One of the most representative cases of theorizing the Korean experience in modern Korean studies—and of reconstructing the experience of “national history” into the universal language of “human history” or “global history”—has been the debate on “colonial modernity.” However, theoretical discussions of Korea’s modernity have remained fragmented, often constrained within frames such as compressed modernity, Manchurian modernity, militarized modernity, and Confucian modernity. This fragmentation has also been compounded by the discontinuity between studies of the colonial and post-liberation periods, as well as by the ambiguous relationship with discourses on developmentalism and the developmental state.

In response, our research team seeks to critically reflect on the formation of modern Korea by revisiting these diverse theoretical debates alongside historical and economic studies of aid, development, and growth. As a long-term research goal, the team aims to develop a deeper understanding of the structures and characteristics of Korean modernity. As an initial task, we focus on Korea’s history of aid, development, and growth, adopting an interdisciplinary approach that bridges history, economic history, and related fields.