Hong Yi-sup (; ; December 6, 1914 – March 4, 1974) was a South Korean historian. Hong contributed to studies on Korean history, the history of Silhak, and the intellectual history of Korea.
One of his notable books is The History of Science in Joseon (조선과학사, 1944), which is the first book to provide a comprehensive overview of the Joseon period's scientific advances. It was first published in the Japanese language in Tokyo, Japan, in 1944. The History of Science in Joseon was later translated into Korean and published by Jeongeumsa () in 1946. Hong is also known for his book, History of Korea (1970), which was written collaboratively with Pow-key Sohn and Chol-choon Kim and funded by the Korean National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). This book has been widely used as a comprehensive source for studying Korean history around the world. Hong later translated History of Korea (1970) into Korean and later published Korean Modern History (한국근대사, 1975).
Hong contributed to diverse areas of Korean history during the colonial period through his research. He established a foundation for the studies of the history of Korean science and provided a new perspective that helped overcome the misrepresented history of Korean that stemmed from the Japanese colonial period. Through his works, he wanted to depict the true Korean history to the public that resisted the colonial Japanese gaze and criticized the distorted history of Korea written by Japan, which justified Japanese colonialism in Korea.
Life
Hong Yi-sup was born in Keijō (Seoul), Korea, Empire of Japan on December 6, 1914. He graduated from Seoul Geumhwa Elementary School (금화보통학교) in 1929 and from Paichai High School (배재고등보통학교) in 1933.Dong-geol Cho et al., [조동걸, 한영우, 박찬승], Korean Historians and History [한국의 역사가와 역사학 (하), (Seoul: Changbi Publishing [창비], 1994), 279. He served as a teacher at the School of YMCA after graduating from Yonhi College (later Yonsei University) in 1938. After the National Liberation Day of Korea on August 15, 1945, he served as a professor in the Humanities department at Korea University from 1949 to 1954"Retired Faculty[퇴직교수]," Korea University Department of Korean History[고려대학교 한국 사학과], accessed May 25, 2024, https://koreahistory.korea.ac.kr/koreahistory/professor/fulltime2.do?mode=view&articleNo=325541&article.offset=0&articleLimit=10. and served as a Humanities Professor at Yonsei University from 1953 to 1974."Retired Faculty[퇴직교수]," Korea University Department of Korean History[고려대학교 한국 사학과], accessed May 25, 2024, https://koreahistory.korea.ac.kr/koreahistory/professor/fulltime2.do?mode=view&articleNo=325541&article.offset=0&articleLimit=10. During his years at Yonsei University, he assumed the position of department chair in both the History and Humanities departments. He also worked as the director of Eastern studies and the director of publishing. He received his doctoral degree in Korean Literature at Yonsei University in 1966 and continued to serve as a professor there. He died on March 4, 1974, of carbon monoxide poisoning at the age of 61."Yonsei University Yee-sup Hong died from carbon monoxide poisoning [연세대 홍이섭 교수 연탄 가스 중독 별세]," JoongAng Illbo [중앙일보], March 4, 1974, https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/1370683#home.
Career 1949, Member of the Academic Subcommittee of Seoul Metropolitan City Culture Committee (). 1951, Editor of the War History Compilation in the Korea Navy Council (). 1952, President of the Korean Historical Association (). 1952, Examiner for the Examination Committee (). 1955, Member of the National History Compilation Committee of the Ministry of Education (). 1956, Member of the Korean National Commission for UNESCO(국제연합교육과학문화기구(UNESCO) 한국위원회위원). 1956, Researcher of national thought (). 1958, Examiner for the Korean bar exam (). 1965, Board member of the Institute for the Translation of Korean Classics (). 1965, Board member of YMCA (대한기독교청년회연맹(YMCA) 이사). 1965, Member of the National Culture Council (). 1969, Member of the Culture Heritage Conservation Committee in the Ministry of Culture and Public Information (). 1969, Member of the Committee for Compilation of Independence Movement History in the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (). 1970, President of the South Korea Foundation Oesolhoe (). 1971, Executive director of the King Sejong Commemoration Enterprise Council ().
Published Works The History of Science in Joseon (조선과학사(朝鮮科學史), 1944) The Comparative Chart Between Joseon History and World History (세계사와 대조한 조선사 도해표, 1946) Korean Maritime History (한국해양사(韓國海洋史) (Coauthored), 1955) Study on Yak-yong Jeong's Political and Economy Thought (정약용의 정치∙경제사상연구, 1959) Methodology of Korean History (한국사의 방법, 1968) The History of Korea (Coauthored; 1970) Biography of King Sejong the Great (세종대왕 전기, 1971) Korea's Self—Identity (1973) Korean Modern History (한국근대사, 1975) Introduction to the Intellectual History of Korea (한국정신사 서설, 1975)
Achievements A Study on the History of Joseon
Hong is best known for his work, The History of Science in Joseon (조선과학사, 1944). The book provides an extensive history of Korean traditional science. His work established the foundation for studies on Korean science history. It contributed to research and development in Korean science history. Hong wrote The History of Science in Joseon for several reasons. First, its topic could not only evade the censorship of Japan during the colonial period but also show pride in Korea's national history.Sang-woon Jeon, "Viewing Korean Science History from The History of Korean Science [≪조선과학사≫에서 본 한국과학사]," in Hong Yi-sup's Life and Studies on History [홍이섭의 삶과 역사학], ed. Yu-han Won (Seoul: Hyean(혜안), 1995), 48. Second, he believed it was crucial to focus on the development and transition process in people's lives and the social structures central to the development and transition of science in Korea.Jung-lyang Mun, "The First Attempt for Comprehensive Systemization of Korean Science and Technology History [한국과학기술사의 종합적 체계화의 첫 시도]," in Hong Yi-sup's Life and Studies on History [홍이섭의 삶과 역사학], ed. Yu-han Won (Seoul: Hyean(혜안), 1995), 72. Third, he regarded learning the spirit of science, in the history of science, as significant in establishing the national spirit of Korea.Jeon, "Viewing Korean Science History from The History of Korean Science [≪조선과학사≫에서 본 한국과학사]," 49.
The History of Science in Joseon is considered a valuable resource for the study of the history of Korean science. Before its publication, there was no existing research by Korean scholars on the history of Korean science; instead, missionaries from the West or Japanese scholars researched the subject. Hong created the foundational system of Korean science history by dividing the timeline into six historical periods to depict the critical progress of how science developed in history: the Prehistoric period (), Three Kingdoms dynasty (), United Silla dynasty (), Goryeo dynasty (), early Joseon (), and Yeong-Jeong dynasty (). Hong highlighted that the fourth period, the Goryeo dynasty, was the most significant since Korea's relationship with Song (Imperial dynasty of China) dissolved during this period. As a result, they had to reexamine Chinese science and technology on their own terms. Hong also thought the Joseon period was also critical in science history. During the Sejong Dynasty, bureaucracy and sovereignty reorganized science in early Joseon.Jeon, "Viewing Korean Science History from The History of Korean Science [≪조선과학사≫에서 본 한국과학사]," 54. Moreover, during the Joseon period, the influx of Cheong dynasty (Imperial dynasty of China) culture influenced Joseon to reorganize science and technology in the palace. Furthermore, the study of positivism () that the school of empiricism () pursued introduced Western science in Joseon.Jeon,"Viewing Korean Science History from The History of Korean Science [≪조선과학사≫에서 본 한국과학사],"54. Thus, by analyzing the historical development of science, Hong redefined Korean science in terms of its relation with foreign knowledge.
A Study about Yak-yong Jeong Hong focused on the economic thought of Yak-yong Jeong. His interest in this area was rooted in his concern for the uncertain reality of the colonial period of Korea in the 1930s. His book, Study on the Politics and Economic Thought of Yak-yong Jeong, deals with Yak-yong Jeong's governing thoughts (경세사상) because Hong believed understanding economic thought is necessary for establishing the new nation.Young-kyo Oh, "Hong Yi-Sup's Life and His Historical Research [홍이섭의 생애와 역사학 연구]", Hakrim [학림], 36, 2015, 78. In his book, Hong analyzes and examines thecomposition process and fundamental ideas of Yak-yong Jeong's works, Kyungseyupyo (경세유표) and Mongminsimseo (목민심서). Kyunseyupyo is about reform plans for the nation's politics, society, and economy."경세유표 [Kyungseyupyo]," Encyclopedia of Korean Folk Culture [한국민속대백과사전], https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0002596. Mongminsimseo is a guideline for local officials to govern the people."목민심서 [Mongminsimseo]," Encyclopedia of Korean Folk Culture [한국민속대백과사전], https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0018631. On the basis of Kyungseyupyo and Mongminsimseo, he comprehensively addresses the function of politics and the economy during the late Joseon period. Moreover, he investigates the reform plan for establishing the government and stabilizing the agriculture economy. He also scrutinizes the administration method that criticizes and eliminates the swindling acts of peasants hindering the agricultural economy in the provinces.Hong Yi-sup, Introduction in Study on the Politics and Economic Thought of Yak-yong Jeong [≪정약용의 정치∙경제사상 연구≫ 서문]," in Hong Yi-sup's Life and Studies on History [홍이섭의 삶과 역사학], ed. Yu-han Won (Seoul: Hyean(혜안), 1995), 413-416. Hong's book is considered to have contributed to studies about Jeong and the thought of practical science in the late Joseon period.Hyeon-gang Ha, "Hong Yi-sup[홍이섭]," in Hong Yi-sup's Life and Studies on History [홍이섭의 삶과 역사학], ed. Yu-han Won (Seoul: Hyean(혜안), 1995), 98.
The Establishment of a National Historical Perspective to Combat Japan's Historical Distortion on Korea