Kim Won-yong
Encyclopedia
Kim Won-yong was a South Korea
n archaeologist and art historian. Noted in the discipline of Korean archaeology and ancient art history (Yoon 2006), he was one of the first people recognized as an archaeologist in Korea to receive a Doctor of Philosophy
degree.
Kim graduated from New York University
in 1959 and was known in the latter part of his career as the "Doyen of Korean Archaeology" (Nelson 1995). He, along with others such as Kim Jeong-hak
(Korea University
), Kim Jae-won (Seoul National University
), Kim Jung-bae
(Korea University
), Kim Jong-gi, Son Bo-gi (Yonsei University
), and Lee Eun-chang are pioneers of modern Korean academia who were influenced not only by the discipline of archaeology but history, art history, architecture, and Korean philosophy.
, the precursor of Seoul National University
(SNU), during the Japanese colonization of Korea
(1905 - 1945), and graduated from there with a Bachelor's degree in 1945. He wrote his PhD thesis on Silla
ceramics, and after receiving his New York University
(NYU) PhD, Kim returned to South Korea. He started as a professor at SNU
in 1961 and began a long and influential career there, with the exception of 1970-1971 when he served as the director of the National Museum of Korea. Kim was a founding member of the Department of Archaeology and Ancient Art History at SNU. In South Korea, the academic juxtaposition of archaeology and ancient art history is partly a reflection of the status of such studies in traditional Korean and Northeast Asia
n culture. However, the mixing of the two is also a reflection of the combination of education that Kim Won-yong received at Keijō Imperial University and NYU. The Department of Ancient Art History and Archaeology at SNU became the main model for the establishment of similar departments at national universities across South Korea
.
Kim Won-yong realized the importance of Korean ancient and prehistoric cultural heritage, and served as a Senior Committee member of the National Cultural Heritage Committee of Korea from 1958 to 1992. He was a great proponent of academic exchange with western archaeology, and as such did research with archaeologists such as Richard J. Pearson
. Kim was also a vocal critic of the New Archaeology (Processualism) from its inception in the early 1960s, publishing several key letters to the editor in American Antiquity
that were critical of the 'new' theoretical movement and defended the 'old guard' of functional and cultural historical archaeology.
: 三佛) to sign his paintings. A true intellectual giant on the vanguard of the rebirth of the Republic of Korea in the wake of the crippling Japanese occupation of 1910 - 1945 and the devastating war of 1950 - 1953, Sambul Kim Won-yong died of cancer on November 14 1993.
A detailed bibliography of Kim Won-yong's works is available in Sarah M. Nelson's The Archaeology of Korea, Cambridge University Press, New York, 1993.
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n archaeologist and art historian. Noted in the discipline of Korean archaeology and ancient art history (Yoon 2006), he was one of the first people recognized as an archaeologist in Korea to receive a Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
degree.
Kim graduated from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
in 1959 and was known in the latter part of his career as the "Doyen of Korean Archaeology" (Nelson 1995). He, along with others such as Kim Jeong-hak
Kim Jeong-hak
Kim Jeong-hak was a Korean archaeologist.Born in Munch'ŏn, South Hamgyŏng Province, North Korea, Kim first studied archaeology and folklore at Keijo Imperial University, the colonial predecessor of Seoul National University...
(Korea University
Korea University
Korea University is a prestigious nonsectarian, private research university located primarily in Seoul, South Korea, and one of the SKY universities, a historical acronym used in South Korea to refer to Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University. Founded by Lee Yong-ik in...
), Kim Jae-won (Seoul National University
Seoul National University
Seoul National University , colloquially known in Korean as Seoul-dae , is a national research university in Seoul, Korea, ranked 24th in the world in publications in an analysis of data from the Science Citation Index, 7th in Asia and 42nd in the world by the 2011 QS World University Rankings...
), Kim Jung-bae
Kim Jung-bae
Kim Jung-bae is an ancient historian and archaeologist, university professor emeritus, and former President of Korea University in Seoul, South Korea. Kim currently serves as the Chairman of the Goguryeo Research Society....
(Korea University
Korea University
Korea University is a prestigious nonsectarian, private research university located primarily in Seoul, South Korea, and one of the SKY universities, a historical acronym used in South Korea to refer to Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University. Founded by Lee Yong-ik in...
), Kim Jong-gi, Son Bo-gi (Yonsei University
Yonsei University
Yonsei University is a Christian private research university, located in Seoul, South Korea. Established in 1885, it is one of the oldest universities in South Korea, the top private comprehensive universities in South Korea, and is widely regarded as one of the top three comprehensive...
), and Lee Eun-chang are pioneers of modern Korean academia who were influenced not only by the discipline of archaeology but history, art history, architecture, and Korean philosophy.
Education and Professional Career
Kim began his studies at Keijō Imperial UniversityKeijo Imperial University
was a Japanese Imperial University that existed in Seoul between 1924 and the end of World War II.-History:...
, the precursor of Seoul National University
Seoul National University
Seoul National University , colloquially known in Korean as Seoul-dae , is a national research university in Seoul, Korea, ranked 24th in the world in publications in an analysis of data from the Science Citation Index, 7th in Asia and 42nd in the world by the 2011 QS World University Rankings...
(SNU), during the Japanese colonization of Korea
Korea under Japanese rule
Korea was under Japanese rule as part of Japan's 35-year imperialist expansion . Japanese rule ended in 1945 shortly after the Japanese defeat in World War II....
(1905 - 1945), and graduated from there with a Bachelor's degree in 1945. He wrote his PhD thesis on Silla
Silla
Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
ceramics, and after receiving his New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
(NYU) PhD, Kim returned to South Korea. He started as a professor at SNU
Seoul National University
Seoul National University , colloquially known in Korean as Seoul-dae , is a national research university in Seoul, Korea, ranked 24th in the world in publications in an analysis of data from the Science Citation Index, 7th in Asia and 42nd in the world by the 2011 QS World University Rankings...
in 1961 and began a long and influential career there, with the exception of 1970-1971 when he served as the director of the National Museum of Korea. Kim was a founding member of the Department of Archaeology and Ancient Art History at SNU. In South Korea, the academic juxtaposition of archaeology and ancient art history is partly a reflection of the status of such studies in traditional Korean and Northeast Asia
Northeast Asia
Northeast Asia and Northeastern Asia refers to the northeastern subregion of Asia. Though the precise definition of Northeast Asia changes according to context, it always includes Japan and the Korean Peninsula, and is sometimes used to refer to these two regions exclusively.-Definitions:The...
n culture. However, the mixing of the two is also a reflection of the combination of education that Kim Won-yong received at Keijō Imperial University and NYU. The Department of Ancient Art History and Archaeology at SNU became the main model for the establishment of similar departments at national universities across South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
.
Contributions to Archaeology
It is difficult to overstate the importance of Kim's contributions in Korean archaeology. Kim Won-yong did research on all aspects and all periods of Korean prehistory and early history, and can be considered as the 'Father of Korean Archaeology'. However, Kim will be remembered for laying the foundation of academic archaeology, symbolized by the publication in 1973 of his seminal work, Hanguk Gogohak Gaeseol [Introduction to Korean Archaeology]. This influential book was reprinted 20 times between 1973 and 1996 and remains a must on the reading list of all students of Korean prehistory and early history. Kim published hundreds of articles and excavation reports over his career in Korean, English, and Japanese. He also trained many generations of the leading archaeologists in Korea.Kim Won-yong realized the importance of Korean ancient and prehistoric cultural heritage, and served as a Senior Committee member of the National Cultural Heritage Committee of Korea from 1958 to 1992. He was a great proponent of academic exchange with western archaeology, and as such did research with archaeologists such as Richard J. Pearson
Richard J. Pearson
Richard Joseph Pearson is a Canadian archaeologist.He grew up in Toronto and Oakville, Ontario and graduated with a Bachelor's degree at the University of Toronto in 1960. Richard Pearson studied at the University of Hawaii, and Yale University under K.C. Chang and received his doctorate in...
. Kim was also a vocal critic of the New Archaeology (Processualism) from its inception in the early 1960s, publishing several key letters to the editor in American Antiquity
American Antiquity
The professional journal American Antiquity is published by the Society for American Archaeology, the largest organization of professional archaeologists of the Americas in the world. The journal is considered to be the flagship journal of American archaeology.American Antiquity is a quarterly...
that were critical of the 'new' theoretical movement and defended the 'old guard' of functional and cultural historical archaeology.
Sambul
Kim Won-yong was also an artist. He painted traditional monochromatic ink pieces, multi-coloured ink paintings, and whimsical self-portraits. Kim took the nom-de-plume "Sambul" (HanjaHanja
Hanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...
: 三佛) to sign his paintings. A true intellectual giant on the vanguard of the rebirth of the Republic of Korea in the wake of the crippling Japanese occupation of 1910 - 1945 and the devastating war of 1950 - 1953, Sambul Kim Won-yong died of cancer on November 14 1993.
Selected bibliography
- Hanguk Gogohak Gaeseol [Introduction to Korean Archaeology]. Iljisa, Seoul, 1973 (1996). ISBN 89-312-0022-6
- (with junior author Pearson, Richard J.Richard J. PearsonRichard Joseph Pearson is a Canadian archaeologist.He grew up in Toronto and Oakville, Ontario and graduated with a Bachelor's degree at the University of Toronto in 1960. Richard Pearson studied at the University of Hawaii, and Yale University under K.C. Chang and received his doctorate in...
) Three Royal Tombs: New Discoveries in Korean Archaeology. Archaeology 30(5):302-312, 1977. - Art and Archaeology of Ancient Korea. Taekwang Publishing Co., Seoul, 1986.
A detailed bibliography of Kim Won-yong's works is available in Sarah M. Nelson's The Archaeology of Korea, Cambridge University Press, New York, 1993.
See also
- SillaSillaSilla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
- To Yu-hoTo Yu-hoTo Yu-ho is a North Korean archaeologist and member of the National People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea....
- Kim Jung-baeKim Jung-baeKim Jung-bae is an ancient historian and archaeologist, university professor emeritus, and former President of Korea University in Seoul, South Korea. Kim currently serves as the Chairman of the Goguryeo Research Society....
- Richard J. PearsonRichard J. PearsonRichard Joseph Pearson is a Canadian archaeologist.He grew up in Toronto and Oakville, Ontario and graduated with a Bachelor's degree at the University of Toronto in 1960. Richard Pearson studied at the University of Hawaii, and Yale University under K.C. Chang and received his doctorate in...
- Choi Mong-lyongChoi Mong-lyongChoi Mong-lyong is an archaeologist and Professor in the Department of Archaeology and Art History at Seoul National University in Seoul, South Korea. Choi was born in Jeolla Province and received his PhD degree in Anthropology in 1984 from Harvard University in the United States. At Harvard, Choi...
- Sim Bong-geunSim Bong-geunSim Bong-geun is an archaeologist, university professor and administrator at Dong-A University in Greater Busan, South Korea...