The Review of Korean Studies, 한국학중앙연구원

PDF Citaion [Guest Editors' Note] Digital Humanities and Social Sciences in Korean Studies: Current Applications and Prospects

Emily Euiyoung Noh ; Hyunjoon Park pp.5-14 https://doi.org/10.25024/review.2026.29.1.001

PDF Citaion Lifespans, Exam-Passing Age, and Careers of Joseon Yangban: A Prosopographic Analysis of Linked Biographical Records

Donghyeok Choi pp.15-58 https://doi.org/10.25024/review.2026.29.1.002

초록보기

Abstract

This study examines the lifespans and career trajectories of Joseon yangban elites using linked biographical records. Drawing on Who’s Who in Korean History and the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, the study links examination rosters, biographical records, and appointment histories to reconstruct lifespan and career patterns across the dynasty’s fve-century span. Findings reveal signifcant lifespan variations; court eunuchs lived longest, kings shortest, while officials across tracks averaged around 61 years. Exam-passing age difered systematically by track (japkkwa youngest, munban oldest) and varied by region of residence at exam time and by lineage. Earlier exam passage and established family lineage were associated with greater long-term career success, while exam rank itself showed no significant association with eventual career achievement after adjusting for other covariates. Seoul residence at exam time was associated with earlier exam passage but showed no independent association with career outcomes once timing and lineage were included as covariates. These results suggest that early bureaucratic entry and established family background showed stronger associations with long-term advancement than either region of residence or performance among successful candidates.

PDF Citaion Lasting Temes Beyond Vocabulary Shifts: Human Rights Discourse in South Korea, 1990–2010

Eunkyung Song pp.59-95 https://doi.org/10.25024/review.2026.29.1.003

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Abstract

This study examines how human rights discourse has been established in South Korea from 1990 to 2010, focusing on who talks about what, and how those themes are connected or not over time. By representing a novel corpus incorporating these stakeholders’ human rights-related texts as topics based on semantic similarities, this study accounts for Korean human rights discourse as a result of how the stakeholders did or did not connect topics that vary in drift (i.e., how a similar theme is framed via diferent vocabularies) and span (i.e., how long the topics remain active in focus). Korean human rights discourse is largely characterized by the persistence of topics, regardless of whether their vocabulary is stabilized or continuously evolving. Each stakeholder shows a distinct style of bridging topics with diferent drift-span indexes over time. Topics with similar levels of drift and span are bridged predominantly, and it is less likely for topics whose drift-span indexes are diferent to appear together in a single document. However, when semantic similarities are considered, it becomes clearer that enduring topics with low drift consist of core themes, and topics that are similarly persistent with high drift play an important bridging role.

PDF Citaion Refunctioning “Civilization” in Korean Associational Journals, 1906–1909: A Co-Occurrence Network Analysis

chohyunchul pp.96-130 https://doi.org/10.25024/review.2026.29.1.004

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Abstract

This article explores how the concept of “civilization” (munmyeong 文明) was refunctioned in two Korean associational journals published following the 1905 protectorate: Dae-Han jaganghoe wolbo (1906–1907) and Giho heunghakhoe wolbo (1908–1909). Using co-occurrence network analysis combined with genre-sensitive close reading, it demonstrates that munmyeong served different organizational functions depending on field-specific contexts. In Dae-Han jaganghoe wolbo, the concept was linked with legality, local autonomy, and institutional standards, functioning as a language of state capacity that both justifed reform and expressed ambivalence toward Japan. Conversely, in Giho heunghakhoe wolbo, munmyeong was integrated into educational and associative frameworks, including teacher training, school establishment, branch expansion, and civic self-cultivation. This shift moved the focus of civilizational efforts from external sovereignty claims to practical, collective survival practices under increased surveillance after 1907. Drawing on Bourdieu’s feld theory and Elias’s view of civilization as a process, the article suggests that the concept’s role was influenced not only by its lexical meaning but also by genre, organizational routines, and political constraints. Overall, it illustrates how Korean reformers transformed “civilization” from a state-centered evaluative framework into an educational and organizational routine within associational print media.

PDF Citaion Making Land Legible: Digital Reconstruction and the Logic of Land-Tax Adjustment in Joseon Yang’an

Sora Kim pp.131-160 https://doi.org/10.25024/review.2026.29.1.005

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Abstract

This paper clarifies the operating logic of the late Joseon land tax system through parcel-level analysis of historical land registers. Since the 1960s, Korean historiography has relied on quantitative, ledger-level analysis of these materials to explain socio-economic change in late Joseon society. Yet most such studies were conducted without identifying the physical location of the parcels recorded in the registers. Land was therefore treated as an abstract unit of calculation rather than a spatially situated entity, largely because no cadastral maps accompanied the textual records. To overcome this limitation, the study employs JigsawMap, a digital tool for reconstructing cadastral space from textual land records and enabling parcel-level comparison across periods. By spatially aligning parcels across documentary layers, JigsawMap makes it possible to trace how recorded areas and assessment values were adjusted in response to land category, topography, landholder residency, and regional transport burdens. Tese patterns refect not administrative disorder or technical imprecision but a fscal logic that prioritized calibrated balance over exact measurement. By redirecting analysis from text back into space, this study demonstrates how digital reconstruction can refine empirical inquiry while illuminating the rationality embedded in Joseon administrative practice.

PDF Citaion KPoEM: A Human-Annotated Dataset for Emotion Classifcation and RAG-Based Poetry Generation in Korean Modern Poetry

LIM I RO ; Haein Ji ; Kim, Byungjun pp.161-206 https://doi.org/10.25024/review.2026.29.1.006

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Abstract

This study introduces KPoEM (Korean Poetry Emotion Mapping), a novel dataset that serves as a foundation for both emotion-centered analysis and generative applications in modern Korean poetry. Despite advancements in NLP, poetry remains underexplored due to its complex figurative language and cultural specificity. We constructed a multi-label dataset of 7,622 entries (7,007 line-level and 615 work-level), annotated with 44 fne-grained emotion categories, drawn from the works of fve infuential Korean poets. Te KPoEM emotion classifcation model, fne-tuned through a sequential strategy—moving from general-domain emotion corpus (KOTE) to the specialized KPoEM dataset—achieved a micro F1-score of 0.60, significantly outperforming the baseline model (0.43). Te model demonstrates an enhanced ability to identify temporally and culturally specific emotional expressions while preserving core poetic sentiments. Furthermore, applying the structured emotion dataset to a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)-based poetry generation model demonstrates the feasibility of generating poetic texts that refect the emotional and cultural sensibilities of Korean literature. This integrated approach strengthens the connection between computational techniques and literary analysis, opening new pathways for quantitative emotion research and generative poetics.

PDF Citaion PLAVE: “Virtual Idols” as Best Representatives of K-pop’s Humanity

Mathieu Berbiguier pp.207-235 https://doi.org/10.25024/review.2026.29.1.007

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Abstract

This paper examines the K-pop virtual idol group PLAVE as a diagnostic case for understanding K-pop’s logics of authenticity, fandom labor, and visibility. Drawing on topic modeling of over 150,000 YouTube comments, supported by close readings of fan discourse and platform behavior, the study proceeds in three movements. It first shows how PLAVE’s avatar-based performances generate affective resonance despite ontological ambiguity, with fans recalibrating authenticity through emotional response, interpretive labor, and collective meaning-making—foregrounding sincerity over physical presence. It then examines the challenges this mode of authentication produces, from controversies over generative AI imagery to tensions around cultural legibility and global visibility. Finally, situating PLAVE within debates on techno-orientalism, post-human performance, and K-pop’s shifting global dynamics, the paper argues that PLAVE does not rupture K-pop’s logic but intensifes its core mechanisms. Their abstraction, moral entanglement, and narrative insulation reveal K-pop’s dependence on emotional legibility rather than bodily visibility. PLAVE thus serves not as a novelty, but as a crystallization of the industry’s present condition—where belief is no longer anchored in sight, but in shared affective structure.

PDF Citaion Religious Syncretism between Daoist and Shamanistic Imagery in Goguryeo Tomb Murals

William Gilbert pp.237-258 https://doi.org/10.25024/review.2026.29.1.008

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Abstract

This paper investigates the syncretic interplay between Daoist and shamanistic imagery in Goguryeo tomb murals of Korea’s Tree Kingdoms period. Focusing on motifs from the Anak, Ohoe and Samsilchong tomb mural complexes, the study traces how indigenous spiritual symbols, such as shamanic figures and cosmological patterns, were reinterpreted through imported Daoist cosmology. Through a comparative iconographic and textual analysis, it argues that these murals reveal a dynamic process of cultural exchange, wherein Daoist cosmological themes were integrated into Korea’s pre-existing shamanic worldview. The visual synthesis of divine fgures like Fuxi and Nüwa with native spiritual motifs demonstrates not mere artistic borrowing but the formation of a localized religious language that articulated the unity of heaven, earth, and humanity. This study contributes to understanding how Daoist metaphysics and indigenous Korean beliefs coexisted and interacted during the early development of Korea’s religious identity, offering new insights into the spiritual pluralism of premodern East Asia.

PDF Citaion Gendered Landscapes in Colonial Korea: The Invention of a Feminine Inner Geumgang

Soyeon Kim pp.259-282 https://doi.org/10.25024/review.2026.29.1.009

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Abstract

Following the onset of Japanese colonial rule, the Mt. Geumgang region was recontextualized within a new binary: Outer Geumgang came to symbolize modernity, while an idealized, romanticized notion of antiquity was projected onto the pristine landscape of Inner Geumgang. This study examines the sense of place of Inner Geumgang and its visual representations during the frst half of the twentieth century. Once a major destination for premodern travelers, Inner Geumgang came to be redefned primarily through the beauty of its valleys, with tranquil streams brought to the foreground and its numerous peaks relegated to the background. Its most renowned sites were severed from their previous associations and reinterpreted through a feminized lens. Manpokdong was redefned as “serene” and Myeonggyeongdae was transformed from a Buddhist mirror of judgment into a vanity mirror associated with female adornment. By analyzing the interplay between colonial tourism and visual representations, this study demonstrates how gendered reconfigurations of Mt. Geumgang and its scenery reshaped the modern perception of its landscape and contributed to a new visual regime.

PDF Citaion Ethnic Identity and Transnational Engagement among Young Zainichi Koreans

Jung Seo Kyeong ; YOON, In-Jin pp.283-318 https://doi.org/10.25024/review.2026.29.1.010

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Abstract

This study explores the influence of ethnic identity on the transnational engagement of young Zainichi Koreans within contemporary Japan. Although prior scholarship largely adopted static diaspora perspectives, this research foregrounds the dynamic, multidimensional identity practices of third- to ffth-generation Zainichi individuals in their 20s and 30s. Data were obtained via an online survey administered in November 2024, comprising 170 respondents. The study utilized a structured questionnaire to assess ethnic identity, varying levels of integration into Japanese society, and economic, political, and sociocultural aspects of transnational engagement. Statistical analyses, such as correlation and multiple regression, were conducted to evaluate the research model. To complement the survey fndings and to provide contextual understanding of patterns that are difficult to capture through quantitative measures alone, three semi-structured interviews were conducted between January and February 2025 with participants selected to reflect variation in nationality status and generational background. Findings indicate that a strong ethnic identity positively correlates with elevated transnational engagement across all examined domains. While higher levels of integration into Japanese society do not uniformly suppress transnational engagement, certain dimensions of structural incorporation function as enabling resources that facilitate sustained cross-border practices. Sociodemographic variables such as generation, nationality, and family background significantly moderate these associations. This research underscores that young Zainichi Koreans are actively constructing hybrid, digitally mediated identities in their daily transnational lives, thereby challenging traditional diaspora paradigms. These results extend current discussions on migrant integration, identity negotiation, and the signifcance of transnationalism for post-diasporic generations.

PDF Citaion Beyond Faith: Exploring the Roles of Korean Ethnic Churches in Shaping the Lives of Younger-Generation Korean Argentines

Jihye Kim ; Mirta BIALOGORSKI pp.319-347 https://doi.org/10.25024/review.2026.29.1.011

초록보기

Abstract

This study explores the evolving role of Korean ethnic churches in Argentina, focusing on the motivations behind younger-generation Korean Argentines’ involvement and the broader social and cultural dynamics shaping their community. Many initially attended churches as children due to parental expectations or social reasons but later developed personal religious beliefs and became actively engaged in these institutions. While religious faith remains the primary reason for attendance, social factors—such as the comfort of interacting with fellow Koreans—also play a crucial role. Additionally, many churchgoing parents emphasize the significant role these churches play in their children’s education, prioritizing a supportive environment that fosters learning and instills positive values, which in turn facilitates their children’s integration into the Korean community. Thus, while religious devotion is primary, these churches cultivate a strong sense of belonging and reinforce ethnic solidarity. However, this tight-knit environment may also limit integration into broader Argentine society, restricting cross-cultural engagement beyond the community. Ofering valuable insights into immigrant community dynamics in the Global South, distinct from the experiences of their counterparts in the Global North, this study fills a critical gap in research on Korean migration, shedding light on generational shifts, the evolving role of these institutions in immigrant communities, and their impact on social integration into the host society.

PDF Citaion [Editor's Note] Jikji

Jeongsoo Shin pp.349-350 https://doi.org/10.25024/review.2026.29.1.012

PDF Citaion Bibliographical Characteristics of the Movable Metal Type-and Woodblock-printed Jikji and Quotations from Venerable Baegun

Ok, Young Jung pp.351-372 https://doi.org/10.25024/review.2026.29.1.013

PDF Citaion Heritage, Provenance, and Digital Re-Illumination: A Review of the Jikji simche yojeol and the Cheongju-BnF Collaboration

JAMIE JUNGMIN YOO pp.373-386 https://doi.org/10.25024/review.2026.29.1.014

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The Review of Korean Studies