Kim Koo Forum on Korea Current Affairs

Tae Gyun Park
Kim Koo Visiting Professor in East Asian Languages and Civilizations, 2017-18, Harvard University;

Professor of Modern Korean History, Graduate School of International Studies,

Seoul National University

While ABD at the Department of Korea History, Seoul National University, Park was a Visiting Fellow

and Special Student at the Harvard-Yenching Institute in academic year 1997-1999. After his

doctorate in 2000 at Seoul National University, he has been teaching at the Graduate School of

International Studies [GSIS], Seoul National University, including a popular undergraduate course called,

“The Korea War,” and a graduate course called, “The Modern Korean History and Society” since 2000.

 He was Director at the International Center for Korean Studies, SNU between 2008 and 2013.

Tae Gyun Park had a proseminar course on the 1950s Korea with Prof. Carter J. Eckert at Harvard

in academic year 2007 and 2008, and continues to have collaboration with him to examine

the Korean Peninsula in the 1960s and 1970s. His book, The Korean War: Unended But Should Be

Ended (2005), is now in the fourteenth printing of the first edition, and

?The Vietnam War, A War Forgotten and Defective Memory (2015), is the fourth printing of

the first edition, which are the steady sellers in South Korea. His book on the history of Korea’s

relationship with the US, entitled The Ally and
Empire, Two Myths of South Korea-United States Relations, 1945-1980, was translated into English

in 2013. He was an advisor for the Ministry of Unification in 2013 and has been working for the

Korea foundation as a member of the advisory committee since 2011.

Chaired by Carter J. Eckert, Yoon Se Young Professor of Korean History, Harvard University

Abstract:
There have been three uprisings to change governments in South Korea since 1945. Although the

three have a lot in common, there are critical differences between those before 2000 and after 2000.

I would like to examine the commonality and distinction through comparison of uprisings in 1960, 1987,

 and 2016-2017, which has brought same and different results. The analysis would be on not only from

 the viewpoint of civil society, but also from the conservative group.

The Korea Institute acknowledges the generous support of the Kim Koo Foundation. This event is

part of WorldWide Week at Harvard, which is sponsored by the Office of the Vice Provost for

International Affairs. http://worldwideweek.harvard.edu/

During the week of October 23-27, Worldwide Week at Harvard showcases the remarkable breadth

of Harvard’s global engagement. During the Worldwide Week, Harvard Schools, research centers,

departments, and student organizations host academic and cultural events with global or

international themes.