Lee Ki-baek

Who was Lee Ki-baek?

Lee Ki-baek was a leading South Korean historian. He was born in Jeongju-gun, in North Pyeongan province in what is today North Korea. He graduated from the Osan School in 1941, attending Waseda University in Tokyo but ultimately graduating from Seoul National University in 1947.

Lee's most noted work was the New History of Korea, first published in 1967 and revised thereafter. However, his works are now criticized as the extension of a colonial history policy by Japan. His advisor in academia was Yi Byeongdo who was one of the members of Joseonsa Pyeonsuhoe.