Chinese Studies in Korea: The Oral History of Senior Scholars

For several years, the research and educational center in Department of Political Science at Taiwan National University has been conducting research on Chinese study groups in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and India. Its aim was to examine how Chinese studies are being conducted in each country, who constitute the Chinese study community, and what elements affect the Chinese studies so as to integrate the Chinese studies that are currently separately conducted in these countries and thereby, offer them an opportunity to adopt advanced research trends. This paper is based on interview data with the Chinese research group in Korea, following the interview with the Chinese research group in Japan. The paper begins with the history of Korean senior scholars on Chinese political studies, based on oral interviews with them. Each academic field requires retrospection, through which the field can advance. Furthermore, before retiring from the field, the first-generation scholars must reproduce their memories. Finally, to study the personal history of senior scholars based on their memory is to examine the relationship between Korean scholars on Chinese studies and the Chinese studies themselves, which should lead to the academic observation and evaluation of the Chinese researchers' group in Korea. The main point of the oral descriptions is to help senior scholars on Chinese studies recollect their own research experience, such as their motives in pursuing Chinese studies, what kinds of political and academic influence they were under, and how they influenced young scholars on the Chinese studies.