The Young People in History

The Young People in History is a book that contains the content of the [2010 EAI Social Science Grand Lecture] held for eight sessions from March 3 to March 29, 2010, under the theme "The Young People in History: From 18th-Century Silhak Scholars to 21st-Century Complex Theorists." Starting with the question, "In the midst of rapidly changing global affairs and the dire reality of Korea, how did the young people, surrounded by global powers, find the path to becoming a diplomatic powerhouse?" this book seeks fundamental answers to Korea's international relations today through an exploration of eight pioneers who forged the path of Korean diplomacy throughout our history, from the 18th-century 'Bukhak school' to the 21st-century 'complex theorists.' Based on exceptional insight and extensive archival research, the author rediscovers the achievements and historical significance of these figures in international relations, which have been overshadowed by their well-known reputations, and persuasively explains them in connection with Korea's current reality.

From the text: "Opening the Lecture: Our Young Selves in the Future"

Although what I am about to present may not appear to be my area of expertise to some, I approach this stage without great concern. This is because I am not attempting to fabricate a story, but rather to share, with a light heart, the stories that these eight protagonists earnestly wished to tell, conveyed to you who have come during your busy evenings. Nevertheless, I feel a slight burden in having to reveal these intimate stories here, partly by choice and partly by circumstance, when I believe that the virtue and beauty of love lie in keeping the details of how I met these protagonists, who have been the objects of my intellectual affection for the past thirty years, and what they whispered to me, to myself. Therefore, instead of a conventional lecture, I intend to speak over eight sessions about how I came to have this intellectual affair with these protagonists, what I heard from each encounter, and ultimately, what meaning it holds for our lives. If the resonance I felt in my heart is conveyed to your hearts as well, I will consider this lecture a success.

Many people have expressed affection for the Sino-Korean word for 'young people,' 'cheongnyeon (靑年).' In recent times, it was Japan that began to use the term 'youth' in earnest. Tokutomi Soho, though having a negative connection with Korea, is a rather important figure in Japanese history. In the mid-1880s, Tokutomi Soho believed that for Japan to transform from the old Japan to the new Japan after the Meiji Restoration, it must place its hopes on young people. However, the young generation in Japan at the time was not referred to as 'youth' but rather as 'jangsa (壯士),' dominating the political scene. While 'jangsa' can be used with positive connotations, like a mighty warrior, it traditionally carried strong negative implications, referring to violent groups that did not handle matters rationally. After Tokutomi Soho argued that a new generation, called 'youth,' was needed instead of the elderly or 'jangsa' for a new Japan, the term 'youth' began to gain traction in a political sense in the late 1890s.

In any era, when the generation responsible for that era fails to fulfill its role, there is no choice but to hold dreams and expectations for the next generation. In our case, the term 'youth' appears intermittently in the Independent (독립신문) of the 1890s, but it generally began to be used in earnest from the era of patriotic enlightenment. In 1910, amidst the sorrow of losing our nation, the word 'youth' was used very frequently due to the hope placed on the new generation, which was the only remaining hope. In China as well, in the early days of the Chinese Communist Party, Chen Duxiu's magazine was initially titled <Youth Magazine> (<청년잡지>) and later established itself as <New Youth> (<신청년>).

If, in the near future, we, the elderly, cannot secure a more imaginative and dynamic space for action, the efforts of the younger generations will be needed to fill that void. My interest in "the young people in history" stems from the question of how such efforts have unfolded throughout history and whether we can continue them today. The late 18th century, about 150 years after enduring the Imjin War (1592-1598) and the Byeongja War (1636-1637), presented a historical opportunity for us. In the process of the older generation failing to seize this opportunity, I discovered the efforts made by the younger generation. To this end, I selected 50 to 60 individuals from the 18th to the first half of the 20th century who possessed the courage to pursue their dreams without being consumed by reality. These were individuals who strived to resolve the historical challenges we faced amidst difficult circumstances. My lecture will present eight stories, selecting the most representative cases: two from the Silhak school of the late 18th century, two from the enlightenment period of the 19th century, two from the Japanese colonial period, and two from the 20th and 21st centuries. The eight protagonists in these stories will demonstrate efforts to overcome the limitations of their respective eras and solve problems from a new perspective. I will begin my narrative with the belief that if we can meet "our young selves in the future" instead of "our old selves in the future," the Korean Peninsula in the 21st century can create a new history.

Table of Contents

Opening the Lecture: Our Young Selves in the Future

Lecture 1: Yeonam Park Ji-won's View of China

Lecture 2: Dasan Jeong Yak-yong's Frustrated Political Reforms

Lecture 3: Hwanjae Park Gyu-su's Enlightenment Salon

Lecture 4: Gudan Yu Gil-jun's Triple Difficulties

Lecture 5: Yakyeong Kim Yang-su's Unfinished Political Science of Colonial International Relations

Lecture 6: Minse Ahn Jae-hong's Failed 20th-Century Complex Theory

Lecture 7: Dongju Lee Yong-hee and Korean International Political Science

Lecture 8: Decoding the Complex Theorists: World Politics in the 21st Century