th Century

Jung, Jong-won | 2025, 82(4) | pp.77~125 | number of Cited : 0

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The American Council of Voluntary Agencies for Foreign Service (ACVAFS) in the Early Cold War - Foundation, Organization, Key Agencies, and the Role of Overseas Transportation Subsidies

Han, Bong Seok | 2025, 82(4) | pp.127~169 | number of Cited : 0

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This study examines the activities of the American Council of Voluntary Agencies for Foreign Service (ACVAFS), a coalition of US private philanthropic organizations, and the Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid (ACVFA) within the context of Cold War humanitarian relief and the US-Korea relationship. Their roles are explored by focusing on their establishment, major constituent organizations and activities, and their material foundation, which was the provision of US surplus agricultural commodities and overseas transportation costs. First, a distinction is made between the organizations: the ACVFA was a governmental body, while the ACVAFS was a private entity. The ACVFA carried out official functions such as approving organizations and subsidizing overseas transportation costs. The ACVAFS, on the other hand, exerted strong human and material influence on the ACVFA and advocated for the interests of private charitable organizations until the 1980s. Second, five major ACVAFS-affiliated organizations—including the Catholic Relief Services (CRS), CARE, the Church World Service (CWS), and the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC)—each utilized US surplus agricultural commodities for relief under their unique objectives. While CRS and CARE sought close ties with the government, the Protestantaffiliated CWS and MCC emphasized “voluntarism,” striving to maintain distance from governmental influence. Third, US surplus agricultural commodities and the support for overseas transportation costs served as a crucial material basis for these US private charitable organizations. The US government provided these resources to ACVAFS-affiliated agencies while appropriately demanding adherence to governmental interests. Consequently, these US private charitable organizations were compelled to move away from their initial “voluntarism” and incorporate elements of “anti-communism” or “security” into their relief efforts. The US government actively utilized domestic private charitable organizations, represented by the ACVAFS, in its foreign relief efforts during the Cold War. The key instruments for this were US surplus agricultural commodities and ocean freight costs. This mechanism allowed elements such as “security” and “anti-communism” to be reflected even within the private sector of US diplomacy during the Cold War.

Contemporary Korean History Education and the Democracy Narrative

Kim, Jeongin | 2025, 82(4) | pp.171~208 | number of Cited : 0