DISSERTATION PROJECT

“Liberation Space” and Post-Liberation Projections: Korean Intellectuals and Future Visions in the Context of the Postcolonial Era (1945–1953)

The liberation of Korea from Japanese colonial rule in 1945 was a moment of profound significance, both symbolically and pragmatically. After 35 years of subjugation, Koreans were finally free to contemplate and shape their own political, social, and economic future. Yet, the years following liberation were not marked by a unified vision or consensus about what that future should be. Instead, the period from 1945 to 1953—the so-called “liberation space” (Haebangkonggan, 해방공간)—was characterised by intense ideological contestation and debate, with competing groups of intellectuals, politicians, and activists offering radically different projections for the nation’s future. These projections were influenced by Korea’s unique historical circumstances and global forces, particularly the nascent Cold War and the competing ideologies of socialism and liberal democracy. This research seeks to investigate how Korean intellectuals and political thinkers envisioned the future of Korea in the immediate post-liberation period, focusing on how these future projections contributed to the eventual division of the peninsula and shaped the contours of modern Korean history. While Korea’s division’s political and military dimensions have been well-studied, this project will focus on the intellectual and ideological dimensions, exploring how Korean thinkers articulated their hopes, fears, and aspirations for the future in the aftermath of colonial rule.

This research fits within the thematic focus of language, religion, and ideology, as outlined by the GRK 2833 East Asian Futures programme, investigating the interplay between intellectual thought and political outcomes in postcolonial Korea. It engages with the ideological dimensions of Korean intellectual history, focusing on how language and discourse were employed to project national futures in a postcolonial, post-imperial context. By analysing key figures’ thoughts and ideological stances, this project aims to deepen our understanding of how visions of the future shaped Korea’s modern history and ongoing political tensions, including the North-South divide. In doing so, the research contributes to broader discussions about the role of intellectuals in shaping national identity and navigating the challenges of modernity in East Asia.