Researcher Bio
As a scholar in Korean Ancient History and Eurasian history, Oh-Young Kwon has been conducting research on the negotiations that have taken place in the East and West of Eurasia. The aims of his research are to restore the dynamic activities and networks of numerous political bodies, going beyond the history of long-distance negotiations through the Steppe Road and the Silk Road. Furthermore, his research endeavors to establish a model that can explain the exchanges between West Asia, Central Asia, North Asia, Northeast Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, which have been divided into separate units. He has been involved in excavation projects at the sites of Azerbaijan in West Asia, Kazakhstan in Central Asia, Mongolia and the Tuva Republic of Russa in North Asia, and Rui Lou and Oc Eo in Vietnam in Southeast Asia. He aims to go beyond the framework of Korean history to contribute to the establishment of a wider ‘Eurasian history’ by tracing and linking the historical trajectories of various nations and political bodies from ancient to medieval times. In particular, he has participated in joint excavations on the Bronze Age of Kurgan of Azerbaijan, the site of Salbir, one of the royal centers of ancient Caucasian Albania, Sakashi Kurgan of Kazakhstan, the Xiongnu tombs and fortresses of Mongolia, and the early Scythian Kurgan of the Tuva Republic. As excavation and research continues, the aim is to track the issue of long-distance negotiations that took place in Eurasia.