Welcome to the Chosŏn History Society!

Why the Chosŏn History Society?

Korean studies, especially premodern studies in the West is still a developing field with few, publicly accessible resources for doing scholarship. The situation is particularly dire for beginners or amateurs, but even scholars with professional training struggle with access.

To give one example, the general, interested public often relies heavily on open-source internet resources, such as Wikipedia, to complement their learning process and to study for exams, but these resources are sometimes quite poorly curated. We see this in the English-language Wikipedia articles concerning Korean history, where the bulk of the articles are low-quality and rely on low-quality source materials. 

The problem of access is often thought of in terms of a wider "ivory tower" syndrome, where knowledge is locked inside the academy and inaccessible to a broader, interested audience. We believe, however, this problem can be conceived of in more specific terms, which identify opportunities for us to intervene or ameliorate in concrete ways. 

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Scholarship beyond the Academy

The current situation also exacerbates the “ivory-tower” problem. While much academic research is cloistered behind institutional barriers, scholars working outside of formal academic institutions risk estrangement from wider scholarly communities. The result is an overriding sense that research, especially historical research, is irrelevant beyond the walls of the academy. This situation also fosters a sense that engagement with Korea’s history must be moored to professional academic demands, trends, and obligations. As a result, whole disciplines and time periods can be completely excluded from the academic record or the professional discipline.

The Solution

To address the above, we have created the Chosŏn History Society (CHS), a public learned society fostering the study, research, and teaching of Korea’s past by connecting scholars working both outside and inside the professional academy. 

The CHS is a community based on sharing, rather than competition or exclusivity. It provides opportunities for scholars who are operating independently or are otherwise under-resourced to share research and generate in their work. The CHS will also connect these scholars with one another, fostering a network for shared interests. Through talks, workshops, public lectures and other events, CHS will develop and host public resources for the study, research, and teaching of Korea’s past.

Join us and help design society activities and structure going forwards!

Member Categories:

Master’s/PhD Student - You are actively pursuing an advanced degree but are looking to increase your exposure to new, curated research from both inside and outside of traditional academia

Independent Scholar - You are pursuing individual research in the field of Korean studies but are unaffiliated with any particular institution and wish to remain current in your field without financially committing to traditional research

Interested Generalist - You are not actively engaged in academic research but for personal or professional reasons wish to develop your knowledge of a particular field and connect with like-minded individuals

Benefits of Membership:

  • Access research across multiple mediums

  • Share your perspective

  • Grow your network