Jo Gyeong-dal: Modern Joseon and Japan

*Modern Joseon and Japan* is a comprehensive history of modern Korea by Professor Cho Kyung-dal, a Korean-Japanese historian renowned for his research on the history of the Joseon people. It covers a half-century of history, from the reign of Daewongun in the mid-19th century to the day the Korean Empire fell on August 29, 1910, focusing on political and cultural aspects. At the same time, recognizing that the history of modern Joseon cannot be discussed without mentioning its relationship with Japan, the book also examines modern Korea-Japan relations from a comparative historical perspective. To justify its annexation of Korea, Japan propagated a colonialist view of history arguing that Joseon was incapable of modernizing on its own and that Japan was essential to assist it, as leaving it neglected could result in the loss of its very nation. This book reviews various historical perspectives that aim to overcome this colonialist view. Consequently, it attempts to transcend the limitations of theories that absolutize modernity, such as the endogenous development theory, the colonial modernization theory, and the colonial modernity theory. The author views modern Korean history as a history of deep sorrow and frustration, in which the nation attempted to build a new state while upholding its unique Confucian populism amidst the encroachment of foreign powers that forced change. In this way, by examining the history of modern Joseon from a political and cultural historical perspective, the author rescues modern Korean history from the shackles of the theory of developmental stages, which views anything that does not meet modern Western standards as stagnation or regression.

Korean title: 근대 조선과 일본

Korean author: 조경달

Korean publisher: 열린책들

ISBN-13: 9788932917252