Researcher Bio

Seon-Young Park is a historical geographer specializing in the analysis of geographic information and toponymy based on modern topographic maps and old maps. Her research has focused on the spatial representation and changes in place names found in modern maps such as the Joseon Topographic Map, the re-interpretation of historical documents in digital environments, and the perception and demarcation of Asia as depicted in historical maps. Recently, she has expanded her work to include analyses of 20th-century spatial data, including the labeling of mountain names during the Japanese colonial period, Korean-script maps of Seoul, and U.S. military topographic maps from the post-liberation era.
She has participated in collaborative projects with institutions such as the Kyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies and the National Institute of Korean History, contributing to the construction of historical geographic information databases and the development of integrated digital services for old maps. She has also co-authored volumes including Introduction to Mega-Asia Studies and Geographical Descriptions of Asia through Nations and Cities, contributing to the expansion of East Asian regional studies.
Currently, she teaches in the Department of Geography at Sungshin Women’s University and in the Department of Geography Education at Dongguk University. She previously served as a researcher at the Institute of Humanities and the Kyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies at Seoul National University.

Selected Publications (Past 5 Years)
  •  Jung, Doo-Hee & Park, Seon-Young. (2024). A Study on the Restoration and Reproduction of the “Map of Ganghwa” in the Kyujanggak Collection. Journal of Korean Old Maps, 16(2). (Corresponding author, co-authored)
  •  Park, Seon-Young, Jeong, Bu-Mae, & Hweon, Seok. (2024). An Analysis of Changes and Implications in Mountain Name Representations during the Japanese Colonial Period. Journal of Cultural and Historical Geography, 36(2). (First author, 3 authors)
  • Kim, Soo-Hyun, Park, Seon-Young, Han, Ye-Rim, Kim, Jun-Soo, & Park, Bum-Soon. (2024). U.S. Military Topographic Maps of the Korean Peninsula during the U.S. Military Government Period (1945–1948). Journal of Korean Old Maps, 16(1). (Corresponding author, 5 authors)
  • Park, Seon-Young. (2024). Korean-Language Maps of Seoul in the 19th Century: Gyeongjo-Obudo and Hanseongbu-do. Gijeon Munhwa, 45(1).
  •  Park, Seon-Young & Kim, Hyun-Jong. (2024). Symbols and Realities of Topographic Maps as Representations of Modern Geographical Space. Journal of Cultural and Historical Geography, 36(1). (First author, 2 authors)
  •  Shim, Woo-Jin, Park, Seon-Young, & Jeong, Bu-Mae. (2024). Changes in River Courses and Settlement Distribution in Uiseong County. Journal of the Korean Association of Regional Geographers, 30(1). (3 authors)
  • Park, Seon-Young. (2024). Seoul Aerial Photographs from 1945 and 1946 Held at the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Academic Series 20, Seoul Museum of History. (Co-authored)
  •  Park, Seon-Young. (2024). Chapter 4: The Old Roads of Cheonan – Focus on Joseon-era Geographical Texts and Old Maps. Cheonan Studies Series 05, Cheonan Studies Institute. (Co-authored)
  •  Park, Seon-Young. (2023). Characteristics of 1:10,000 Modern Korean Topographic Maps and Cultural Elements in the “Jinju” Map Sheet. Journal of Korean Old Maps, 15(2).
  • Park, Seon-Young, Jeong, Bu-Mae, & Kim, Sun-Hee. (2023). Comparative Analysis of Core and Extended Content in Korean Slow Cities – Focus on Cultural and Historical Assets. Journal of Cultural and Historical Geography, 35(2). (First author, 3 authors)
  • Jeong, Bu-Mae, Park, Seon-Young, Jeong, Am, & Choi, Jin-Moo. (2023). Analysis of Katakana Transcriptions of Place Names in Modern Topographic Maps – A Case Study on Natural Place Names in Incheon Metropolitan City. Journal of the Korean Geographical Society, 58(1). (4 authors)
  •  Park, Seon-Young. (2023). The History and Environment of the Eunpyeong Hanok Village in the Great Forest of Bukhansan. Eunpyeong History Museum. (Co-authored)
  •  Park, Seon-Young. (2023). Geographical Descriptions of Asia through Nations and Cities – Northeast Asia. Pureungil. (Co-authored)
  •  Park, Seon-Young. (2022). The Sense of Place in Pyongyang Reflected in the Toponyms and Symbols of Modern Topographic Maps. Journal of Korean Old Maps, 14(2).
  •  Park, Seon-Young, Choi, Won-Seok, & Son, Hak-Ki. (2022). Building a Spatial Database of the “Sankyungpyo” and Analyzing the Characteristics of Mountain Ranges. Journal of Cultural and Historical Geography, 34(2). (First author, 3 authors)
  • Park, Seon-Young. (2022). Place Names of the Eunpyeong Area in Old Maps and Gazetteers. Journal of Korean Old Maps, 14(1).
  •  Heo, Jeong-Won, Shim, Woo-Jin, & Park, Seon-Young. (2022). Introduction to Mega-Asia Studies: History, Perspectives, and Methods. Jin-in-jin Press. (Co-authored)
  •  Park, Seon-Young. (2021). Collection Status and Characteristics of the “Joseon Topographic Map” (Second Edition) – Focusing on the Holdings of the National Museum of Korea, Stanford University Library, and Seoul National University Library. Journal of Cultural and Historical Geography, 33(2).
  •  Heo, Jeong-Won, Park, Seon-Young, Shim, Woo-Jin, & Jang, Hyo-Jin. (2021). The Need for a New Quantitative Regional Research Methodology for Exploring Mega-Asia: Focused on Domestic Variable-Based Regional Studies. Asia Review, 11(2). (4 authors)
  • Park, Seon-Young & Lee, Ki-Bong. (2021). Reconsidering the Need for Reinterpreting Historical Documents in the Digital Environment – Focusing on the “Map of Northern Officials’ Posts” and the “Map of Hwadojin” in the National Library of Korea. Journal of the Korean Geographical Society, 56(1). (First author, 2 authors)
Other Professional Experience
  • Part-time Lecturer, Dept. of Geography, Sungshin Woman’s University (2019-present)
  • Visiting Research Fellow, Kyujanggak Institute of Korean Studies, Seoul National University (2020-2021)
  • Research Fellow, Institute of Humanities, Seoul National University (2018-2019)