ScholarWorks@숙명여자대학교

초록

This study examines the trends and central themes of disability history research in South Korea over the past four decades, aiming to elucidate historical and humanistic responses to contemporary ableism. Utilizing digital humanities methodologies, including text mining, this research analyzes 68 academic papers published between 1987 and 2025, with a specific focus on disability and history within the Korean context. The analysis reveals that disability history in South Korea has evolved significantly since the democratization movement of 1987, influenced by the rise of disability rights activism and international academic developments. Since the mid-2000s, the field has expanded in both subject matter and scope, with increasing scholarly attention to issues such as institutionalization, gender-disability intersectionality, and Deaf identity. Interdisciplinary engagement across history, literature, sociology, social welfare, and gender studies has also intensified. Chronologically, the study traces how disability has been conceptualized and represented across three periods: premodern Korea, the Japanese colonial era, and the post-liberation period. Rather than merely cataloging existing research, this paper critically interrogates disability history as a socially constructed body of knowledge. It argues that future scholarship should not only continue to deepen academic inquiry but also actively engage with ongoing issues of discrimination and social exclusion, thereby contributing to a more empathetic and inclusive society.

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