Shin Chaeho

Who was Shin Chaeho?

Shin Chae-ho was a Korean independence activist, historian, nationalist and the founder of the nationalist historiography of Korea. He is often referred to as “Korea’s greatest historian” by both North and South Koreans. Two of his works, Doksa Sillon written in 1908, and Joseon Sanggosa in 1924/25 laid out the first ethnic-based linear national history of Korea. He is also famous for his claim of the Manchurian connection to Korea’s ancient past. Later in his life in exile in China, Shin joined an anarchist organization and wrote articles on anti-Japanese imperialism in anarchist newspapers.