[Book Review] Minjung: A Birth of Korean Studies

This book review examines the seminal two-volume work by Kang In-cheol, which offers a meticulous and comprehensive account of the conceptual history of minjung. The first volume, Minjung: The Resistant Subject, critically engages with the theoretical underpinnings and discursive formations of minjung, while the second, Minjung: In Times and History, provides an exhaustive historical analysis of its development. Collectively, these volumes adopt a macro-perspective to elucidate the socio-historical contexts that have shaped the conceptual transformation of minjung. Kang’s research traces the emergence of minjung—a longstanding East Asian term denoting the ‘dominated class’—as it evolved into an emblematic concept within Korea’s progressive social movements and intellectual tradition. Through detailed analysis, Kang demonstrates how the minjung concept, particularly during the 1920s and 1970s, underwent a significant semantic shift, moving beyond its connotations of ‘subordination’ and ‘numerical majority’ to encompass meanings of ‘resistance’ and ‘subjectivity’. This transformation not only reflects broader socio-political changes but also constitutes a distinctive linguistic revolution within Korean intellectual discourse. Moreover, his research systematically analyzes the evolution of the minjung concept since the 1970s, categorizing its theoretical characteristics into three distinct generations. This approach underscores its significant role in the emergence of Korean studies. This review seeks to enhance understanding of minjung by synthesizing the core arguments and insights of both volumes.