- Title : Nation-building and Archaeology in North Korea After Liberation ‒ Universal and Particular Features
- Author : Ko, Ilhonh (HK Professor)
- Journal : The Oriental Studies
- Publication Date : 2025.04.
- Abstract
What role did archaeology play in the process of nation-building in North Korea after liberation? This study analyzes the development of archaeology in North Korea within the historical context of nation-building, and explores the universal and particular features of that process through a comparative analysis with other socialist and communist countries. First of all, the following were identified as the characteristics of North Korean archaeology after liberation: the active embracement of the Marxist-Leninist view of historical materialism, which led to an emphasis on scientific historical research and the universal laws of human history; participation in erasing the remnants of Japanese colonial historiography and contribution to understanding the process of ancient state formation; and the active utilization of cultural heritage for national identity building with the goal of reviving national culture. It was also observed that North Korean archaeology’s pattern of development was similar to that of other socialist and communist countries, making it possible to look beyond the particularities of North Korean archaeology and regard it as a ‘verison’ of East Asian archaeology. In addition, by comparing North Korean archaeology with the cases of socialist countries that experienced colonialism, such as Vietnam and Cuba, the particular features of North Korean archaeology could also be more clearly identified. Ultimately, this study will facilitate attempts to go beyond the current understanding of North Korean archaeology as an ‘abnormal case’ and re-position it in the wider context of global archaeology.
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