Historian known for research on Gojoseon; professor emeritus at Dankook University
| Life | 1939 ~ 2025 |
| Era | 현대 |
| Clan | 해남 윤씨 |
Yun Nae-hyeon (1939-2025) was a South Korean historian of the Haenam Yun clan, born in Haenam. After graduating from Mokpo Technical High School he earned his bachelor's degree in history at Dankook University and master's and doctoral degrees in Asian history at its graduate school, and also studied at Harvard's graduate school. He died on 29 June 2025 at 86.
He taught in Dankook's history department from 1978 to 2005 and became professor emeritus, and was a visiting professor in anthropology at Harvard in 1979-1981. He served as director of the Dankook Central Museum (1987-1997), dean of liberal arts (1998-1999), vice president of the Seoul campus (1999-2002) and director of the Institute of Asian Studies (2005-2009), and presided over the Dangun Society (2001-2004) and the Gojoseon Society (2008-2009). In 2002 he led the southern delegation at a joint South-North historians' conference.
His main field was Gojoseon, and his key work is Gojoseon Yeongu (1994). Others include studies of the Shang dynasty (1978), Hanguk Godaesa Sinron (1986), Hanguk Yeolguksa Yeongu (1998), Urigodaesa (2003) and Gojoseon, the Birth of Our History (2016). He said his claims were in line with nationalist historians such as Sin Chae-ho, Jeong In-bo and Jang Do-bin. Wikipedia also reports that some critics disputed his theories and that he denied the charges; evaluations vary, so no firm judgment is made here. See also Yun Gwan among modern figures of the clan.
At Dankook he served as professor, museum director and in college-level posts, and led several societies. Years follow the Wikipedia article.
He wrote Gojoseon Yeongu and several works on early Korean history. Evaluations of his theories are divided, so please consult the originals.