Kunhyondae hanguk sahoe ui kwahak 근현대 한국사회와 과학 [Science in Modern and Contemporary Korean Society], and: Uri kwahak 100 nyon 우리 과학 100년 [Hundred Years of Our Science], and: Kunhyondae kwahak kisul kwa salm ui pyonhwa 근현대 과 학 기술과 삶의 변화 [Modern and Contemporary Science and Technology and the Change of Life] (review)

Science in Modern and Contemporary Korean Societyis a remarkable book, the first work in the history of science in modern and contemporary Korea since Kwahak kisulsa( History of Science and Technology), volume 3 of Hyondae hanguk munhwasa taegye( The Cultural History of Contemporary Korea) (Seoul: Korea University Press, 1977), and Hanguk kwahak kisul 30 nyonsa( History of Science and Technology in Korea for the Past Thirty Years) (Seoul: Korean Federation of Scientific and Technological Societies, 1980). It was edited by Kim Yung Sik, Program in History and Philosophy of Science, Seoul National University, and Kim Geun-Bae, a forerunner in the history of science in modern and contemporary Korea at the Department of Science Studies, Chonbuk National University, and the author of The Emergence of Modern Korean Scientific and Technological Manpower(2005; reviewed by Min Suh Son, EASTS1 [2007]: 267–69). It contains articles based on the Seoul National University MA theses supervised by Kim Yung Sik, plus one article each by Kim Yung Sik, Park Seong-Rae, and Shin Dongwon. Kim Yung Sik emphasizes that it is the fruit of full-fledged research by young historians with proper training.

This book consists of three parts: the reception of Western science, colonial science on trial, and the formation of contemporary Korean science. In part 1, Park Seong-Rae starts with the limit of the indirect reception of Western science via China. While Sirhak (Practical School) scholars' interest in science was based on curiosity and practicality, science was an urgent necessity for nineteenth-century Koreans. Social Darwinism was prevalent in Korea, and scientism—a simplistic belief in, and uncritical acceptance of, science and technology—became deep-rooted among the intellectuals. Park then introduces the Koreans' view of modern science by analyzing the articles in the Hansong sunbo(漢城旬報) and Hansong chubo(漢城週報). Shin Dongwon's "The Myth and Reality of Chejungwon" (濟衆院) is noteworthy in that he is critical of the existing views on missionary medicine as the vanguard of American imperialism and Christianity in the north (DPRK) and as the symbol of modernization by the dissipation of gospel in the south. Kim Yun-hee writes about the establishment of the Hansong Electric Company (漢城電氣會社) during the Taehan Empire (大韓 帝國) and its failure due to the lack of indigenous manpower and technology transfer.

Part 2 covers the Japanese colonial period. Jeong In Kyung deals with the establishment and development of Keijo (Kyongsong) Technical High School (京城高等 工業學校), which was founded in 1916. According to her, the Japanese policy for colonial education emphasized elementary and vocational education. Thus, the content and level of science and technology education were destined to be poor. Moon Manyong presents Seok Jumyeong (석주명, 石宙明, 1908–50) as the representative Korean scientist of the colonial period. Moon calls Seok the "Korean" (朝鮮的) biologist in that he concentrated on the classification of Korean butterflies and also studied butterflies in Korean history. Seok is regarded to have placed "Korean" biology in the Korean Studies Movement (國學運動) of the 1930s. Lim Jong-tae compares the Society of Invention (發明學會) and the Science Movement (科學運 動) in their broad social context. Japan was not interested in furthering the development of science and technology in Korea per se; its policy was focused on the training of lower technical manpower to help the Japanese in Korea. Kim Yong Kwan (김용관, 金容瓘, 1897–1967) was the key figure in organizing the Society of Invention (founded 1924...