The Problem of Modernity: Modern Korean History 1876-1945

History is divided temporally for ease of categorization; however, these categories, or historical eras, depend on the way that history is understood and are therefore flexible. Every country has a time period labelled “Modern History,” but when exactly that was depends on the country in question. In South Korean academic circles, Modern History generally encompasses the years 1876-1945. This presentation begins with a brief overview of major events in Modern Korean History before moving on to discuss the main issues dealt with by scholars. Through examining the scholarly arguments prevalent in the field, this presentation will deal with the questions of: what modernization is in the Korean context, when it began, what constitutes modernization, and why these arguments matter.

Kyrie Vermette is a third year PhD student in the Department of Asian Studies. Her research focuses on the interactions between Korean women and foreign women living in Korea (predominately American missionary women and Japanese women settlers) during the years 1884-1945.