백남운 白南雲
Economist and socio-economic historian
| Life | 1894 ~ 1979 |
| Era | 근현대 |
| Clan | 수원 백씨 |
Life & career
Baek Nam-un (白南雲, 1894-1979) was an economist and socio-economic historian from Gochang, North Jeolla. He graduated from the Suwon Agriculture and Forestry School and worked as a teacher at Ganghwa Common School and technician of the Ganghwa forestry association, then studied in Japan and graduated from Tokyo Commercial University in 1918. Returning in 1925, he became a professor of commerce at Yonhui College.
Working from a historical-materialist standpoint he criticized the colonial theory of Korean stagnation and published works such as Socio-economic History of Korea, Socio-economic History of Feudal Korea and History of the Korean Liberation Struggle. In the late colonial period he was imprisoned but also lectured for pro-Japanese organizations, so assessments are divided.
After liberation he worked at the Joseon Academy and Gyeongseong University, led the Southern Korea New People's Party and was vice chairman of the Working People's Party; after taking part in the 1948 North-South talks he went north, serving as the first Minister of Education (1948-1956) and chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly (1967-1972), and died in Pyongyang on June 12, 1979. Korean Wikipedia classifies him as Suwon Baek. Assessments of his scholarship and later career differ by field, so only confirmed facts are recorded here.
Challenging Colonial Historiography
His Socio-economic History of Korea (traditionally dated 1933), which argued against the stagnation theory that Korea too passed through the universal stages of world history, is regarded as a starting point of Korean socio-economic history. Check bibliographic sources for publication details.
Going North and Assessment
His defection after the North-South talks long made it difficult to treat his research in South Korea. Assessments of both his scholarship and political activity still differ.
On Assessment
His seat follows Korean Wikipedia's category ('Suwon Baek'). Assessments of his activities before and after going north and of his late-colonial lectures differ by scholar, and this text does not pronounce a verdict.
Grave
He died in Pyongyang; his grave could not be confirmed.