“Mega-Asia”: The Asian Era and the Transformation of Perceptive Frames of Asia

Research Aims

In the 21st century—the Asian century—a “new Asia” is emerging as a megaregion through processes of political and economic integration and self-organization. In response to rapid changes in the global environment, Korea needs to move away from a Northeast Asian focus and find new opportunities for growth in the “new Asia.”

“New Asia” as a megaregion is developing into “one space of multiple spaces” with different but common historical experiences. Therefore, it is necessary to go beyond the perspective of viewing Asia as a “subtotal” of countries or regions and view the whole of Asia as a single, organic region.

The “Mega Asia Research Cluster” aims to establish new perspectives and perceptions of Asia by moving away from existing perceptions and approaches of looking at Asia by defining the concept of a Mega Asia.

Research Team
  • Kyung-Chul Jou (Prof. in Western History at SNU, Affiliated Researcher)
  • Oh Young Kwon (Prof. in Korean History at SNU, Affiliated Researcher)
  • Beomshik Shin(Prof. in Political Science and International Relations at SNU, Affiliated Researcher)
  • Ka Young Ko (HK Research Professor, Contemporary Western History)
  • Minjae Zoh(HK Research Professor, Cultural Heritage·Archaeology)
  • Dae-young Youn (HK Research Professor, History)
Cluster Research Publications
Volume 1 The Continent and Mega-Asia

By studying the movement of people and goods, the formation of networks, and other related phenomena in the background of the Asian continent, this book aims to explore the possibility of establishing the whole of Asia as an analytical unit that can be investigated conceptually and phenomenologically.

Research on the network of the Eurasian continent formed through interaction between nomads and farmers provides the central theme of this book. As a study on the power and pathways of connection, “horses and chariots,” “movement of people, objects, and information,” “nomads,” and “envoys” are each explored. Moreover, through research on the Tang Empire and its surrounding networks, the networks of the Scythian culture, and the expansion of Russia and the Soviet Union, this volume will focus on the question of how networks were formed and operated to establish and reproduce “common value” that encompassed macroregions at a continental scale. Lastly, through consideration of research on phenomena such as the interchange of infectious diseases, genocide, and genealogical research on the concept of “Asia” as defined by Europeans, the possibility of regulating a “continental Mega Asia” will be carefully evaluated.

 

Contents

  • The Convergence of the Steppe and Agricultural Land, Oh Young Kwon (Department of Korean History, Seoul National University)
  • Horses and Chariots: Exchange on the Steppe, Jongil Kim (Department of Archaeology and Art History, Seoul National University)
  • The Convergence and Movement of People, Things, and Information: Exchange and the Mongol Empire, Baehwan Seol (Department of History, Jeonnam University)
  • Eurasia, Climate, and Nomads, Taewoo Go (Department of Korean History, Seoul National University)
  • The Kurgans of Central Asia and Steppe Networks, Byoungrok Yu (SNUAC_HK)
  • The Tang Empire and its Surrounding Networks, Jihui Kim (Department of Korean History, Seoul National University)
  • Networks of the Ancient Nomadic World through the Lens of Scythian Animal Patterns, Wuseop Lee (Cheongju National Museum)
  • Russian Expansion and the Soviets: Eurasia Bound by Ideology, Beomshik Shin (Department of Political Science and International Relations, Seoul National University)
  • Asia and Europe in the Medieval Black Plague: Another Aspect of Exchange, Dongwon Sin (Department of Science Studies, Jeonbuk National University)
  • Genocide on the Asian Continent: Hindering Consolidation, Taegyun Bak (Graduate School of International Studies, Seoul National University)
  • Asia and the Orient: Is the Light from the East? European Perspectives of Asia, Ilhong Ko and Minjae Zoh (SNUAC_HK)
Volume 2. The Seas and Mega-Asia

By studying the movement of people and goods, the formation of networks, and related phenomena in the context of maritime Asia, the aim of this volume is to explore the possibility of establishing the whole of Asia as an analytical unit to be investigated conceptually and phenomenologically.

In general, the volume examines various characteristics of maritime exchange and trade. Through research on transit trade between Funan and Champa, the maritime propagation of Buddhism, and connection between steamships and different regions of Asia, the volume investigates dynamics and pathways of connection of the maritime world. In addition, by considering research on “small worlds” of the ancient maritime world, the maritime Islamicization of Southeast Asia, the East India Company, smuggling and pirates, and overseas Chinese and maritime Asian networks, the volume focuses on how networks were formed and operated to establish and reproduce “common values” that encompassed large regions in a maritime context. Finally, through case studies such as the trade of beads and Peranakan opium, the possibility of the concept of a maritime Mega Asia is explored in detail.

 

Contents

  • Characteristics of Maritime Exchange and Interaction: an Historical Summary, Kyung-Chul Jou (Department of Western History, Seoul National University)
  • Ports and Sea Routes, Oh Young Kwon (Department of Korean History, Seoul National University)
  • Steamships and Asia-Pacific Connections, Minyong Lee (Sogang University, American Cultural Studies)
  • International Maritime Networks in Ancient East Asia, Ilhong Ko (SNUAC_HK)
  • The Foreign Arab King and the Expansion of the Islamic Kingdom in the Malay World, Seungwon Song (Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Malay-Indonesian Interpretation and Translation)
  • The Influence of the East India Company, Kyung-Chul Jou (Department of Western History, Seoul National University)
  • The Structure of Maritime Smuggling in 1940s to 1960s Southeast Asia: Celebes and Sulu Sea, Ungyeong Yeo (Department of Asian Languages and Civilizations, Seoul National University)
  • The Movement of Capital and Materials in the South China Sea Overseas Chinese Network, Jongho Kim (East Asia Research Center, Sogang University)
  • Maritime Exchange Seen through Beads, Gyuho Kim (Department of Cultural Properties Preservation, Kongju National University) and Junyeong Bak (Department of Korean History, Seoul National University)
  • The Chinese Diaspora and Peranakan Culture, Huijeong Gang (East Asia Research Center, Sogang University)
Volume 3. Neo-continentalism and Neo-maritimism: the Driving Force behind 21st Century Mega Asia

By acknowledging the 21st century “rise of Asia” as the driving force behind the formation of a “neo-continentalist and neo-maritimist Mega Asia,” this volume explores multi-layered phenomenological and conceptual research on the birth, power, networks, and case analyses of continental and maritime modern Mega Asia.

The general theme of this volume involves analyses of the meaning of macroscopic structural transformation and, in particular, analyses of the geo-economic strategies of countries driving this change. It deals with “regionalism,” “value chains,” and “transportation and logistics corridor” as driving forces that lay out various pathways for connection and give form to modern Mega Asia. Mega Asia is considered through both continental and maritime lenses as well as within the context of a point of access to the Arctic Sea to analyze Mega Asia as a network. In addition, as phenomena characteristically related to modern Mega Asia, topics such as the “Islamic economy” and the “Korean Wave” are investigated in depth.

 

Contents

  • Neo-continentalism and neo-maritimism and the emergence of Mega Asia, Beomshik Shin (Department of Political Science and International Relations, Seoul National University)
  • China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Mega Asia, Changju Lee (Department of Political Science and International Relations, Ajou University)
  • Russia’s New Eastern Policy and Pan-Eurasianism, Wonyong Seong (School of Northeast Asian Studies, Incheon National University)
  • The Evolution of Japan’s Asia Strategy and Indo-Pacific Solidarity, Gyeongjun Chae (Social Studies Education Department, Jeju National University)
  • India’s Perceptions and Strategy for Asia, and the Formation and Dynamics of Mega Asia, Seongyong Gang (Institute of Humanities, Seoul National University)
  • From the Far East to the Indo-Pacific: American Perceptions of Asia, Ilyeong Kim (Kyungpook National University)
  • Inter-regionalism through the Expansion of Regional Cooperation, Kyunghee Choi (SNUAC_HK)
  • Asia’s Value Chain, Jungu Lee (Department of Business Administration, Hanyang University)
  • Arctic Distribution and Mega Asia, Seongu Lee (Korea Maritime Institute)
  • Mega Asia Connected through Islamic Finance, Chungyeol Lee (Department of Economics, Korea University)
  • The Spread of the Korean Wave and Mega Asia, Dubo Shin (Department of Media Communications, Sungshin Women’s University)