During high school, I developed a strong interest in Japanese history through my coursework in East Asian History. Rather than understanding the histories of Korea, China, and Japan as separate narratives, I came to view them through their mutual interactions and historical influences. In particular, I began to reflect deeply on the relationship between Korea and Japan. As I learned more about our shared past, my passion for historical inquiry grew, leading me to contemplate the future direction of Korea-Japan relations.
After entering university, I expanded my historical knowledge by majoring in Korean history. At the same time, I joined a buddy program to help international students adapt to campus life, through which I built a close friendship with a Japanese student. This encounter broadened my interest in Japan from pure history to its language, culture, and daily life, inspiring me to understand Japanese society from a broader cultural perspective.
Later, while conducting research on Japanese history within my department's academic research group, my ambition to pursue Japanese history grew even stronger. I realized that historical analysis benefits immensely from examining primary sources foreign to the region being studied. To truly understand Korean history, it is crucial to analyze not only domestic records but also foreign documents to see how Korea was perceived and recorded externally. Given the long, interconnected history between Korea and Japan, numerous Japanese historical documents preserve vital details of this relationship. Thus, I established a goal to directly read, translate, and analyze primary Japanese sources.
Driven by these goals, I decided to apply for the exchange program at Kobe College to deepen my understanding of Japanese history and refine my language proficiency. At Kobe College, I aim to engage directly with diverse primary and secondary sources—ranging from books and scholarly articles to contemporary newspapers and periodicals. Furthermore, I wish to conduct fieldwork at historical sites that cannot be experienced in Korea, combining archival research with firsthand exposure. Through this, I hope to form a vivid, multifaceted understanding of Japanese history and pinpoint my future research specialization.
Additionally, a course on traditional Japanese culture and industry sparked my interest in Japan's cultural heritage management and policy. I was impressed by how Japan integrates cultural preservation with regional development and tourism. During my study abroad, I want to observe these practical applications firsthand and see how theoretical concepts translate into real-world policies.
Ultimately, this exchange program will allow me to immerse myself in Japan's rich history and culture, enabling me to view Korea-Japan relations through a more balanced and nuanced lens. Beyond improving my Japanese proficiency, I aim to strengthen my capabilities as a historical researcher and build a solid foundation for my future academic pursuits.
